Gateway Pulls out a close one in 5A Title Game

Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News

Billy Splain | November 24, 2019

Jaquan Thomas and Chamor Price Celebrate after 40 yard td pass from QB Cryson Venanzio to open the game scoring Pics via Ed Thompson http://www.hyxposure.photography/

The Gateway Gatos are the 2019 WPIAL champions for the second time in 3 seasons with a 21-20 victory over Peters Township at Norwin High School.

The weather was unforgiving. As both teams battled the cold and the rain for the whole game. Gateway was not bothered and opened up the contest by marching down the field and scoring. Gateway Quarterback Chamor Price found Jaquan Thomas for a 40 yard score and Gateway took a quick 7-0 lead 3:38 into the first quarter. The Indians would answer back two plays later on a 16 yard run from Ryan Magiske and made it 7-7 before the halfway point of the quarter. The battle raged on like this all night with the Gators holding on for a 21-20 win.

For Gateway, the defense lead the charge, coming after junior Quarterback Logan (Mojo) Pfueffer all night. Even under steady pressure, Pfueffer was able to complete 19 passes for 247 yards.

In the second quarter,Gateway would again find the end zone on a passing play. This one a nice 60 pass play from Venanzio to Patrick Brody  Peters answer would not come in just two plays. And settled for a field goal to end the half- 14-10 in favor of the Gators.

The Indians would receive the second half kickoff and Gateways defense shut the Peters offense down once more. The game began to get a little interesting as Gateway extended the lead to 21-10 after recovering an onside kick. The Gators drove to the one yard line where Jay Johnson finished the drive.  The Indian offense couldn’t get rolling for most of the second half but did close to within 21-17 on another Magiske ten yard run in the third quarter.

The Indians added a field goal late in the contest to cut the lead to one point, but a stalled drive at the end of the game gave the ball back to the Gators, who lined up in victory formation and called it a day.

Gateways season is not over yet, they have qualified for the state tournament and will do battle with Archbishop Wood next Friday at Mansion Park in Altoona at 1pm.

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