Arch. Wood KOs Gateway
Gateway featured quarterback Brady Walker, the second-leading passer in WPIAL history who already had set a state record for passing yardage in one season with more than 4,000. A week ago, he threw for 465 yards, the second-highest total in a PIAA playoff game.
But Gateway couldn’t deal with Wood’s strength and quickness on defense or its powerful running game on offense. Walker only had 71 yards passing in the first half before finishing 12 of 26 for 257 yards to give him 8,800 for his career. He threw for 4,653 yards this season.
But Wood (12-2) sacked Walker three times in the first half and pressured him numerous other times. Sometimes, Wood got to Walker with only a threeman rush.
“They had everything,” Walker said. “They were fundamentally sound. They were quick, fast, strong. They’re a great team.”
On offense, Wood’s excellent offensive line paved the way for a running game that accounted for 291 yards in the first half alone. Wood finished with 386 yards rushing.
The mercy rule starts in Pennsylvania high school football only in the second half when a team gets ahead by 35 points. It hasn’t happened often in PIAA championships. But Archbishop Wood was ahead by 35 points with 4:24 still left in the first half. The 42-point halftime lead was the largest for a PIAA final.
Wood running back Nasir Peoples rushed for 197 yards in the first half and finished with 266 yards on 26 attempts while scoring four touchdowns.
Wood scored on six of seven possessions in the first half. The only time the Vikings didn’t score was when time ran out in the first half.
Gateway’s only touchdowns came in the second half when Walker and Travis Thompson hooked up on two long pass plays. Walker hit Thompson with a 69-yard scoring pass in the third quarter and an 80yarder in the fourth.
The lopsided win certainly will add more fuel to the fire for critics of Catholic and private schools. Erie Cathedral Prep won the Class 4A title for the second consecutive season Thursday night and the third in six years. Critics complain those Catholic schools don’t have geographic boundaries to draw students.
A school such as St. Joseph’s has had players outside of Pennsylvania. Gateway is a public school and has geographic boundaries in which to draw students.
“You play a McKeesport or Penn-Trafford and they might have two very good linemen, or maybe a linebacker, or a receiver, or a tight end, or a quarterback. But they don’t have all those things,” Holl said. “That’s the tough part. I’m not going down that road, but that’s the thing with some of these schools. They seem to have all the moving parts.”
There were no tears of sorrow from the Gateway players after the game. It was as if they realized they were overmatched and simply cherished what they accomplished before this game.
“Everyone is proud of the Gators this year, ”Walker said. “Going to a state championship is a great honor.”