Injuries, distractions weigh on Gaels

Nick Christensen

Thursday, Sept. 30, 2004 | 9:35 a.m.

For the first two weeks of this season, Bishop Gorman's football team could just watch and wait.

Barred from playing for one game because of a fight in a playoff game last year, and for another because of scheduling problems, the preseason Southwest Division favorites could only practice against themselves as their division rival Sierra Vista ran off to a 4-1 record.

"It really just made us want to get out there," senior tackle Danny Wadhams said. "We couldn't wait to get out, especially after last season."

The Gaels ran off a 12-point victory against a struggling team from suburban Portland, Ore., then lost at Colton, Calif., before coming back last week to beat Desert Pines.

In the process, Gorman lost starting quarterback C.J. Sedoris, possibly until the regular season finale in five weeks, and it has welcomed back junior running back DeMarco Murray, who was suspended for the first two games for his participation in last year's melee.

Amid all of this, senior linebacker Ryan Reynolds, one of the nation's top college recruits, is suffering from a bit of performance anxiety. Having already made official visits to Oklahoma and Florida, Reynolds is also planning to visit Louisiana State and possibly Notre Dame in trying to make his college decision by the end of October.

"I put too much pressure on myself," he said. "I feel like I have to make a million tackles a game. I put too much pressure on myself. It kills me."

Coach David White said that he's trying to get Reynolds to stop worrying.

"He's frustrated trying to live up to everybody's expectations," White said. "Notre Dame called tonight and they're praying they've got a chance to see if he can even get a visit. I think he's just frustrated about the wrong things. He's got to go out and have fun and help the team win games."

While White wants to see Reynolds worry a little less about his performance, he also is trying to fire up a defense that has allowed 27.67 points per game, 19th among the 27 4A teams in Southern Nevada.

"Has our defense in general been playing up to standards? Absolutely not," White said. "We've won two, and lost one. Ryan sometimes takes it on his shoulders. ... It's not Ryan's team."

While the Gaels' defense tries to find its way, Gorman's offense has been fired up, even without Murray. Gorman's 28 points per game is seventh-best in Las Vegas, especially surprising considering Sedoris' injury, a broken collarbone suffered in the second quarter at Colton.

Sedoris is expected back by the last week of the season, a home game against Sierra Vista that will likely determine which of the two teams will be the top seed in the Southwest Division.

But junior J.P. Huber has stepped up for 103 yards on 10-for-26 passing.

"After starting that game (at Desert Pines), I felt more comfortable," Huber said. "Things are more in my hands."

If Huber is a budding force for the Gaels, then Corey White has already proved his point.

A sophomore, White handled most of Gorman's ground plays while Murray sat out. He's averaging 9.66 yards per carry, with 367 total yards in three games.

"I think it made us more versatile when it comes to running the ball," David White said. "People won't just key on DeMarco. Corey definitely stepped up and did a great job."