AURORA | If the Gateway football team was ever going to win a season opener, this was the one.

Taking the field for the first time following an emotional offseason that included a close connection to the Century Aurora 16 theater shooting that left 12 dead and 58 others injured, the Olys found their stride in the second half on their way to a 26-0 victory over Smoky Hill in a non-league Aurora contest at Legacy Stadium.

Senior quarterback Tate Johnson rushed for two touchdowns and threw for one, Miguel Gonzalez piled up 135 yards and a touchdown on the ground and Darius Harvey caught a touchdown pass, had an interception and fumble recovery — among five turnovers generated by Gateway — as the Olys gave coach Justin Hoffman a win in the opening game for the first time in five seasons.

Playing six weeks after a stray bullet passed through his neck in the Century Aurora 16 theater shooting, senior lineman Zack Golditch had a big game as well for Gateway, as he recorded a pair of sacks, recovered a fumble and helped clear the way for a ground game that rushed for 250 yards.

Smoky Hill turned the ball over five times — three fumbles, two interceptions of quarterback Trent Clay — and managed just over 100 yards of total offense.

Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555

GATEWAY 26, SMOKY HILL 0

Score by quarters:

Gateway      0  7  13  6 — 26

Smoky Hill  0  0   0  0 —  0

SCORING

Second quarter

Gateway — Darius Harvey 8 yard pass from Tate Johnson (Harvey kick), 6.6

Third quarter

Gateway — Miguel Gonzalez 3 yard run (Harvey kick), 7:01

Gateway — Johnson 1 yard run (kick failed), 0.7

Fourth quarter

Gateway — Johnson 5 yard run (pass failed), 9:55

RUSHING

Gateway: Miguel Gonzalez 16-135, Tory Adams 8-44, Lamont Lynch 5-42, Tate Johnson 7-18, Nik Adams 1-6, Calvin Weber 1-3, Lance Savage 1-2

Smoky Hill: Joey Tuggle 13-68, Trent Clay 5-0

PASSING

Gateway: Johnson 2-7, 10 yards, 1 touchdown

Smoky Hill: Clay 8-15, 36 yards, 2 interceptions

RECEIVING

Gateway: Darius Harvey 1-8, Nik Adams 1-2

Smoky Hill: Michael Schonebaum 5-27, Frank Thomas 3-9

Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor and photographer with Sentinel Colorado. A Denver East High School and University of Colorado alum. He came to the Sentinel in 2001 and since then has received a number...

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