Kyle Hansen

Bishop Gorman’s Sam Aigbe runs the ball during Friday’s game against Durango. Aigbe rushed 27 yards for the Gaels.

By Ryan Greene (contact)

Sat, Sep 20, 2008 (12:20 a.m.)

Facing solid out-of-state competition had created even more of a disadvantage for Bishop Gorman's league foes.

Durango found that out the hard way Friday night, as Gorman rolled 62-7 at home, the lone Trailblazers score coming on a 38-yard fumble return by Ashton Ferguson late in the first quarter.

Chase Cresto threw for 145 yards and three touchdowns, while Joe Huber ran for two scores and 71 yards and threw for another TD in a game that turned into a yawner relatively early. Gorman ended the night with 625 yards of total offense to its credit. It came at the end of a week in which Durango's freshman and JV teams topped Gorman's.

"We work each week at improving, and we've been so close to hitting on all cylinders," Gorman coach Bob Altshuler said. "Obviously we played some really tough talent and some very good teams, and we executed offensively the best we've executed all year. We've just got to build on it. We're still not where we want to be."

Yes, the Gorman offense ran circles on its home turf, but once again, arguably the valley's top defensive unit was nothing shy of lock down. John Therrell recorded two of the Gaels' four interceptions, and the defense recovered a pair of fumbles and allowed just one Durango first down on the evening.

And it's tough to note the offensive numbers. The 62-point output was one point shy of matching the Gaels' total from their first four games combined.

And it was all done without a clear-cut quarterback.

"We have three kids that can play, and they're gonna play," Altshuler said. "Just kind of the way it goes, you know? We have a reason why we put them in."

Gorman is home again next week against Spring Valley, which executed a 56-21 beat down of Clark Friday night.

"I've watched them on video, and they're real," Altshuler said. "They've got some great linemen. They look solid on defense, and it's going to be a very tough-fought game. They're a good-looking football team."

As for Durango, its spirits -- or at least those of its head coach -- were unbroken following Friday's game. The Trailblazers have a prime opportunity to rebound against Clark at home next Friday.

"We have a good team, even if it does not always look like it," coach Gary Maki said of his young squad. "I think we still have a shot for the playoffs in our division.

"We knew taking on this program that we would have some growing pains, but we're staying optimistic."