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Smaller textGateway keeping it in the family
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Kevin Gorman is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review staff writer and can be reached at 412-320-7812 or via e-mail.
Gateway coach Terry Smith, who is King's stepfather, didn't even have to go outside the family to find that person.
The Gators are counting on Aaron Smith -- the head coach's nephew and the son of Gators offensive coordinator Harvey Smith -- to make a smooth transition at quarterback.
Aaron Smith, a 6-foot, 180-pound junior, has big shoes to fill. He replaces Mortty Ivy, a West Virginia recruit who accounted for 2,000 offensive yards last season, passing for 1,476 passing yards and 19 touchdowns with no interceptions and running for 528 yards.
Smith is up to the challenge.
"I've been looking forward to it," said Smith, who played receiver the past two seasons. "I knew it was going to be my turn, so I was getting ready right after the season."
King rushed for 1,763 yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior, when Gateway finished 9-2 to win the Quad South Conference title and reach the WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinals. King is counting on his cousin (by marriage) to use his arm to keep defenses honest.
"He's good enough to keep eight out of the box," King said. "That's what I need. He's more of a passing quarterback than a running quarterback."
Although Smith is considered a college prospect at receiver -- "Aaron has the best hands you'll ever see on a kid," Terry Smith said -- he played quarterback until high school and has a lively arm.
"He's a more accurate passer than Mortty, but he doesn't have the arm strength," Smith said. "He has to be able to complete a few passes to prevent teams from crowding the box. He's going to be good. It's just a matter of time before he's 100 percent comfortable."
Gateway has a young offensive line, led by senior right tackle Matt Houy (6-2, 272). Aaron Smith has a handful of receivers to throw to, with King, senior Justin Colbaugh (5-9, 195), a converted tailback with breakaway speed, sophomore John Ditto (6-4, 205) and senior tight end Loran Sekely (6-2, 216).
"They'll help tremendously," Terry Smith said. "If you look at Justin Colbaugh's statistics at tailback, he averaged 15 yards per carry last season. And Ditto is a big target, an athletic player with speed."
Gateway's strength, however, is on defense.
It returns nine starters and features the nation's top defensive back in the 6-foot, 185-pound King, who will play cornerback opposite senior Evan Ayasso.
The Gators have a strong linebacker corps led by Division I prospects in senior Mike Barlak (6-2, 221) and junior Dan Loheyde (6-2 1/2, 220).
"They have to be the foundation of the team," Smith said. "We're always hoping the defense can keep us in the game and the offense will score late."
