Upset of Cimarron puts Gorman back in Sunset race

Spencer Patterson

Monday, Sept. 28, 1998 | 10:02 a.m.

Bishop Gorman's football players must have thought they were experiencing deja vu in the fourth quarter of Friday's game against visiting Cimarron-Memorial.

Just one week after seeing No. 2 Cheyenne rally from a 21-point deficit to beat them, the Gaels had allowed the No. 4 Spartans to come back from 16 points down to take the lead.

This time, however, Gorman did not succumb.

The host Gaels went back on top on a touchdown pass from Nick Didier to Ethan Lewis and survived two late Cimarron field goal attempts to post a stunning 31-30 upset win.

"We had confidence that we could do it," said defensive coordinator Ben Bubak, one of the newcomers on first-year head coach Roger Whalen's staff. "We were disappointed after last week. We felt we finally got one we deserved."

Gorman (3-2, 1-2) got itself back into the Sunset Division playoff race, pulling within a half-game of fourth-place Durango. Last season, the Gaels finished sixth in the conference, ahead of only winless Bonanza.

"They've been down for several years, but Roger's come in and done a real good job," Bubak said. "And we've got a good staff that works well together."

Cimarron's loss, coupled with wins by Cheyenne and Western, knocks the defending Sunset champion Spartans (3-2, 2-1) into third place in the division.

"It was there. Our kids just didn't capitalize," Cimarron coach Greg Spencer said. "They didn't take advantage of their opportunities."

Passing fancy

After relying heavily on his running attack for the season's first four weeks, Eldorado coach Ken Trujillo put the ball in junior quarterback Arlie Daniel's hands in Friday's critical Sunrise Division matchup with rival Chaparral.

The strategy paid off, with Daniel picking apart the Cowboys' defense to help the Sundevils post a 36-15 win in the annual "Cleat Game" for Merlin Olsen's bronzed football shoe.

Daniel completed 12-of-22 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown, helping Eldorado stay even with Green Valley atop the conference standings.

The game wasn't as one-sided as the final score indicated. Only after Daniel's 41-yard completion to Junior Masco set up a touchdown that put the Sundevils up by 14 did the home fans breathe easy.

"Me and Junior have been together since our JV year," Daniel said. "We're always clicking. And the offensive line gave me protection and the running backs gave me good blocks."

* ELSEWHERE: Green Valley kept pace with Eldorado in the Sunrise Division race with a 33-9 win over neighboring Silverado. The Gators got three touchdowns from receiver Gabe Amling. ... Las Vegas remained a game behind the Sunrise leaders, defeating rival Rancho 41-7 in the annual contest for Sir Herkamer's Bone." ... Basic spoiled Valley's homecoming and stayed in the hunt for a playof spot, downing the Vikings 17-13. ... Western improved to 2-0 in the Sunset Division with a hard fought 19-14 win at Clark. ... Durango picked up an easy 32-0 victory at Bonanza. ... Cheyenne routed first-year varsity program Mojave, 50-6. ... Palo Verde fell to 3A foe Moapa Valley, 38-14 on the road.