High School Football

Junior Gates aids Marauders’ win

As another stellar regular season winds down and the playoffs approach for the Bishop Guilfoyle Academy football program, veteran Marauders' coach Justin Wheeler is stressing that his squad cultivates balance and depth, particularly on offense.

Enter 6-foot-1, 218-pound junior Monroe Gates, who is a starter this season on both sides of the ball at tight end and linebacker, and who is taking an expanded role on the offensive side of the ball. Wheeler said prior to the start of this season that he was looking for Gates -- who worked tirelessly on his strength and conditioning during this past offseason -- to have a breakout season.

He certainly had a breakout first quarter Saturday night, leading Guilfoyle to a 28-point first period en route to a 42-16 Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference mercy-rule victory over out-manned Forest Hills at Mansion Park.

Gates caught scoring passes of 8 and 60 yards from Wheeler's son, junior quarterback Jay Wheeler, and Gates shined on defense as well, making a sack and also recovering a fumble that set up the first of three touchdown runs on the night by Jay Wheeler.

"I just think that my coaches put me in places to succeed,'' Gates said. "Our offensive linemen blocking well, (Jay Wheeler) making some great throws, and our defensive linemen making plays all helped us tonight.''

Coach Wheeler said that Gates put in all of the necessary work during the past offseason to prepare.

"He's one of our fastest kids -- he runs the 40 (yard dash) in 4.6 (seconds), and he's bench pressing over 325 pounds,'' Coach Wheeler said. "He had a great offseason. He has been shining defensively, and we know that he is an offensive weapon.

"We've got to get as many guys involved offensively in order for us to win games,'' Coach Wheeler said. "He had a great first half tonight.''

BG -- which improved to 7-1 overall and in the LHAC -- built a 42-0 halftime lead, effecting the mercy-rule for the entire second half, when the Marauders were able to get all of their reserve players plenty of field time. "It starts with having a defensive mindset,'' Coach Wheeler said. "This week, our starting defensive unit didn't give up any points in the first half, and last week, that group shut out Bellwood.''

BG opened Saturday's game by scoring three lightning-quick touchdowns in just over five minutes.

The Marauders moved downfield like clockwork on their opening drive, which was highlighted by Jay Wheeler's 38-yard run and his 8-yard scoring pass to Gates.

After senior defensive end Rocco Cacciotti forced a Forest Hills fumble that Gates recovered at the Rangers' 9 to set up the 5-yard Jay Wheeler touchdown run, Jay Wheeler found Gates all alone down the middle of the field and connected with him on the 60-yard touchdown pass with 6:48 left in the first period to put BG up, 21-0.

"(Jay Wheeler) made a great throw,'' Gates said. "Our offense was really clicking tonight.''

Jay Wheeler's 1-yard TD run late in the first quarter, and his 42-yard scoring run midway through the second period, made it a 35-0 game, and a fumble recovery by Luke Gioiosa set up senior Evan Schimminger's 11-yard scoring catch and run that gave the Marauders the 42-0 halftime edge, with the mercy rule in effect for the entire second half.

Plays of the game: The biggest scoring gainers were Jay Wheeler's 60-yard TD connection to Gates and the 42-yard Wheeler touchdown burst in which he split the defense and used his speed to outrun every defender to the end zone.

Players of the game: Jay Wheeler ran for 3 touchdowns and 96 yards on only six first-half carries, while completing four passes for 80 yards, while Gates made his yeoman contributions on both sides of the ball.

Most vital statistic: BG put the game on ice quickly, scoring 28 first-quarter points, including three touchdowns in the first 5:12.

Forest Hills coach Tom Blanchetti: "BG has no weaknesses. They're very solid and well-coached, with a lot of athletic talent. They're one of the best teams we've played all year.''

Notable: Forest Hills junior back Kaden Crumbley rushed for 134 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown, while Aiden Petak accounted for the Rangers' other score on a 6-yard run ... Luke Gioiosa and Jamison Foor recovered fumbles for BG.

Records: Forest Hills (2-6); BG (7-1).

Next week: Forest Hills hosts Bishop McCort; Bishop Guilfoyle travels to Clearfield.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Forest Hills 0 0 8 8 -- 16

Bishop Guilfoyle 28 14 0 0 -- 42

First Quarter

BG--Gates 8 pass from Wheeler (Boland kick), 11:05.

BG--Wheeler 5 run (Boland kick), 8:46.

BG--Gates 60 pass from Wheeler (Boland kick), 6:48.

BG--Wheeler 1 run (Boland kick), 1:00.

Second Quarter

BG--Wheeler 42 run (Boland kick), 6:14.

BG--Schimminger 11 pass from Wheeler (Boland kick), 4:25.

Third Quarter

FH--Chumbley 2 run (Aiden Petak pass from Kovatch), 4:45.

Fourth Quarter

FH--Aiden Petak 6 run (Minor run), 9:23.

TEAM STATISTICS FH BG

First downs 15 15

Total yards 215 367

Rushes-yards 43-185 24-195

Yards passing 30 172

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 2-8-0 12-14-0

Punts/avg. 2-41 0-0

Fumbles-lost 3-3 2-1

Penalties-yards 0-0 2-10

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Forest Hills, Chumbley 16-134, Aiden Petak 6-63, Minor 8-32, Varljen 3-9, Anthony Petak 1-(-6), Kovach 9-(-47). Bishop Guilfoyle, Wheeler 6-96, Foor 6-42, Hewitt 4-15, Schimminger 2-12, Himmelwright 2-11, Okonak 1-9, Hite 1-8, L. Gioiosa 1-3, Shellenberger 1-(-1).

PASSING--Forest Hills, Kovach 2-8-0-30. Bishop Guilfoyle, Wheeler 6-7-0-110, Shellenberger 6-7-0-62.

RECEIVING--Forest Hills, Chumbley 2-30. Bishop Guilfoyle, Gates 2-68, L. Gioiosa 2-19, Schimminger 3-26, Wheeler 1-26, Hewitt 1-18, Okonak 1-6, Foor 1-6, Himmelwright 1-2.