Week 2 Game Preview: Thomas Jefferson Vs. Gateway
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We have a really good non-conference WPIAL matchup. Gateway will be hosting Thomas Jefferson Friday September 3rd. During the offseason, Gateway received a couple of transfers, one being the top 2024 QB in the WPIAL in Brad Birch Brad Birch…
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Continue ReadingWe have a really good non-conference WPIAL matchup. Gateway will be hosting Thomas Jefferson Friday September 3rd. During the offseason, Gateway received a couple of transfers, one being the top 2024 QB in the WPIAL in Brad Birch Brad Birch 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Gateway | 2024 State PA , along with his brother Brett Birch Brett Birch 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Gateway | 2022 State PA . In their Gateway debut the Birch brothers both had good games. Brad went 15-25 with 275 yards and 3 touchdowns while Brett had 6 receptions for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns. Birch also has senior WR/DB and Cincinnati commit Patrick Body Patrick Body 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Gateway | 2022 State PA and junior WR Malachi Moore Malachi Moore 5'11" | 210 lbs | ATH Gateway | 2023 State PA . Brad Birch Brad Birch 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Gateway | 2024 State PA is going to have to watch out for Thomas Jefferson d-line with junior Jordan Mayer Jordan Mayer 6'5" | 230 lbs | DL Thomas Jefferson | 2023 State PA and senior Connor Murga. Mayer holds 2 FBS offers. Murga had an impact in last year’s playoffs.
Thomas Jefferson offensively has quite a bit of question marks. There’s been a QB battle between senior Joe Lekse and sophomore Brody Evans. They lost a couple of their top wide receivers last season as well. They also lost 1 running back but still have Murga in the backfield who had 111 carries for 821 yards and 15 touchdowns. Up in the trenches, they got Kent State commit Nick Bryan Nick Bryan 6'3" | 275 lbs | OL Thomas Jefferson | 2022 State PA . Linebacker Aiden Smith is going to have to keep Murga in check. The receiving core and Gateway secondary will be interesting. I expect Gateway to win that matchup with Body back there. Freshman DB Kenny Lewis could see some snaps as a well. I am really interested in how this game will turn out.