Jeff Ratliff

Gatewood senior Hunter Johnson (22) celebrates his second touchdown of the opening quarter Friday night with sophomore teammate Drew Love in what turned out to be a 48-8 win over the visiting Thomas Jefferson Jaguars. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gatewood senior Hunter Johnson (22) celebrates his second touchdown of the opening quarter Friday night with sophomore teammate Drew Love in what turned out to be a 48-8 win over the visiting Thomas Jefferson Jaguars. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Gators win 48-8 to wrap up regular season

Ian Tocher
Thursday, November 7, 2024
Gatewood celebrated Senior Night by wrapping up its 2024 regular season with a dominating 48-8 victory over the visiting Jaguars of Thomas Jefferson Academy out of Louisville. It marked the most points scored by Gatewood so far this season.
Entering his third season as the Gators’ starting quarterback, senior Ames Johnson is expected to be a leader on and off the field as Gatewood seeks a return to the state championship game in December. (IAN TOCHER/Staff)

Entering his third season as the Gators’ starting quarterback, senior Ames Johnson is expected to be a leader on and off the field as Gatewood seeks a return to the state championship game in December. (IAN TOCHER/Staff)

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Gatewood gears up for 2024 season

Ian Tocher
Thursday, August 8, 2024
The Gatewood Gators will travel to Athens Christian this Friday for a preseason scrimmage. Head coach Jeff Ratliff hopes to iron out any last-minute kinks before the regular season starts one week later at Flint River Academy in Woodbury.
Gatewood quarterback Ames Johnson drops back to pass during a game last season. (File Photo)

Gatewood quarterback Ames Johnson drops back to pass during a game last season. (File Photo)

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Gators’ football faces loaded schedule

Lance McCurley
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Longtime Gatewood football head coach Jeff Ratliff said he’s “excited” about his team’s upcoming season.Last year, the Gators lost a heartbreaker in the Georgia Independent Athletic Association Class AA state final to Edmund Burke Academy.
Last week, the Gatewood boys’ track and team won the GIAA Class AA state championship in Columbus. (CONTRIBUTED)

Last week, the Gatewood boys’ track and team won the GIAA Class AA state championship in Columbus. (CONTRIBUTED)

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Gators bring home track & field gold

Lance McCurley
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Last week, the Gatewood boys’ track and field team captured its third state championship in five years.It did so in dramatic fashion, too. The Gators trailed Trinity Christian by a few points entering the final event, the 4x400-meter relay race.
Gatewood's Blake Callaway placed first overall in the high jump last week. (FILE PHOTO)

Gatewood's Blake Callaway placed first overall in the high jump last week. (FILE PHOTO)

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Gatewood track-and-field places well at home meet

Lance McCurley
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Gatewood’s track-and-field teams hosted a meet last Wednesday in Eatonton. The Gatewood boys’ team placed first overall with 125 points, defeating rivals Brentwood and Trinity Christian, which both tied for second place with 102 points. Skipstone Academy finished third, with Twiggs Academy fourth.
Surrounded by his family, including mother Christine and his father, Dan, Evan Bennett put pen to paper on his commitment contract with the University of North Carolina last Wednesday in Eatonton. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Surrounded by his family, including mother Christine and his father, Dan, Evan Bennett put pen to paper on his commitment contract with the University of North Carolina last Wednesday in Eatonton. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Gatewood goes all out to support Bennett signing

Ian Tocher
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Gatewood School in Eatonton held a signing ceremony last Wednesday to recognize the commitment of senior Evan Bennett to attend and play football at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. “This doesn’t happen just because Evan shows up.
Gators’ head coach Jeff Ratliff poses with his outgoing seniors. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gators’ head coach Jeff Ratliff poses with his outgoing seniors. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Gators banquet caps state runner-up season

Ian Tocher
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Looking a lot younger and smaller than they appeared on Dec. 2 last year in a tough 16-10 loss in the state championship game, members of the 2023 Gatewood football team assembled one last time on Jan. 10 for their wrap-up awards banquet.
Blake Callaway leaps high in the air to complete just one of at least three outstanding catches he made on the night in the state title game at Mercer. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Blake Callaway leaps high in the air to complete just one of at least three outstanding catches he made on the night in the state title game at Mercer. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Gators’ season ends with state-final loss

Ian Tocher
Thursday, December 7, 2023
Chalk it up to championship game jitters or just plain bad luck, but a series of fumbles, interceptions, and turnovers cost Gatewood the 2023 Class 2A championship Friday night at Mercer University in Macon.
Mason Sinclair (11) makes the stop on a Briarwood ball carrier, aided by seniors Blake Callaway (5) and Evan Bennett (7). ARELLA CASH/Staff

Mason Sinclair (11) makes the stop on a Briarwood ball carrier, aided by seniors Blake Callaway (5) and Evan Bennett (7). ARELLA CASH/Staff

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Gators beat Briarwood to reach state final

Ian Tocher And Arella Cash
Thursday, November 30, 2023
For the fifth time in eight years, the Gatewood Gators are going back to the state final. The Gators prevailed 15-12 over visiting Briarwood Academy last Friday night to earn a rematch with Edmund Burke Academy (EBA) in the championship game on Dec. 1, with kick-off scheduled for 5 p.m.
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