Gateway Eagles drop tight 16-13 game to Island Coast

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)— High school football season kicked off in Southwest Florida with Gateway High School hosting Island Coast for Week Zero under new head coach Chris Strykowski.

After a weather delay, fans packed the stands to watch the Eagles' season opener. The game marked a significant moment for Gateway's senior cheerleaders, who were beginning their final football season together.

"It's our first last football game, so all of our energy is really high, and I feel really grateful. I've been sharing this with these girls since our freshman year," a cheer captain said.

"There's a lot of sentiment going around, a lot of emotions tonight, but honestly, I think it's going to be a good game," she said.

On the field, Strykowski focused on building a foundation for a program that has only tallied seven wins in its young history.

"Success is really going to come in the way of really just doing things in a much more organized manner, doing things in a team manner, and really going out and you know setting new standards," Strykowski said.

That new standard got its first test against Island Coast. A dropped punt attempt by the Eagles put Island Coast in scoring territory, and the Gators cashed in with a short rushing touchdown before successfully converting the two-point try.

Gateway answered by putting together a drive that lasted nearly the entire second quarter. With less than a minute before halftime, the Eagles' quarterback lunged into the endzone to put Gateway on the board.

Gateway went for two but couldn't convert, leaving Island Coast leading 8-6 at halftime. Island Coast eventually took the win with a final score of 16-13.