Monroeville PA - (KDKA Radio 100.1 FM AM 1020) - Brad Birch throws for three touchdowns, Dallas Harper scores two touchdowns and intercepts a pass as Gateway knocks off Mt. Lebanon 21-6 in week 0 on KDKA Radio's Game of the Week.
In the opening quarter both Mt. Lebanon and Gateway moved the ball deep into enemy territory but were unable to put points on the board as the game was scoreless after one quarter.
In the second quarter Gateway moved the ball into Mt. Lebanon territory but it looked like the drive would stall out after a blind-side block negated a 23 yard touchdown moving the ball back to the Mt. Lebanon 38 yard line. The Gators went for it on 4th and 20 at the Mt. Lebanon 34 yard line. Birch connected a 34 yard pass to Dallas Harper for the touchdown and Gateway struck first blood 7-0 with 7:02 to play in the first half.
After a Mt. Lebanon punt, Gateway started at the 49 yard line and converted another deep pass from Birch as he found Jaquon Reynold for a gain of 36 yards all the way to the Mt. Lebanon 15 yard line. Gateway was pushed back by penalties and were faced with a 4th down and 7 at the Mt. Lebanon 12 yard line. The Gators went for it and were stopped on 4th down, turning the ball over on downs.
Gateway opened up the second half with a great drive into the Mt. Lebanon redzone. Mt. Lebanon's Nate Sala intercepted Birch's pass and the Blue Devils defense got a huge stop as Gateway was knocking on the door.
Gateway's defense got a turnover as Dallas Harper intercepted David Shields and returned it to the Mt. Lebanon 21 yard line. The next play, Birch threw a strike to Harper again, this time for a 21 yard touchdown. Gateway took a 14-0 lead with 7:07 to play in the third quarter.
Mt. Lebanon implemented the wildcat offense and ran the ball effectively into Gateway territory on the opening drive of the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils converted on 4th and 3 to extend the drive deep in Gateway territory. Beckham Dee took the handoff and scored on a three yard touchdown run to cut the Gateway lead to 14-6 with 7:19 to play in the game. The extra point was missed.
Gateway responded with an 8 play 88 yard drive that resulted in a touchdown, as Birch threw his third touchdown of the game, this time to Anez Jordan for 37 yards to make it 21-6 Gators with 4:42 to go in the game.
On 4th down and short Mt. Lebanon ran Dee up the middle to get to the first down sticks but Gateway's defense stopped him short of the line to gain and turned the Blue Devils over on downs.
This is the first time since October 2020 that Mt. Lebanon has lost a football game.
"Great defensive effort, they found ways over and over again, we made just enough plays on offense. Sometimes you gotta grit one out and find a way and they did that," said Gateway head coach Don Holl to KDKA Radio's Robert Mangino.
