Gorman returns several, will have tougher schedule in 2010

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

The Bishop Gorman High football team might actually lose a game next fall.

But, when it is all said and done, the Gaels could become the first team to repeat as large-school state champions since Las Vegas High won its second straight crown in 2006.

Gorman, which capped its undefeated season Saturday with a 62-21 victory against overmatched Del Sol in the title game, will have to replace several of its top performers to be the last team standing next December.

But the cupboard is far from empty.

Gorman will bring back its leading tackler, one of the area’s most dynamic running backs and a highly sought-after college recruit as part of eight offensive and four defensive returners.

“We have an incredible group of kids coming back,” Gorman coach Tony Sanchez said

But duplicating its 15-0 record from this fall won’t be easy. Gorman, which outscored opponents 799-137, already has booked games against two quality out-of-state opponents for 2010.

They will open in the third week of August against the large-school state champion from Arizona as part of the Sollenberger Classic — the annual game featuring the state champions from Arizona and Nevada. It will also play St. John Bosco High School of Southern California, one of the most respected teams in the Los Angeles area, in early September.

“Win or lose, those two games will make us better,” Sanchez said.

Gorman will graduate seven starters who have been offered scholarships by major Division I schools, including tight end Xavier Grimble (USC) and defensive end Alex Turner (Stanford).

But the Gaels return defensive lineman Jalen Grimble, Xavier’s cousin, who has scholarship offers from USC, UCLA, LSU and other top programs. They also bring back Shaquille Powell (27 touchdowns) and Ronald Lyles, who led the Gaels in tackles this fall with 75.

"Right now, the focus needs to be getting better as a team in the weight room," Jalen Grimble said.

Gorman, just like this year, will be challenged in the Sunset Region by rival Palo Verde. The Gaels’ closest victory was against the Panthers in the regional semifinals, a 38-28 win to snap Palo Verde’s streak of seven consecutive appearances in the state semifinals.

Palo Verde returns running back Brandon Wright (16 touchdowns) and could likely meet Gorman in the regional finals. It would be the fourth straight year they have met in the playoffs.

“We just ran into a very good team that day,” Palo Verde coach Darwin Rost said of the loss to Gorman. “The atmosphere at Gorman was almost like a college game.”

Here is a list of the area's top 10 returning players for next fall (in alphabetical order):

1. Jalen Grimble, junior, defensive lineman, Bishop Gorman: The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Grimble has scholarship offers from several schools, including USC, UCLA and LSU. He finished the season with 63 tackles and four sacks and will be the leader of a defense that must replace Turner, Ian Bobak, Taylor Spencer and Evan Palelei — all Division I recruits. He should be the area’s top defender next fall.

2. Jaylon Jackson, junior, defensive tackle, Bishop Gorman: At 6-foot, 290 pounds, Jackson is a force to be reckoned with in the trenches and played a significant role in Gorman recording five shutouts this fall.

3. Ronald Lyles, junior, linebacker, Bishop Gorman: Lyles led Gorman with 75 tackles this fall. Now, that’s flying under the radar.

4. Marquan Major, junior, wide receiver, Las Vegas High: Major battled injuries for parts of this fall — he only played in three games — and finished with 16 receptions for 208 yards and two touchdowns. But he had 59 receptions for 742 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore and will be motivated as a senior to prove his struggles in 2009 were a fluke.

5. Troy Miller, junior, quarterback, Del Sol: Miller passed for 23 touchdowns this fall, including three in the state championship game, and will only get better with an offseason of practice. Miller’s ability to throw adds a valuable dimension to Del Sol's run-first offense.

6. Julio Mora, junior, running back, Durango: Mora rushed for 1,651 yards and 25 touchdowns this fall in leading the Trailblazers to a second-place finish behind Bishop Gorman in the Southwest Division. Durango went 8-3 in 2009 with Mora leading the way — an improvement of seven wins from 2008.

7. Joe Portaro, junior, quarterback, Faith Lutheran: Portaro passed for 305 yards and three touchdowns against Palo Verde this year and will be the valley’s top returning signal caller in 2010. He missed five games this fall with an injury, but showed flashes of his potential when he was healthy. Look for Portaro and senior-to-be wide receiver Don Pearson to have monster seasons next year.

8. Shaquille Powell, sophomore, running back, Bishop Gorman: Powell will be the top running back in Southern Nevada for the next two years. He split carries with Victor Belen this fall and still rushed for a team-best 27 touchdowns. He is 5-foot-9, 180 pounds and one of the valley’s fastest players. It will be fun watching him develop.

9. Farrell Victor, junior, running back, Las Vegas High: As Farrell Victor goes, so do the perennial power Wildcats. Las Vegas was upset in the Sunrise Regional quarterfinals by Foothill this fall and will enter 2010 with a big-time chip on its shoulder. Look for Victor to double his 889 yards and eight touchdowns next fall.

10. Brandon Wright, junior, running back, Palo Verde High: Wright rushed for 16 touchdowns and more than 1,100 yards in 2009 and will be the top player in the state’s top league next year. Look for Palo Verde to use Wright like it did Torin Harris in 2008 — under center at quarterback, in the backfield, on defense and returning kicks. Basically, everything short of working in the concession stand.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com.