Gateway football coach Marlin Roberts sighs as he observes his players going through various drills under the watchful eyes of his assistants.
“We only have about 40 kids out right now. I’m hoping we pick up a few more before school starts next fall,” Roberts said. “Its really been hard for us to stay competitive when you don’t have the numbers, especially after the season starts and you start getting injuries or if a few kids quit.”
It’s a theme that has presented numerous challenges to Roberts and Gateway football since the relatively new Tohopekaliga school opened a few years ago.
“Because of our location, we got hit the hardest on the rezone. Our school lost around 30 or 40 percent of its students to Toho and when that happens, you end up losing 30 or 40 percent of your athletes, too,” Roberts said. “We still haven’t recovered with the numbers.”
But it is not just the rezoning issue that has hit Gateway hard. Looser transfer rules and school choice has hurt the Panthers program.
“I really wish kids would think long and hard about transferring,” Roberts said. “They really need to understand the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. You get familiar with your teachers, you make friends and then you decide to leave just to play football somewhere else? A lot of times I know those players end up regretting the situation.”
A case in point occurred a few years ago when a running back gained 1,100 yards as a junior at Gateway before he left because “he wanted more exposure.” That player ended up getting about 15 carries his senior year.
“If he had stayed with us, there is no doubt in my mind he would have been our featured back and received some scholarship offers,” Roberts said. “Instead he was about the fourth-string back at his new school.”
Roberts, who is entering his 20th year, continues to soldier on despite the obstacles. He has turned down opportunities at other schools for one simple reason.
“I love this school and I love our players,” he said. “We have more than our share of issues and problems, but in the end, coaching is nothing more than teaching, and this is a place where I love and choose to teach.”
Roberts is optimistic as he enters his 14th season as head coach at Gateway. Although he lost Jakovi Bryant (1,200 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns) — one of the most electric players in Central Florida — and his starting quarterback, Jerry Wright III, to graduation, Roberts believes the Panthers can be competitive again.
“We got some really good, young talent,” he said. “If we can keep developing them, they could turn into outstanding football players.”
Roberts will rely on senior Edward Dyer to run the offense at quarterback. Dyer’s family moved to Kissimmee from California last September and he played part of the season as a wide receiver/ defensive back. He will be supported in the backfield by Jeremiah Hughes, who moves to running back from outside linebacker, and rising sophomore Aiden Morillo.
“Like we always have, we are going to line up in the spread and try to run the ball,” Roberts said. “Edward has stepped up and assumed team leadership at quarterback and Hughes will get most of the carries at running back.”
Anchoring the offensive line will be returning seniors Thomas Stephens and Omar Martinez.
Defensively, Gateway does return some experience — including linebackers Elijah Simmons and Kevin Montilla. Roberts is also high on Marcus Vasconez, a young player who has shown a lot of promise at defensive end.
“As usual, we are going to have to rely on a lot of kids playing both ways, and that’s where our numbers situation could be a problem,” Roberts said. “We need to stay healthy and keep our core together.”
Gateway, coming off a 3-5 season after starting 0-4, will compete in a district with Auburndale, Heritage, Lake Wales and Eau Gallie.
“Fairly tough district that is really spread out,” Roberts said. “But at least we are sort of in the middle of it, so travel won’t be too bad.”
