Spring football is officially heating up across Southwest Florida, and we were on the sidelines for all the action. From new beginnings to dominant performances, here’s what we learned from the 2026 spring high school football season—starting with a fresh chapter for Gateway.
ENGLEWOOD — When you’re building a program from the ground up, every snap matters. That’s the reality for Gateway High School, which just kicked off its first spring season under new head coach Chris Strykowski. With less than three weeks to install a new system and reshape the culture, the Eagles are embracing the growing pains that come with a rebuild.
Those pains were on full display Thursday night in a 48-14 loss to Lemon Bay. After a promising start, the Eagles saw the Manta Rays rattle off touchdowns on seven straight possessions, turning a tight contest into a runaway victory.
Lemon Bay running back Hogan Winow was the star of the show, rushing for 183 yards and three touchdowns, including a breathtaking 91-yard sprint down the sideline. Quarterback Colton Davis added 121 passing yards and two scores, connecting with Cory Baker and Jacob Childers for touchdowns of 32 and 40 yards, respectively.
But it wasn’t all bad news for Gateway. The Eagles came out firing, driving into the red zone on their opening possession. After a Lemon Bay fumble, Gateway capitalized on the short field when C.J. Hood punched it in from two yards out to take a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter. It was exactly the kind of spark the new staff was hoping to see.
Lemon Bay answered immediately, needing just one play—a 75-yard touchdown run by Winow—to get on the board. From there, the Manta Rays never looked back. A missed extra point left the score at 7-6, but Lemon Bay seized control with four straight scoring drives, including a 91-yard touchdown run by Winow that left defenders in the dust.
The Manta Rays kept their foot on the gas in the second half. Eli Humphrey broke off a 49-yard touchdown run up the middle, and reserve Kendall McNealy added a 22-yard score late in the third quarter to trigger a running clock.
Gateway found a bright spot in the fourth quarter when Parker Ellis connected with Aiden Gerardo on a 67-yard touchdown strike, showing flashes of the explosive potential Strykowski is looking to build around.
For Gateway, this spring is about more than wins and losses. It’s about laying a foundation. And while the scoreboard didn’t cooperate, the Eagles took the first step in a journey that will take time, patience, and plenty of hard work.