By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Off to the best start in school history, Gateway hosts inter-county rival Cypress Creek Friday at 7:30 p.m. for a non-district football showdown that also is homecoming.

The Panthers, 5-1 and 2-0 in 7A District 6, took a huge step toward a first-ever playoff berth by edging Liberty, 9-6, in overtime last week.

Zach Smith, the county’s rushing leader (813 yards) ran for 113 yards and scored on a 10-yard run, and Walter Marquez kicked a 20-yard field goal in overtime to win the game.

Neither team could get its offense rolling after rain turned the field muddy.

Gateway managed only 173 total yards, all on the ground.

“I’m surprised we were able to get that many. The field was really bad. Zach was kind of tip-toeing around because the footing was so bad,” Panthers Coach Marlin Roberts said.

Gateway scored on its first possession to go up 6-0, but after that, penalties, rain and the Chargers defense made things difficult.

“We made so many mistakes that held us back. We pretty much shot ourselves in the foot,” Roberts said.

The Panthers defense came up with a huge stop on fourth-and-1 in overtime to give Marquez the chance to kick the game-winning field goal. Marquez had to make the kick twice after Liberty jumped offside on the first attempt.

“I was a little worried, the second one was a line drive and I wasn’t sure it would make it,” Roberts said.

The Panthers defense, led by Jaquan Owens (11 tackles, two for loss) and Ian Stevens (10 tackles) contained Chargers running back Jalen Benn.

“Our defense played a real solid game. They really got after it,” Roberts said.

Cypress Creek, 1-5, has lost five in a row after a season-opening win against Colonial.

“It’s a good game for our guys, it seems like every time we play them it’s a good game,” Roberts said.

The Panthers can clinch a playoff berth by winning district games against Celebration next week, Harmony and Osceola (Nov. 2).

“We want 9-1, that’s what we’re shooting for,” Roberts said.

The Panthers’ last winning season was 2004, when it appeared in the Osceola Scholarship Bowl.