The Garfield Gators have been one of the most successful youth football programs in Southwestern Pennsylvania history. The Gators organization provides opportunity for inner-city kids to participate in youth football and cheer. The entire community gets involved with the team. It’s an all volunteer staff that provides the best coaching instruction regardless of economic background the chance to learn the values of character, integrity, discipline, and teamwork through football and cheerleading.
President Bob Jones, Coach Paper and the entire staff have built an outstanding organization nail-by-nail, dollar-by-dollar and piece-by-piece.
“This is more than football its family. All the people who were in my wedding are part of this program,” said Officer Mike Gay. “It’s all about the kids. We want to give to these kids things that we didn’t have. Be mentors. Be a father figure.”
The Gators were riding a 69 game winning streak like California Chrome! But on Sunday Oct. 26, at Cupples Stadium, Homewood-Brushton “Shook up the World” by knocking off the Gators 14-7 to win the 13-14 age group championship.
Coach Tone Walls and the Gators beat Homewood-Brushton earlier in the year, but it’s a rare opportunity to get a rematch against your arch rival. While most teams must wait a year to avenge regular-season losses, a fortunate few — or unfortunate, depending on perception — receive the chance in a championship game.
Kenatta Gastons scored from 2-yards out to put the Gators up 6-0 and Sam “I am” Fairley caught a pass for the 1-point conversion and a 7-0 lead.
Westinghouse High School won more city league championship titles than any other team and Homewood-Brushton is their feeder team, so football and winning is in their blood. Homewood-Brushton played a near perfect game in the 2nd half and held the Gators scoreless.
And now Garfield has to wait a year for a rematch.
Garfield calls all their teams the Gators. Garfield had 4 teams who played for a championship. The 7-8 age team won, the 9-10 age team won, however the 11-12 age team lost to Wilkinsburg.
Coach Melvin Gay and Daniel “Boy-Boy” Kane led Garfield to a 13-8 victory over the North Side to capture the 7-8 year old championship.
“The 7-8 year old team is undefeated and they won back-to-back national championships,” said coach Paper. “They have played teams from all over and including Canada.”
Coach Henry Reed and Khilee Patterson led Garfield 18-0 victory and the 9-10 year old championship.
Head Coach Bob Jones and Garfield got stung by the Wilkinsburg Bees. Coach Ku and Dayquan “Day-Day” Hardy won 27-0.
“We are a great football program too,” said Wilkinsburg Athletic Director Trevor Williams. “From top to bottom this is the best league. We beat Garfield during the regular season. Quarterback “Day-Day” Hardy is a great player.”
The Garfield Gators are a team who built a 69-game winning streak, the teams go on trips that other youth teams do not make and they play to standing room only crowds. These are accomplishments of teams ranging from 7-to-14-year-olds.
The coaches have built the Garfield Gators into a powerhouse that is the envy of youth coaches almost everywhere.
Kids play football for a variety of different reasons. If you are a parent and looking for a program that will help build discipline, character and life lessons for your son. The Garfield Gators just might be the organization for you.
