Gateway youth football players prepare for playoffs

Gateway continued its success in the Big East Youth Football League last year as all four of its teams — flag (ages 5-6), Termites (7-8), Mites (9-10) and Midgets (11-12) — qualified for the playoffs.

The flag team and Midgets both made it all the way to their division championship games before falling in competitive contests.

The Gators again are battling for playoff berths as the 2025 regular season enters the stretch run, and Gateway Midget Football and Cheerleading Association president Kip Stewart is excited with what has been done so far and what can be accomplished in the final few weeks before the postseason arrives.

“It is a tradition here at Gateway, and there is an expectation of winning,” Stewart said.

“Every kid comes here with an understanding that they have to work for everything they want. Nothing is given to them. They know the work they put in during the week will show on Sundays. That is when it is fun. We want them to always strive to find the best version of themselves while they come together and go after a championship.”

About 300 students — 150 over the four football teams and 150 among the cheerleading groups — are part of the program this fall.

There are 35-40 on each football roster. The cheerleading number, Stewart said, is a record.

The Mites and Midgets both improved to 5-0 and remained in first place in their divisions with wins over Penn-Trafford on Sept. 14 at Antimarino Stadium.

The Mites beat Penn-Trafford, 28-0, in a matchup of undefeated teams. The Midgets blanked the Warriors, 24-0.

“The Mites beat Franklin Regional, with a group of kids who had won three straight league titles, in overtime, and the whole place went crazy,” Stewart said of the 16-8 victory from Aug. 31.

“Franklin Regional is a very good program with great coaches and kids. It’s always good football when we play them.”

Penn-Trafford’s 7-8 team upped its record to 5-0 with a 12-6 win over the Termites who fell to a third-place tie in the standings at 3-2.

The top eight teams in each division make it to next month’s league playoffs.

“There is a culture of family and winning here that is always being developed,” Stewart said.

The Gateway flag team participated in a shootout Aug. 11 to determine the seeding for the playoffs. The top eight out of the 10 teams make it to the postseason.

The team also made it to the championship game of Gateway’s preseason classic shootout.

“Those are good indicators for what the flag team has for the start of the season,” Stewart said. “Winning is important, but development is everything.”

The Gators return home Sunday afternoon (Sept. 28) for Senior Day against rival Penn Hills.

The football and cheerleading seniors — Blake Jackson, Braylon Jackson, Shawndale Blackwell, Carter Jones, Agborim Ndipenock, Isaac Kirby, Knikko Young, Gavyn McCray, Zack Pollard, Serenitee Lewis, Brandon Saunders, Nyere Williams, Amauri Sanders, Warren Cook, Louis Rivere, Taviyere Joiner, Dumeir Sadik, Dupree Waters, Dorian Jackson, Sharyce Roberts, Courtney Parr, Taliyah Pitts, Alyshia Thompson, Avery Harvey, Ashlynn Simms, Sara Jaramillo Speulveda, Seiah West, Jazmyn West, Rayla Howell, Jalayla Foster — will be celebrated before the start of the Midgets game.

Stewart said new board members this year came in with energy and new perspectives to help the organization grow and evolve, while a number of young coaches, many of whom were former Gateway standouts, continue to give back as coaches.

“A lot of them moved on to big things after high school, but now they are able to be here and help these young players grow and develop,” Stewart said.

“They understand how important these teams are.”

A connection between the GMFCA program and those at the higher levels of football at Gateway, Stewart said, remains strong.

“The infrastructure is schematically put in place by (varsity) coach (Don) Holl,” Stewart said.

“He kind of gives us the overall vision. We then simplify it. A 7-year-old isn’t going to be able to do the same things as a 16-year-old. We do utilize the same philosophies. The great thing about the staffs is that many of the guys have either been coaching for a long time, have won championships, or have that experience playing major college football. We have a lot of guys who know football, and the kids are better off because of that.”