GATESVILLE – Next stop – state play-offs!

Gates Countycapped off a successful regular season here Friday night where the Red Barons gave the Homecoming crowd a lot to cheer about and sent the school seniors out on a winning note by routing Kipp Pride, 41-6.

In the process, GCHS used the win to finish their regular schedule with a 7-3 overall record and a 4-1 mark inside Tar-Roanoke Conference action, good enough for a second place finish behind Northampton High (a 35-28 winner on Friday at Southeast Halifax).

The state play-off brackets are scheduled to be released later Saturday afternoon.

But before the ‘Barons could set their sights on the post-season, they first had to take care of business against Kipp. GCHS did exactly that, getting 181 rushing yards and 3 TDs from Brandall Riddick plus 171 yards on the ground from Isaiah Eure.

All totaled, Gates finished the contest with 472 total yards, 409 of which came on the ground.

The Red Barons scored on three of their five, first half possessions en route to a 22-0 lead at halftime…where senior Courtney Pierce of Gatesville was crowned Homecoming Queen.

Even though the ‘Barons were able to flex their offensive muscle on the ground, their first score actually came through the air on a 54-yard TD pass from Andrew Wiggins to Joshua Cross. Latron Norfleet booted the PAT for a 7-0 lead at the 4:31 mark of the first quarter.

Set up by Shawn Sutton’s fumble recovery at Kipp’s 23 yardline, GCHS scored again two minutes later on Riddick’s eight-yard run to paydirt. Eure ran in the conversion, making it 15-0.

Riddick scored again in the second quarter (8:22 on the clock) as he capped a nine play, 91-yard drive with his 17-yard scamper to the endzone. Norfleet added the PAT for a 22-0 halftime cushion. With the exception of one pass (9 yards from Cross to Derrick Bellamy), that long drive was on the ground. Riddick provided most of the muscle, running five times for 49 yards.

The ‘Barons tacked on a pair of third quarter scores – Kyle Anderson’s two-yard run and Riddick’s 18-yard touchdown, extending their lead to 35-0.

GCHS pushed the lead to 41-0 midway the fourth quarter where Cross scored on a four-yard run.

Kipp avoided the shutout by scoring on the game’s final play – Kristofer Vincent’s 28-yard run.

The visiting Panthers finished with 142 yards of total offense, all on the ground.