GATEWAY OLYMPIANS
Coach: Justin Hoffman, 6th season
Last year: 5-5 (lost in first round of Class 5A playoffs)
League: Class 5A Aurora League
Players to watch: Zack Golditch, 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, OL/DL, sr.; Miguel Gonzalez, 5-9, 180, RB, sr.; Tate Johnson, 6-1, 190, QB, sr.; Nik Adams, 6-0, 180, WR/RB, sr.; Tory Adams, 5-10, 225, RB, sr.; Darius Harvey, 6-0, 190, TE/LB, sr.; Robert Kelly, 6-0, 180, WR/DB, sr.; Anthony Holmes, 6-6, 200, WR, jr.; Isaac Fuqua, 5-10, 195, LB, jr.; Jose Maruffo, 6-2, 195, DL, sr.; Josh Butler, 5-11, 155, DB, sr.; Jessie Kranzler, 5-10, 180, DB/WR, sr.; Lamont Lynch, 5-5, 145, RB, sr.; Jonah Mitchell, OL/DL, 6-2, 190, sr.
2012 Outlook: Building on momentum from a strong finish to the 2011 season — which included giving Class 5A runner-up Lakewood a huge test in the first round — Gateway had a strong summer and held its own in workouts against quality teams from strong leagues, then took second and third at Rangeview’s annual Hog Wars strength competition. The Olys have been galvanized further in the aftermath of the shooting at the nearby Century Aurora 16 theater, where several team members were in attendance when 12 people were killed and 58 others injured. Star senior lineman Zack Golditch suffered a neck wound from a stray bullet, but the 6-foot-5, 260-pound Colorado State pledge has recovered enough to be cleared for contact nearly two weeks before Gateway’s opening game. With Golditch and a slew of experience up front, quarterback Tate Johnson and the running back group of Miguel Gonzalez, Tory Adams and others should keep the chains moving. The Olys aren’t huge on defense, but have the speed to get to the ball quickly.
Quoting the coach: “I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited for a season to begin. With all the healing that’s going on around here, it’s just another piece of the puzzle for us. We’re really looking forward to competing for a reason. It’s very exciting to get back on the field and get back to some sense of normalcy.”
Schedule (home games in all caps, played at Aurora Public Schools Stadium): Friday, Aug. 31 — vs. Smoky Hill at Legacy Stadium, 7 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 7 — NORTHGLENN, 6 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 14 — at Cherokee Trail, 7 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 21 — at Westminster, 7 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 27 — DENVER EAST, 4 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 6 — vs. Aurora Central at APS Stadium, 6 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 12 — vs. Rangeview at APS Stadium, 6 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 19 — HINKLEY, 6 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 25 — ADAMS CITY, 4 p.m.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
