Paravia rallies Gorman to victory over Cheyenne

Bob Cloud

Monday, Oct. 14, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Frustrated and beaten for more than three quarters, Bishop Gorman awoke at just the right time and pulled off a stirring comeback Friday night.

Steve Paravia threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns -- including a 24-yarder to Tim Walker with eight seconds to play -- as the Gaels rallied from an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 20-18 victory at Cheyenne.

Gorman improved to 4-3 overall and moved into a four-way tie for second place in the Sunset Division at 3-2. The loss spoiled homecoming for the Desert Shields, dropping them to 4-3 and 3-2.

Trailing 18-0 in the final quarter, the Gaels scored twice in a 22-second span to close the gap to 18-13. Getting one final opportunity following a Cheyenne punt with 50 seconds to play, Paravia threw two incompletions before hitting Steve Burford with a 28-yard completion to the Cheyenne 24-yard line.

After intentionally downing the ball to stop the clock, Paravia threw to Walker, who caught the ball at the five and bowled over two tacklers to score the game-winner.

"I just got flushed out of the pocket," Paravia said of the winning score. "I didn't want to set up behind a lineman because I wanted to get a clean look downfield. He's been my No. 1 receiver all season long. He's really got good hands."

"The coaches did a great job of making adjustments at halftime," Gorman coach Mike Brascia said afterward. "The kids played a tremendous game against a Cheyenne team that's just dynamite. To come back like that in the fourth quarter was something. The kids deserve a lot of credit."

In other Southern AAAA games Friday night, Western grabbed sole possession of the Sunset Division lead with a 20-14 win at Cimarron-Memorial, Valley remained atop the Sunrise with a 14-12 win over Eldorado, Bonanza defeated Durango 39-21, Clark edged Silverado 14-13 in overtime, Green Valley beat Basic 26-7 and Las Vegas blanked Rancho 21-0.

In the fourth quarter alone at Cheyenne, Gorman's Paravia connected on nine of 14 pass attempts for 171 yards and the three touchdowns.

"Steve was outstanding," said Brascia. "All season long we've put a lot of pressure on him to perform and he's come through. He made the plays when it counted.

"This is what it's all about. To win a game like this is a credit to the intensity and focus of the kids. It takes a lot of heart to win a game like this, and these kids have it."

"It shows we never give up," Paravia said. "The second half of games has been our strongest point throughout the season. We've got a lot of pride ourselves and it showed tonight."

The Gaels, 3-6 a year ago, find themselves in the thick of the Sunset playoff race. It's a position Brascia is happy to be in, but he doesn't want his team to think playoffs just yet.

"We still have a couple of very difficult teams to play. It's still going to be a very tough go. There are many great teams still in the running in our division and it's going to be an exciting two weeks."

In other action involving Southern Nevada teams, The Meadows improved to 5-1 with a 24-8 win over Lincoln County, Indian Springs beat Eureka 42-38, Moapa Valley defeated White Pine 27-7 and Spring Mountain rallied in the final quarter to edge Faith Lutheran 28-26.