Gorman wraps up Southwest

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000 | 12:05 p.m.

If, as the adage goes, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, then Bishop Gorman could be quite a handful in the upcoming prep football playoffs.

After battling adversity all year, the Gaels head into the postseason with the Southwest Division title in hand and an unbeaten conference mark under their belt, courtesy of a 22-20 win at Western Thursday night.

"When you hang together, good things happen," Gorman coach Roger Whalen said. "We've tried to find something positive for the kids to focus on every day, and it's paying off."

Picked to win their division and challenge Cimarron-Memorial for the best record in the Sunset Region, the Gaels encountered a series of unexpected pitfalls this fall, from a rash of injuries to several key starters to the suspension of 11 players for failing a team drug test.

In the wake of a 17-7 loss at second-year Centennial in week seven, many were ready to count Gorman out in 2000. But after getting back on track with a win over Bonanza last week, the Gaels (6-3 overall) closed out a 4-0 conference season Thursday night.

"Our work ethic really picked up this week," Whalen said. "This means something to the kids to be where we're at after what we've been through. It's been a long time since we beat Western, let alone come to their place and beat them with this much at stake."

The victory was not without its tight moments for Gorman, with the Warriors (4-5, 2-2) driving deep into Gaels territory midway through the final quarter. But just as Kevin Murray's 26-yard scamper brought the hosts inside the 10-yard line, the Western running back fumbled the football, and Gorman's Dyante Perkins recovered it to keep his team in front for good.

"Coach talked to us the whole year about overcoming adversity, and we did overcome adversity." Perkins said. "We hit a low point during the season and all the critics were putting us down. But that just gave us more motivation."

Perkins gave the Gaels an early lead, with the 6-1, 220-pound quarterback faking a pitch and darting 40 yards for a first-quarter touchdown. But Western answered, knotting the score on a 25-yard run by Aaron Denson.

Gorman took another brief lead seconds later, when Ronnell Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. But the visitors' point-after-attempt was blocked and the Warriors took advantage of the miscue, taking a 14-13 lead early in the second quarter on a Murray 1-yard plunge.

Still down by a point at halftime, the Gaels began churning out long drives in the second half, with Perkins (17 carries, 130 yards) and running back Jason Rogers (19 carries, 94 yards) doing the bulk of the work. Perkins capped off Gorman's first drive of the half with a 4-yard touchdown scramble, and kicker Skylar Sostman converted a 39-yard field goal on the next to give the visitors a 22-14 lead.

Bishop Gorman 22, Western 20

First Quarter

GOR--Perkins 40 run (Sostman kick), 9:47

WES--Denson 25 run (Dake kick), 4:49

GOR--Thomas 80 kickoff return (kick blocked), 4:36

Second Quarter

WES--Murray 1 run (Dake kick), 9:14

Third Quarter

GOR--Perkins 4 run (run failed), 7:05

GOR--Sostman 39 field goal, 1:00

WES--Martin 52 run (run failed), 0:16

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS