Gateway didn't let a Cinderella spoil its chances at a WPIAL title this year.
But North Hills -- the surprise team of the AAAA playoffs -- wasn't far from a fairy-tale ending.
After letting No. 12 North Hills come within eight points of the lead in the fourth quarter of the teams' semifinal meeting Friday night at Fox Chapel, the top-seeded Gators scored twice in the final 4:35 to seal their trip to Heinz Field, 42-20.
"It was a tough game," Gateway coach Terry Smith said. "(North Hills) came ready to play. They challenged us. We answered the call, though."
The Gators are back in the WPIAL final a year after being upset there by Bethel Park -- last year's Cinderella story of the postseason. Gateway will face No. 2 Woodland Hills Friday night for the championship.
North Hills had upset a pair of higher seeds on its way to the semifinals -- No. 5 McKeesport and No. 4 North Allegheny -- and Indians gave Gateway fits at moments on offense and defense all night.
But Gators running back Brendon Felder scored three touchdowns and ran for 83 yards, and receiver Dayonne Nunley had a pair of scores and an interception to power Gateway's athletic offense and avoid the upset.
In leading the resilient Indians, running back Max Creighan had two touchdowns and quarterback Taylor Schmidt ran for a game-high 96 yards and threw a touchdown pass.
"They were a tricky team," Nunley said. "They have a tricky offense like McKeesport -- a lot of reverses and switches."
But the Gators' impressive speed -- the key to their big-play offense -- was on display early and often.
On the game's second play from scrimmage, Nunley took a screen pass 59 yards through the center of North Hills' defense for the game's first touchdown.
The Indians' first possession took a more methodical approach, but it still ended with points. They marched 58 yards in 12 plays, before the drive stalled at the Gateway 23.
Kicker Anthony Chiappetta's ensuing 40-yard field goal attempt then bounced off of the crossbar and through the uprights - setting a new career-best for the senior and cutting the Gators' lead to 7-3.
One play later, however, Gateway broke the score open again.
Adding another highlight-reel play to his night, Nunley fielded the following North Hills kick inside the 20 and burned down the right side of the field for an 82-yard kick return touchdown.
"What's amazing is, (Nunley) had the worst day of practice yesterday, and he came out tonight and was outstanding," Smith said.
The next possession saw more North Hills misfortune, when an Indians fumble was recovered by Gateway's Orne Bey at the Indians 34.
The Gators didn't waste the field position and scored in seven plays. Felder ran four times for 24 yards on the drive, including a 3-yard touchdown.
Down 21-3 late in the first quarter, North Hills had no intentions of going quietly.
Taking over at their own 30, North Hills moved 70 yards in just under four minutes against the WPIAL's best scoring defense. Schmidt provided key plays throughout the possession, with a 41-yard rush and a 4-yard touchdown pass to Creighan.
North Hills could have cut its deficit to less than a touchdown late in the half, but Elajah David dropped what would have likely been an interception return for a touchdown. Instead, Gateway kept its 21-10 lead going into halftime.
The Indians offense kept its momentum on the first drive of the third quarter, working its way into the end zone. But Gateway's defense held again, and North Hills settled for a 30-yard field goal from Chiappetta.
Gateway responded with a long scoring drive of its own, using seven plays to go 64 yards. Felder punched in his second touchdown run from six yards out to cap the drive.
But North Hills continued to fight. After Felder's score, the Indians went 67 yards and Creighan scored on a 7-yard run at the start of the fourth quarter.
Holding a tenuous 28-20 lead, Gateway gave North Hills more life by turning the ball over on downs at midfield on its next series.
The Indians weren't able to take advantage, though, and fumbled on the ensuing possession.
Gateway then sealed its win with a 58-yard drive, capped by a 26-yard touchdown catch by Gators leading receiver Stephen Vranka.
With three minutes left in the game, Felder scored on an 11-yard rush for the game's final points.
