Aurora – It is a bunch of Gateway Olympians convinced they are heading into next week’s American League play upbeat, confident and ready to make a another league title run.
Having given third-ranked Bear Creek all it wanted in a Week 1 loss, then withstanding the superlative Lamarr Houston and Doherty in a one-point victory, the Olys dismantled Hinkley 57-15 on Friday night in nonleague play between city rivals at Aurora Public Schools Stadium.
Gateway, which improved to 2-1, repeatedly pointed to earlier games as the reason it is playing so well in all phases – offense, defense and special teams.
“It’s our schedule,” Olys coach Jeff Sweet said. “It has really carried over and helped us. We didn’t blink.”
Said Olys quarterback Greg Bolling: “All three areas of our game are working right now; they’re very good. We’re scoring, stopping people and making plays.”
The Olys did Friday – they whipped the Thunderbirds, also 2-1, in all areas.
Gateway scored touchdowns the first five times it had the ball. There could have been a sixth just before halftime, but a pass was dropped in the end zone.
Defensively, the Olys, led by Tim Kelliher, Omar Bellachmi and Brian Lindstrom, gave up only one score when the game was in the balance and harassed Hinkley quarterback Tyrell Kinard repeatedly. Gateway also added a safety in the second half.
Special teams got into it, too, for the Olys. A reverse on a punt return set up their fifth touchdown, and they recovered an onside kick.
“I have to hand it to our kids, they don’t quit,” Sweet said.
Bolling, named an All-Colorado defensive back by The Denver Post last season as a junior, has been spectacular in switching from wide receiver to quarterback. He ran 10 times for 124 yards and three touchdowns, and was 5-for-7 passing for 99 yards for a touchdown.
Brian McCarty added 101 yards on 16 carries and and a touchdown as Gateway rolled to 420 yards of offense, 321 rushing. Hinkley finished with 252 total yards, but never seriously challenged.
Hinkley 0 7 0 8 – 15
Gateway 14 21 22 0 – 57
G – Bolling 12 run (White kick). G – Gainey 46 pass from Bolling (White kick). H – Belt 9 pass from Kinard (Madeira kick). G – McCarty 3 run (White kick). G – Bolling 8 run (White kick). G – Bolling 13 run (White kick). G – McCarty 1 run (White kick). G – Safety. G – Schiele 7 run (White kick). G – Bellachmi 6 run (kick failed). H – Berry 13 pass from Kinard (Belt pass from Kinard).
