By Christopher Drexel (contact)

Tue, Nov 18, 2008 (7:56 p.m.)

It seems like the Palo Verde and Bishop Gorman football teams have been on a collision course for the last year.

Like a hotly contested bout between two boxers, the teams' thrilling meeting in the 2007 Sunset Regional championship — which Gorman won 24-20 on a last-minute touchdown — demanded a rematch.

That will come Friday when the schools meet in the regional title game for the second straight season.

"It was a great game last year — it rates right up there with the best games I've ever been involved with," Gorman coach Bob Altshuler said. "This year has all the expectations of another game down to the wire. Both teams will have to play hard for four quarters, maybe more."

One year ago, Palo Verde and Gorman entered their match-up with identical 12-0 records. It took a touchdown pass from Gorman quarterback Dylan Barrera to Kamana Kaimikaua with 23 seconds remaining to decide the outcome.

It was clearly the closest game of the season for Gorman, which beat Reno's High McQueen, 38-17, eight days later for the state championship.

Meanwhile, Palo Verde ended its year with a bitter taste that lasted until the team returned to the field in August.

"Last year we were 12-1 but it really felt like we were 1-12 after that game," Palo Verde coach Darwin Rost said. "But we have a lot of kids coming back off that group and they've done a great job. It was our goal to get better each week so we could be back in this region championship game. We just have to keep climbing this hill."

The hill Rost refers to is the one that the Panthers' stadium rests on, overlooking the rest of campus to the east and the 215 Beltway to the west. It will be the sight of the Sunset Region championship this season, unlike a year ago when Gorman hosted the contest.

"That (Gorman) game bothered us very much — I'm not going to lie to you," said Palo Verde wing back Tyrone Blake. "But it's a new season and we're looking to go all the way this year. As long as we're here at Palo, in the black hole and we play physical, then I don't think anybody can stop our team."

Like last year's game, both schools have had dominant seasons. Palo Verde is again 12-0 and has defeated opponents by an average of 27 points a game. It defeated Summerlin rival Cimarron-Memorial 35-21 in the Sunset Regional semifinals Nov. 14.

Since losing to Arizona's 5A champion Phoenix Brophy in its season opener, Bishop Gorman has also won 12 straight games by an average of 27 points per game.

Gorman wide receiver Taylor Spencer, who caught the game-winning touchdown pass in a 37-36 win over Cheyenne in the regional semifinals last week, said Gorman always figured it would have to beat Palo Verde again to defend its title.

"We're both supposed to be the predictable teams to win from the South," Spencer said. "Palo Verde is good every year. They're undefeated so they'll probably be the best team we've played all year."

Though the two teams aren't in the same division, both schools agree a rivalry exists.

"It's a big rival for us," Gorman defensive end Justin Chaisson said. "They're always a great team. We're a great team as well. It's always been a great game between us and they'll probably be the best competition we'll have again this year. It's going to be a great task for us this week."

Palo Verde running back Chaz Thomas, who ran 178 yards on 26 carries against Cimarron, said the Panthers don't want to experience the feeling of losing again.

"After that game it was like, 'We went 12-0, but that didn't mean anything because we didn't win state," Thomas said. "After losing to Gorman last year, we're looking to go out and really show them we can beat them."

Christopher Drexel can be reached at 990-8929 or christopher.drexel@hbcpub.com.