Gateway's trick play in the WPIAL Class AAAA championship game got more national recognition recently.

The Gators' hook-and-ladder play was selected as ESPN's Greatest Of The Month. Every month, the cable television station nominates three plays as Greatest Of The Month, and the public picks the winner.

Gateway's play beat out two NFL plays to win the award. One was San Diego Charger Antonio Cromartie's 109-yard return of a missed field goal against the Minnesota Vikings. The other was a 100-yard kickoff return by Cleveland's Josh Cribbs against the Steelers.

Gateway's play came with the Gators trailing Central Catholic, 28-20, late in the game at Heinz Field. Gateway's Jonathan Pryor caught a pass and immediately gave a lateral to Cam Saddler, who ran for a touchdown with one second left. The play, which Gateway calls "Our Father," traveled 28 yards.

Gateway tied the score with a two-point conversion but lost in overtime, 35-34.

"I guess we keep getting consolation prizes," Gateway coach Terry Smith said with a laugh.

When asked if the ESPN award takes any sting away from the loss, Saddler said: "Not at all. Central is still blowing teams out in the state playoffs, and we're at home eating cookies and milk."

By winning the Greatest Of The Month, the Gateway play is eligible to win ESPN's Play of the Year. The public will vote on the Play Of The Year, and Smith said the top three will go to the ESPYs award show next summer.

"Wouldn't that be crazy?" Saddler said. "I could be at the ESPYs acting like I have so much money. I'd just go there and call everyone by their first name. I'd just say, 'Hey, Kobe, where you been?' Or, 'LeBron, how you been?' "

Recruiting

Saddler, a running back-defensive back, and Gateway teammate Shayne Hale made an official recruiting visit to West Virginia this weekend. Saddler will announce his decision later this week and the finalists are Pitt, West Virginia and Virginia.

Saddler and Hale attended the Pitt-West Virginia game, but Hale has not set a timetable to pick a college.

"I went out with [West Virginia receiver] Wes Lyons after the game, but it wasn't too great," Saddler said. "Everyone was just shocked."

Facing Pitt recruit

This could be the biggest challenge of the year for Jeannette's defense. The Jayhawks face Wilmington and star running back Chris Burns in a PIAA Class AA semifinal Saturday.

Burns is a Pitt recruit who is having a big season. He rushed for 233 yards in a 35-24 quarterfinal victory Friday against Bishop McCort. For the season, Burns has 1,901 yards on 208 attempts and has scored 32 touchdowns.

Not Pryor

Gatorade selects a player of the year for each state and one national player of the year. Surprising to many, Jeannette's Terrelle Pryor was not selected as Pennsylvania's player of the year, despite a superb season and being ranked the No. 1 player in the country by a few scouting services.

Instead, the award went to Bethlehem Liberty linebacker Brendan Beal. A University of Florida recruit, Beal had 113 tackles this season after transferring to Liberty from a school in New Jersey.

Check this out

• Parkland, an Eastern Pennsylvania school, has made it to the PIAA semifinals under coach Jim Morgans. But Morgans is no stranger to a PIAA title chase. He won two PIAA Class AAA championships in the 1990s at Allentown Central Catholic.

• Ridley, which will play Parkland in the semifinals, held West Chester Henderson to five first downs and 126 total yards in a 19-0 quarterfinal win.

• Steelton-Highspire running back Jeremiah Young had one of the best rushing performances in PIAA Class A playoff history when he gained 356 yards on 30 attempts in a 45-13 victory against Bellwood-Antis.