Print
E-mail
Share
digg
Newsvine
Facebook
Stumble
Technorati
reddit
Fark
twitterGorman tops Palo Verde to dance into Sunset finals
Win helps Gaels ease pain of last year’s five-TD defeat against rival
Justin M. Bowen
Bishop Gorman football coach Tony Sanchez puts his arms around running backs Victor Belen (left) and Shaquille Powell following the Gaels 38-28 victory Friday in the Sunset Regional semifinals.
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 | 1:41 a.m.
Palo Verde vs Bishop Gorman
Bishop Gorman avenges its 2008 post-season loss beating Palo Verde 38-28 Friday night to advance to the Sunset Regional Championship.
Team pages
Related blog entries
Prep Sports Now
Palo/Gorman clash has arrived
-
You need to upgrade your Flash Player
Las Vegas Sun reporters Ray Brewer and Steve Silver salivate over this week's Palo Verde/Bishop Gorman Regional Semifinal match-up. Brewer and Silver also breakdown every other playoff game this week.
Expanded coverage
It didn’t matter what song was being played on the loud speakers Friday night in the Bishop Gorman High football team’s locker room.
The Gaels, fresh off a 38-28 victory against rival Palo Verde in the Sunset Regional semifinals, were going to dance and enjoy a moment they had waited one year for.
The win helps erase memories of last year’s five-touchdown loss to Palo Verde in the regional finals. More importantly, it puts the Gaels in the driver’s seat to the capture the large-school classification title.
Nothing screams a big victory like watching some of the state’s fiercest players dancing to Miley Cyrus’ “Partying in the USA.” As silly as the postgame celebrating may appear to outsiders, it was the Gaels’ way of enjoying the moment — a moment they worked hard for with the motivation of last year's humbling defeat.
“They had such a bad taste in their mouth from last year,” Bishop Gorman coach Tony Sanchez said. “You don’t live for days, you live for moments and this was a great moment for the kids.”
Billed as one of the most highly anticipated games in recent memory, the showdown lived up to the hype.
It had game-changing plays, momentum swings and was contested in front of a capacity crowd at Gorman’s Fertitta Field in Summerlin. Some fans were turned away and several who did get in were forced to park blocks from the stadium.
Gorman (12-0) jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead on touchdown runs from Victor Belen and Shaquille Powell in the game’s initial seven minutes.
However, just when it appeared Gorman was going to win another game in lopsided fashion, Palo Verde made things interesting. Gorman entered outscoring opponents 605-58.
The Panthers (10-2) scored the game’s next 21 points, including fumble returns for touchdowns from Brandon Wright and Daniel Godkin, in grabbing a 21-14 lead with 7:34 to play in the second quarter.
“I knew they were going to come back,” Gorman’s Xavier Grimble said. “They are a good team. When they scored, I knew it was nothing big. We just had to get it back.”
Get it back they did.
Gorman needed just 14 seconds to tie the game in only the second time the Gaels had trailed all season. Johnathan Loyd went virtually untouched in returning the ensuing kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown to even the game.
“Johnathan Loyd is Johnthan Loyd,” Sanchez said. “We are in Vegas where people like to gamble. Well, giving him the ball is like gambling.”
Gorman scored the next two touchdowns to build a 35-21 lead in advancing to the Sunset title game. The Gaels will host Cimarron-Memorial, one-point winners against Legacy, at 7 p.m. next Friday.
“We had the momentum there for a moment, but Johnathan Loyd and that kickoff return gave it back to them,” Palo Verde senior captain Tyrone Blake said.
Blake’s 2-yard touchdown run with 11:09 to play cut Palo Verde’s deficit to 35-28, but the Panthers never got any closer. Colin Distworth added a 39-yard field with 5:11 left to extend Gorman’s lead to 10 points.
Palo Verde’s season ended short of the state semifinals for the first time since 2001. Still, coach Darwin Rost praised his players for their effort.
“I’m proud of my kids,” Rost said. “They never gave up and they kept working hard. ...We knew our kids weren’t going to quit. We told them to just keep playing hard.”
Anu Solomon, Gorman’s freshman quarterback, completed 9-of-11 passes for 163 yards and added a 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Solomon did have problems holding onto the ball and a botched exchange in the first quarter on a handoff led to a fumble and a 35-yard return for a touchdown from Wright to even the score at 14 with 1:10 to play in the first quarter.
“You go though 10 games and you don’t have a single one of those (fumbles),” Sanchez said. “Maybe it was nerves. It is what it is and we are going to have to go work on it.”
Discussion: 35 comments so far…
Post a comment
Latest Stories
ray brewer:
All eyes will be on Basic, Foothill on Friday night
- Liberty looks to prolong dream season against Del Sol
- Cimarron defensive back has experience beating Gorman
- Palo Verde's Godkin verbally commits to UNR
- Foothill upsets six-time regional champion Las Vegas
- Basic grinds out another close win against Desert Pines
- Cimarron-Memorial slides past Legacy
- Del Sol rallies without top rusher to win Southeast title
- Legacy beats Spring Valley for first playoff win
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Three arrested in fatal shooting of Metro officer
- Stripper-mobile will roll again, owner says
- Boyd chief: Recession forcing Vegas back to roots
- Brock Lesnar had hole in his intestine
- FBI looking at hundreds in mortgage schemes
- Franchione potential early candidate for UNLV football post
- Rebels’ reserves ignite comeback in 88-75 victory over UNR
- GOP and Palinpaloozza
- Bondholders say Herbst overpaid in deals, fight to recover debt
- Man accused of posing as cop to assault girl pleads not guilty
Calendar »
- 20 Fri
- 21 Sat
- 22 Sun
- 23 Mon
- 24 Tue
-
Rock 'n' Roll Wine tasting at Risque
Risqué de Paris | 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Julio Iglesias at the Las Vegas Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
-
The Vatos Locos Tour with Hollywood Undead and Atreyu
House of Blues | 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Crown Boxing at the Orleans
Mardi Gras Room
-
DJ Drez at Brass Lounge
Brass Lounge | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
What a game.
The players. The fans. The atmosphere. The hype. The band. The music. The ENERGY.
It simply doesn't get any better for sports than that in Nevada.
Bagpipes!? Are you kidding me!!!??? Incredible!!!, I thought I was watching Braveheart!!! LOL!! :0) Great motivator coach...Amazing win!!!! GO BGHS!!!! No letdowns for this week beat Cimmaron!!!! GO GAELS!!!!
I go to durango, and seeing a freshmen qb leading his team to victory like that, well thats crazy. The confidence that the coach has in him is amazing. Even though i hate gorman, i would like to see them win. Cimmaron is good, but you guys are gonna whoop on them.
That was by far the best football game that I have seen since I've lived in Vegas. Lots of DI level talent and a pretty good rivalry. Gorman hasn't been tested all year, and they responded very well. I'm not a follower of either team, but I have to say that this BG team is pretty special and only comes around every once in a while. You don't usually get a team with that much size and speed too often. This is definitely the squad that should have faced some of the top teams across the country in their pre-conference schedule.
Rushzone94,
It is very crazy to see a freshman starting on the varsity level, and he seems to have control of the team as well. He has a decent arm and he's pretty accurate...I think that he will be one to watch over the next 3 years. It will be interesting to see where he lands.
A true testament to the recruiters BG has. Must be nice to be able to pick and choose who ever they want from wherever they want.
AWESOME GAME
THE ONE AND ONLY RAY BREWER WILL BE ON MY SHOW TONIGHT.
HEATWAVE SPORTS.....FOX SPORTS RADIO 920AM 10PM.....IF U CANT LISTEN...ARCHIVED SHOWS AT HWSPORTS.COM, UNDER THE RADIO PAGE
Stryker good athletes CHOOSE Gorman. The only people who complain are either the people who can't afford it, or simply aren't athletic enough to make it in any of their sports programs.
Or both.
BS gorman buys the players when palo cant,its like a college buying NFL players for a college team its cheating. does private school that buy players should have there own league
well know they beat palo verde they better win the state championship, if they dont there S--T!
Hahaha every time Gorman beats someone it's nothing but whining about how they recruit and buy players.
Just deal with the loss. Palo really is a very one dimensional team that is dependent on a gimmick offense, as soon as it got shut down, they had no clue on how to move the ball in the air (and they had some open receivers that just can't catch the ball).
Their style of play might work against a lot of the mediocre schools, but Sanchez isn't your typical horrible Vegas coach.
Its true that gorman does buy its players, but any high school athlete would want to play as a gale. Gorman gets recognized by the press more and more scouts are looking for athletes there. If I had the money, I would be playing on gorman right now, but I dont. Ask anybody, would you rather be on a team that is .500 winning or a unbeaten team that you will get noticed by? Gorman would be the choice.
Comment removed by staff.
The game on Friday night was a real "eye openner"...A++ to the cheerleaders, band and special events coordinator (i.e., bagpipes, etc..)..the football play was incredibly sloppy for a championship game in a major city and gets a C+ (A for defense (both teams), D for offense both teams)... Never seeing Palo play before, I was shocked by the offensive formations which had no change ups at all; the offensive coordinator should be fired at Palo. The offensive of Gorman wasn't much better, the QB fumbled at least 3 times and almost lost the final fumble inside the 5 yard line which would have made the game a tie. Although he threw well, his fumbles showed that he is a freshman and should be gaining experience at that level.....I was sorry to see the best player from Palo's defense, Chaisson (-- any relation to Gorman's Chaisson from last year??) get his knee blown out on a chop block. I can only hope that wasn't intentional although there are so many undercurrents there its not worth debating here...in short Palo doesn't deserve to be in any championship game because their offense relies solely on two stellar athletes (runnning backs) who get no benefit of any decent coaching (ie play selection), and Gorman is good, but certainly not great, as they are correctly ranked behind hundreds of teams nationally by USA Today and Maxprpeps...however Gorman, no doubt, is the best Nevada has to offer because of their defense.
Are you sure that was a chop block/knee injury? From what I saw it appeared to be an ankle injury. I don't think anything was done intentionally, and anything 'planned' wouldn't have involved the coaches, these coaches would kick a kid off the team for even thinking about hurting someone.
And to answer your question, yes that is Justin's younger brother Dylan (and only a sophomore, so there's plenty of football ahead for the kid.)
Palo did attempt some offensive changes in the second half but they didn't stick with it. After a few dropped passes they reverted back to their old scheme. The big complaint about Rost's program has been they are stubborn when it comes to adjusting their game plan, and often it ends up backfiring.
No it was his knee...I don't believe in coincidences..... That whole drama last year with his brother has now been cast down; why isn't Chaisson playing for Gorman?? There was obviously bad blood between the school and the family based upon that incident (last year) and the big kid paid the price Friday nite...too bad, I heard he is better than his brother who is playing Division I.
ddump...so you are saying that there are no accidental injuries in football. I guess then when you played Division 1 you purposely inflicted injury on other players. Nice. Last week you made such a big stink about Solomon's height - what happened to that today? If he didn't have the fumbles you would have griped about his shoe size. Last year Dylan played for Gorman and the Gorman kids liked him. I don't think they would target him. He had to leave because of the restraining order and any bad blood would have been with Altschuler who is gone. Every team has its shortfalls and people here know that Nevada football is not equal to the caliber of Cal., Texas or Florida. Why can't you ever just take in the excitement of two quality teams whose kids and coaches work really hard? It's called...are you ready...FUN!
I never inflicted injury on anyone, but I have seen it done several times in football....you don't have clue about anyone or their motives. You have no idea why Chaisson isnt playing at Gorman anymore. That kid is severly injured -- that is not "fun", nor is a coincidence.
If you know so much about his injury then you also know why he isn't at Gorman. The only people really upset was his father, who was a big booster at Gorman. The Gorman side didn't hold any ill will toward the kid, nobody WANTS to see their own be forced to transfer over to their biggest rival high school, but it was done so in the best interests of the school.
And I nearly forgot, I'm shocked that our midget quarterback managed to be able to see!! He completed some pretty good passes but I suppose it was just luck and he was just lobbing the ball over that giant wall of linemen and hoping for the best!!! ;)
And since when are the Chaisson's suddenly so important again? Not too long ago, they were called woman-beaters, kidnappers and steroid abusers. And now they aren't at Gorman, it's like "poooooooooor Chaisson, how dare they get injured!"
dgump, you need to stop talking about something you seriously know nothing about and is none of your business in the first place. What happened with the Chaisson situation was a very unfortunate incident for any and all involved. My son is a varsity football player for Gorman and I can assure you that Dillon Chaisson was not intentionally hurt and for you to even insinuate that is out of line. Dillon was liked, and still is, by his former teammates and they miss him. They may not share a school any longer but they still share a friendship. The current Gorman coaching staff does not accept or tolerate bush-league play by their players. IF you new anything about Gorman, you surely would know this. Take your ignorance elsewhere or at least off this blog.
Comment removed by staff.
You know I encounter a lot of ignorance in this town, I'm not sure why Vegas is filled with so much of it, but your comments dgump have to be in the top 10 most stupid things I've seen said out here.
Now you've turned this into a race issue. You claim to have had played the game before. You act as if you have any clue about either of these schools when I'm fairly sure you went to neither, nor do you have a kid that attends either of these schools.
Go spew your nonsense somewhere else. People like you are why so very few people take football seriously in Nevada.
OK dgump YOU are out of line!!!! "white boys...black boys"??? What rock have you crawled from under???!!! I am African American and my son is a starting player for Gorman and I must say that you have gone too far. The parents, administrators, teachers, and students at Gorman (from all the races represented therein) are some of the nicest people I have had the pleasure of knowing. We are a family here and we won't let some idiot like you tear us down!!! One of the main reasons the coach was fired last year was because many parents of color (including myself) complained that he was not playing their kids who were seniors. The administration moved promptly to release him. They brought in a coach who doesn't care if you are white, black, hispanic, or whatever. He came in saying the best players play...period end of story. Now, I don't know who you think you are to speak for a race of people (even President Obama wouldn't be so arrogant to think that he could speak for everyone in our race) but I for one am not ignorant enough to dislike someone for their skin color. Here is a prime example, dgump I dislike you because of your arrogance despite your stupidity and the lack of content of your character. First you talk about the QB's height last week, but despite his stature he gets all division and all conference honors. Then this week you grade the game, and make rediculous accusations amidst racial comments!!! Well, here is your grade dgump (F-)!!!! Dgump...please keep your narcissistic opinions, delusions of grandeur, and outright prejudicial viewpoints to yourself!!! YOU obviously have issues of displacement that you need to discuss with a therapist. dgump YOU ARE IGNORANT (that is a fact)!!!! Yes, that is MY opinion of you. I also suggest and ask the publishers of the Sun and the Journal to have your comments discontinued. As you yourself ascertained in your closing remarks..."controversy is not a coincidence"...and your attempts at trying to start controversy in order to derail this team will not work because we are a family of all races with one common goal and we "the family" at Gorman will not allow you to belittle the integrity or accomplishments of our children with your hateful remarks!!!!
Wep, you said it best - we are a FAMILY at Gorman and people like bgump are the dredge of society. Our boys are the best and Sanchez has brought that out in each and every one of them. Cudos to him and his staff and cudos to you for speaking out against this ding bat.
Wep/Vegas: The comments last week regarding the QB were not so much about his height but rather his experience level. I am entitled to my opinion as you are yours. The QB did throw very well in the game, but also fumbled four times, twice inside the 5 yard line; the game was almost lost by the last fumble which he recovered and scored. I stand by my assertions that experienced players should start over freshman. QBs with more experience were not given the opportunity to play to prove themselves.
Regarding race, you are naive to think that it is not an issue in high school, college or everyday business. I am at the highest level of business and can assure you that you can sit on the corner of any major city in the downtown financial district(NYC, SF< Boston) and count on one hand the number of colored people who are at highest level of business...I do think it is unfair; absolutely there is racism and blacks are oppressed despite having a black president (who acts like an old white man, he certainly is not MLK, JJ, etc.)..
The sports programs at white schools usually have white teams..it is very unusual to have a predominately black team at a white private school....why are there no blacks on the nationally ranked baseball team at Gorman??? are there no good black baseball players at Gorman??? Why aren't there more whte players on the football team from a school that is 85% white?? I guess the white players are no good.
Just as you complained that your sons, who are black, were shut down because of their color, I wonder if the inverse is true now?
.....know that every employee at Gorman is subject to termination at any time. Just like Alshuster was fired with a 26-2 record (after he bought a house for his family and relocated here), anyone can lose their job if the "money" that built/runs the school, and the Catholic Archdiocese, decide it time for that person to go....trust me I know that as fact -- money controls and dictates every private school, especially Bishop Gorman and the Archdiocese...thats who will ultimately determinie who plays and who doesn't unless your family decides to donate over $1MM.....welcome to the real world.
so Mr. dgumb or ddumb-what is up with your fascination with this freshman qb. I mean seriously did he work harder and took a starting position away from your son or is it that your son is an upcoming high schooler, with no chance of being a qb? Please lay it out and tell the nevada what your jealousy is...Week in and out you have something new to gripe about.
1st)If you know nothing on how the fumbles was caused then keep your mouth shut, okay. Unless you are on the field as a coach. 2nd)your comments about him or anyone on the team mean crap. Your stupidity is what has us all coming back at you for. To let you know what we think. 3rd)take you and your son to another school where he probably will get a chance to live your dreams!
Just to let you know that this qb is a better quality player than you'll ever be! Get it!!!! JUST A FRESHMAN!!!
What's wrong dgump, the commercial real estate business is slow and there's nothing to praise Brugnara for so you spend your time threatening hard working people at a Catholic school! So, are you going to sit on the Gorman side again this Friday?
dgump-I'd like to know when is your movie coming out. "you know" The diary of a MAD & JEALOUS MAN.
Do yourself a favor and GROW UP! OR MORE LIKE ACT YOUR AGE....PLEASE...OR DO YOU WANT SOME CHEESE WITH YOUR WHINE...IT'S BRAIN DEAD IGNORANT PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT MAKE LIFE SO DEPRESSING!
Remember Bishop Gorman is a private school built by tens of millions of private dollars...(the free public schools are located throughout the valley and are subject to public rules and laws paid by tax dollars). All Private Schools are ultimately run by the people who put up the money. Check the name on the stadium and the initials on the Bishop Gorman helmets if you don't believe me...YES WE (those that funded this school) ARE ALL FRIENDS AND WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR BISHOP GORMAN AND OUR CHILDREN. Winning at a Catholic school is secondary to the ideals of inclusion and participation. None of you were interested in Bishop Gorman when it was at the pitiful campus at Maryland Avenue...we built this school for the integrity of the principles set forth herein.
....and FYI I am not in commercial RE, I am a corporate attorney who is very busy; who has an opinion. And my opinion is based upon facts, not fiction.
dgump, you speak out of both sides of your mouth. You Gorman bash and then say things like "WE are all friends and want what is best for Bishop Gorman and our children" and "WE built this school". There are things you've said in your past posts about things, that if you are truly associated with Gorman, you would know but very obviously don't. As an attorney, you'd better check your facts better. IF you are a friend of Gorman(?) - WOW, who needs enemies?!
I have never "bashed" Bishop Gorman...I am consistent with my position throughout the blogs as someone who is concerned about fairness for all of the student-athletes at Bishop Gorman.
dgump, OMG give it a rest...do you not read your own comments? You said specifically that someone chopped blocked a player at Palo...and that you saw it on the film? OK, dgump I have the film he got hurt in pursuit of a screen pass 10 yards down field. The player went high on his tackle, and whiffed, his foot got caught in the turf. The running back (with the ball) went under him to avoid the tackle but his foot unintentionally hit the stuck foot of the player in question as he came through. No one else touched the player who got hurt on that play. That sir is not a chop block and to insinuate that a kid (team) would think to do that to another player (that late in the game) after Gorman ran on them with ease on their first 2 possessions is rediculous. Man get a life...and watch the film (rivals.com) and stop accusing these boys of wrongdoing...in the legal profession I believe that is called defamation of character for which sir you would be liable. It is obviously not coincidental that you are trying to disparage this team.