Gateway travels to Lake Minneola for non-district contest

By A.J. Williams
For the News-Gazette

Gateway began the football season with a 47-0 win over Poinciana Friday at the Ridenour Athletic Complex.

From start to finish, Gateway dominated the game on the offensive and defensive end of the field. Poinciana played hard all game but was no match for Gateway’s offense.

“We played hard and had a good game, but we made a lot of mistakes we need to work on,” Gateway Coach Marlin Roberts said.

The game was decided quickly after Gateway had 225 yards rushing and ended the first half leading the game, 35-0.

Running back Zack Smith rushed for 91 yards and had three touchdowns, one on a 57-yard reception with 10 seconds to go in the second quarter.

He did not play in the second half as Roberts wanted to keep a few of his starters fresh for the non-district game at Lake Minneola Friday.

Isaiah Wharton, David Vega, Quaran Hepson (fumble return) and quarterback Anthony Rodriguez all scored touchdowns for the 1-0 Panthers.

Ian Stevens and Stephen Svedin led the Panthers with five tackles each.

Coach Roberts and the Panthers now turns their attention to Lake Minneola, a second-year program that can’t be taken lightly, he said.

“They have great athletes. We don’t want to get a big head after beating Poinciana. We have to stay hungry,” Roberts said.

Poinciana, 0-1, will host Celebration, a 26-12 loser at Lake Placid, Friday.