PUTNAM COUNTY
A dominating 42-14 win over region rival Brentwood returned the “Whoopin’ Stick” to Gatewood’s possession on Nov. 3 at Sammons Field in Eatonton.
The victory also secured the number-one seed for the Gators in playoffs this year.
Gators head coach Jeff Ratliff explained the handmade, one-piece, wooden trophy featuring a football carved into its top, is the result of two old football fans – one from Eatonton, the other from Sandersville, home of the War Eagles – deciding the intense annual rivalry game deserved a trophy of its own.
“It just started in 2000 and we won the first one, they won the next two, and now we won it back,” Ratliff said. “Each time you win, you carve the date onto your side of the stick, so we’ll get to that soon.”
Friday night’s game saw the visitors score first, going up 8-0 with three minutes left in the opening quarter after a successful two-point play followed a rushing touchdown.
That score held up through the first quarter, but by halftime it was 21-8 in favor of the home team.
With quarterback Ames Johnson on his game, the Gators offense put up another 14 points in the third quarter for a 35-8 lead, then tacked on another touchdown in the fourth before Brentwood rallied to score late in the game to reach the final tally.
Senior Blake Callaway had another strong outing, hauling in a particularly pretty catch late in the first quarter and another in the third to score.
Also of note was the return of star linebacker Evan Bennett, who played well, especially on the defensive side of the ball, despite sporting a cast on his right forearm and hand. Ratliff said the cast likely will be removed before the Gators’ first playoff game.
“Offensively, I felt like our offensive line played their best game all year. We were able to run the ball which set up our passing game,” Ratliff said in his weekly email to Gatewood parents and supporters.“We were able to connect on some explosive plays down the field. Before you know it, we had a bunch of points, and they still had 8 points. I also felt that our offense was on full display. We have a ton of weapons, and it showed on Friday night.”
Even more importantly, the win vaulted Gatewood to the top of the GIAA Class AA Region 2 standings.
That provides a bye this weekend and home-field advantage for the Gators throughout the playoffs.
Gatewood’s first playoff game will be Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. when it will take on Augusta Prep Day, a team the Gators beat 62-6 in the second game of the regular season.
Ratliff said there will be a light practice schedule this week in helmets and shoulder pads only on Tuesday through Thursday. “I plan to focus on fundamentals and continue to clean things up on both sides of the ball along with our special teams,” he said.
There will be a regular practice schedule next week in the days leading up to the Augusta Prep playoff date, Ratliff added.
“A region title is nice, but it is not our goal,” Ratliff declared in his email.“Beating Piedmont and Brentwood was nice, but regular-season wins are not the most important ones. We have had a great season, but we must finish! We have a week to take everything in and refocus. We can win it all, but no one is going to give us anything. We must earn it!”