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March 18, 2024

Live game blog: Gorman dominates from start to finish, wins championship

Bishop Gorman finishes season perfect with 62-21 victory

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Justin M. Bowen / LAS VEGAS SUN

Bishop Gorman takes the field in the state championship game against Del Sol Saturday.

Updated Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 | 2:47 p.m.

Bishop Gorman Wins State Title

Bishop Gorman jumped on Del Sol early to win the 4A State Championship 62-21 Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Bishop Gorman Captures Championship

Members of the Bishop Gorman High football team hold their helmets in celebration Saturday following a 62-21 victory against Del Sol in the state championship game at Sam Boyd Stadium. Launch slideshow »

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Bishop Gorman-Del Sol Practice

Bishop Gorman takes the field Monday to begin practice in preparation for its last game.  Bishop Gorman will play Del Sol for the state championship Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium. Launch slideshow »
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Championship week is upon us

Las Vegas Sun reporters Ray Brewer and Steve Silver break down the 4A high school football state championship between Bishop Gorman and Del Sol.

Final: Bishop Gorman 62, Del Sol 21

The Bishop Gorman players and fans have rushed the field as the noise from its side of the stadium gets increasingly louder.

The Gaels have won the state championship. They controlled the entire game against Del Sol en route to a resounding 62-21 win.

Del Sol finished strong. The Dragons attempted and recovered an onside kick after their second touchdown. A few plays later, Troy Miller threw a touchdown to Evan Weinstock to make the score 59-21.

The game couldn't have gone the way Del Sol wanted, but the Dragons can come away proud of their effort in the final quarter.

As for Bishop Gorman, the Gaels accomplished all of the goals they set at the beginning of the season. They are the 2009 NIAA state football champions.

End of the third quarter, Bishop Gorman ahead 59-7

The clock has begun to run.

Per NIAA rules, the running clock rule comes into effect when one team leads by 45 or more. Right now, Bishop Gorman is up 52.

The Gaels latest score came when Taylor Spencer returned an interception about 50 yards for a touchdown. It was the second interception return for a touchdown of the day for the Gaels.

John Loyd had one of his own in the first half. The only good news for Del Sol is that it won't suffer for much longer. With the clock running, these final 12 minutes should fly by.

4:00 remaining, third quarter, Bishop Gorman increases lead to 52-7

After a slight delay, Bishop Gorman found its way back into the end zone.

Shaquille Powell just took a dive play one yard as Gorman increased its lead to 52-7 in the state championship game. Considering the game's quick pace in the first half, it took a while longer than expected after halftime.

Del Sol stopped Gorman on the first drive of the half and it wasn't until six minutes into the third quarter that the Gaels scored. The Dragons gave the Gaels ideal field position inside their own 20 when Troy Miller failed to convert a fourth down on a scramble.

Halftime, Bishop Gorman ahead 45-7

Look for Bishop Gorman coach Tony Sanchez to let all his bench players get some playing time in the state championship's second half.

Sanchez is not going to be worried about losing the lead. Through the first half at Sam Boyd, the Gaels have built the score to an insurmountable 45-7 against Del Sol.

Victor Belen has scored three touchdowns, but just about every player on the team has a few highlights. Xavier Grimble caught two passes. John Loyd returned an interception for a touchdown. Jordan Welte had a long rush to set up a score. The list could continue.

For Del Sol, the second half will be an opportunity to restore some pride. The Dragons don't want to remember their season like this.

5:00 remaining, second quarter, Gorman leads 38-7

This is getting ugly.

Bishop Gorman's Johnathan Loyd just returned an interception 30 yards to give Gorman a 38-7 advantage in the second quarter.

Loyd's return followed yet another rushing touchdown by Gorman. Belen took in his second of the day from three yards out to make the score 31-7.

Gorman is on its way to the school's second state championship in three years.

8:50 remaining, second quarter, Powell makes score 24-7

Victor Belen already scored one, so it was Shaquille Powell's turn.

Powell just found the end zone on a short touchdown run to give Gorman a 24-7 lead. Powell and Belen have shared the rushing load all season for the Gaels and there's no reason to change that now.

So much for Del Sol's momentum. The Dragons looked energized after ending the first quarter with a strong defensive stand, but Gorman cruised right down the field in its opening drive of the second quarter.

The Gorman fans are on their feet cheering here at Sam Boyd. Not a bad crowd on both sides, with an estimate of about 4,000 people in attendance.

End of the first quarter, Bishop Gorman leads 17-7

Despite the score, Del Sol could consider the first quarter of the state championship a success.

The Dragons proved they could score on Gorman's vaunted defense when quarterback Troy Miller connected with receiver Evan Weinstock on a long touchdown pass with two minutes remaining.

The defense showed it's up to the task as well. Bishop Gorman started its last drive at Del Sol's 30-yard line, but the Dragons stood their ground and held the Gaels to a field goal.

Gorman's Colin Ditsworth booted the 35-yard attempt through the uprights. In the last two minutes, the score is Del Sol 7, Bishop Gorman 3.

Sure, that doesn't mean much, but may be eye-opening to those who thought this would be a blowout by now.

2:25 remaining, first quarter, Del Sol trails 14-7

Del Sol coach Preston Goroff had no intentions of going down without a fight.

Goroff used a well-timed timeout to set up a 40-yard touchdown pass to Evan Weinstock to make the score 14-7. Del Sol's offense had been largely ineffective up to that point, but looked for its leader to make a play.

The bad news for Del Sol is Bishop Gorman returned the ensuing kickoff to Del Sol's 30-yard line. All the work may have been for nothing.

7:25 remaining, first quarter, Bishop Gorman goes ahead 14-0

Bishop Gorman's Xavier Grimble didn't catch any passes in last week's semifinal victory against Reed.

Today, he's already caught two big ones. Grimble just snagged a six-yard touchdown pass from Anu Solomon to put the Gaels ahead 14-0.

Grimble also caught a pass on the first play of the game, a 35-yard reception from Solomon.

Del Sol's first possession was an uneventful three-and-out. The offense is taking the field again in hopes of piecing together a long drive on the ground.

Belen puts Del Sol on the board, 7-0

The result of the coin toss didn't surprise anyone.

Bishop Gorman won and elected to receive. It took less than two minutes for the Gaels to drive 70 yards down the field and score. Bishop Gorman 7, Del Sol 0.

The Gaels started their drive with a halfback pass to Xavier Grimble, who made a leaping catch for 35 yards. Shortly after, fullback Jordan Welte rumbled inside the Del Sol 10-yard line, before Victor Belen took in a three-yard touchdown.

Not the start Del Sol wanted, but let's see if they can respond behind Gatorade Nevada Player of the Year Dezerick Reed.

Pre-game

So, this is it.

From the two-a-days in August to the grind of the playoffs, Nevada high school football has whittled its field down to two teams. In less than 12 minutes, the championship game between Bishop Gorman and Del Sol will be under way at Sam Boyd Stadium.

The Bishop Gorman cheerleaders are lined up on the east side of stadium ready to welcome the Gaels on to the field. The Del Sol spirit squad is doing the same outside of the home locker room.

Many are picking Gorman to roll in this one. After all, it's what they've done all season. The Gaels have only trailed twice in 13 games are undefeated. Del Sol enters the contest 12-1, but second-to-none in terms of pride.

Something about this Dragons team just makes you believe they won't fold to the bigger, stronger and faster Gaels. It could be a game. The starting lineups are being announced now.

Stick with lasvegassun.com for updates throughout the state championship game.

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