The Gateway varsity football team will open up its 2010 season with a team from the eastern side of Pennsylvania after all.

The Gators will play District 3 Quad-A power Bishop McDevitt in its first game.

Gateway will travel to McDevitt this season and McDevitt will come to Monroeville in 2011.

"This is going to be a great game for the opening weekend," Gator head coach Terry Smith said.

"Both schools are really excited."

The agreement finalizes the Gators' 2010 schedule, which also features nonconference games against Penn Hills and Pittsburgh Central Catholic.

Gateway also will return to the Quad South conference and face rival McKeesport, as well as Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Hempfield, Greater Latrobe and Connellsville.

McDevitt was 12-0 in 2009 before an overtime loss to Cumberland Valley in the District 3 championship game, which also was the PIAA state quarterfinal round.

The Crusaders feature 5-foot-11, 195-pound junior running back Jameel Poteat, who Smith regards as a tremendous talent and "one of the best tailbacks in the country."

Poteat, the cousin of former Pitt and Pittsburgh Steelers player Hank Poteat, already has received several Division I scholarship offers, including Florida and USC.

Hank Poteat currently is a defensive back for the Cleveland Browns.

"(McDevitt) traditionally is big upfront, and they are quick and athletic on the perimeter," Smith said.

"We will have to prepare hard to play them. We are excited for the challenge."

McDevitt also boasts former Pitt running back and current Philadelphia Eagles star LeSean Mc- Coy as an alumnus.

The Harrisburg school also is the alma mater for former NFL standout running back Ricky Watters, who attended Notre Dame before a strong career with the Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.

Gateway coaches and players thought their opening-game quest was ended in January when an agreement was reach- ed for the Gators to play District 1 power North Penn to open the season.

However, miscommunication between North Penn's head coach and the school's athletic officials, Smith said, led to the matchup being terminated.