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Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 | 10:07 p.m.
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Prep Sports Now
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Las Vegas Sun reporters Ray Brewer and Steve Silver break down last week's lopsided high school football contests and preview this Friday's upcoming games. They also discuss the latest news on the neck injury to Shadow Ridge's Zak Hill.
Expanded coverage
The Bishop Gorman High football team showed Friday night why several consider them a favorite to win the state title.
And, on this Friday night, the fans at the school’s Fertitta Field weren’t the lone witnesses of the domination.
The Gaels scored on their first seven possessions and limited visiting Green Valley High to 97 yards in a 58-0 non-league victory that was televised nationally by CBS College Sports.
The lopsided win will surely bring attention to the program — and hopefully prep football in Southern Nevada, Gorman coach Tony Sanchez said.
“This thing isn’t just about us,” Sanchez said. “It’s good for Nevada high school football. The city of Las Vegas plays good football. It was great to have the opportunity to play on this stage.”
Gorman, a team loaded with at least eight Division I prospects, didn’t disappoint.
Senior tight end Xavier Grimble, the nation’s top-rated tight end by recruiting Web site Rivals.com, had a pair of touchdown receptions from freshman quarterback Anu Solomon.
Grimble, who is committed to USC, said he treated the televised game like any other Friday night. His main concern was Gorman continuing to make improvements.
“Our goal is to get better every week and we definitely did that,” said Grimble, who finished with three catches for 47 yards, including touchdowns of 13 and 25 yards.
Solomon finished with three touchdown passes, also connecting with Taylor Spencer for a 37-yard scoring strike midway through the first quarter. Spencer also recorded a defensive touchdown, returning an interception 24 yards for a score late in the first half.
Gorman (6-0) put on arguably its best performance of the year. While they have won every game on their schedule convincingly, parts of each victory have been overshadowed with penalties, turnovers and other mistakes.
Friday night, however, they were seemingly perfect.
“Obviously, you want to come out and jump on them early,” Sanchez said. “We were really fortunate because a lot of things worked well for us early tonight.”
Shaquille Powell had the two biggest plays for Gorman, racing 62 yards for a touchdown on his first carry for a 7-0 Gorman lead less than two minutes into the game. Powell added a 92-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and starter Victor Belen had 69 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries.
Green Valley (2-3) struggled from start to finish and never ran a play inside Gorman’s 30-yard line. The lone highlight was getting the rare chance to play on national television.
“You have to love this environment,” Green Valley coach Matt Gerber said. “This is what you play football for. We just came out scared and that was obvious from the get-go.”
In the past several years all I have ever heard is the "haters" talking about how Goman cheats, Gorman is a bunch of babies, Gorman is recruiting... yada yada yada blah blah blah. Well I am here to tell you that something very exciting occurred last night at Ferttita Field on the Bishop Gorman Campus. We were introduced to the rest of the United States through our football program. CBS College Sports televised our football game nationally. Our Boys showed nothing but class while playing as hard as they could to win this game. Even though the score was lop sided every boy on the team played in the game and shared in this victory. What made the victory even more special was that our boy's played this game with Class!!! We only had two penalties assessed against our team the entire game, and anyone who watches BG football knows that is a victory in itself. It was great to hear about all the D-1 prospects and great football players on the field. Unfortunately, they didn't discuss what takes place on the campus away from the field. Coach Sanchez has instilled a sense of discipline in these boys that they carry into the class room, the community and their lives away from school. This kind of behavoir is the true victory that the Bishop Gorman atheletes achieve. I am so proud of these boy's for all that they have done to date and what they will achieve and become in the future. I am proud to be a supporter of this program. I know and so does many other what Bishop Gorman really stands for Honesty, Integrity, and the Pursuit of Execellence! Again, I am so proud of you. Go Gaels!!!
I think Las Vegas getting national exposure on TV is great, but it would definitely be much better if they actually play against somebody next time. For example last night the number one (Florida) and two (South Carolina) teams in the nation played as well. I'm sure that most people will agree that the only to get national respect is to play against other national powers and do well. Maybe they should try to get an invite to the Ohio vs. USA Kirk Herbstreet classic next. Teams from all of the country go there, and it's great exposure for the State and program.
Bishop Gorman's athletic achievements are great, but I don't think it makes sense for them to play in the public school league. Public schools are limited by their zones, and Bishop Gorman is not. I know a number of high school athletes who attend (or did attend) Bishop Gorman because of their athletic teams, and not because they would have considered a Catholic or a private school otherwise. And when they needed it, they got financial aid. There's nothing wrong with this, except that public schools and their athletes should not be denied their shots at individual or team championships. All these kids get one shot at high school.
Better showing the national tv viewers kids playing football than the rundown shacks & over priced casinos.
LKM,
I agree completely, because in states such as Texas, there's actually a private school division that all private schools compete in. The problem with Nevada is simply its population and lack of private schools. However, the state could stand up like Louisianna did a few years back and make the schools compete in their proper class.