Live Blog: Bishop Gorman drops season opener, 24-17

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010 | 6:40 p.m.

Updated Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010 | 9:55 p.m.

Shaquille Powell rushed for 197 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries, but it was not enough as Bishop Gorman dropped its season opener 24-17 to Hamilton High of Arizona. The loss was the first in coach Tony Sanchez's two years at Gorman. The team went 15-0 and won the state title last year. The Las Vegas Sun will have more coverage from Flagstaff later tonight.

Gorman trails 24-17 in final minutes of game

Gorman now trails 24-17 after Hamilton marched down the field to score the go-ahead touchdown. Quarterback Kyren Poe scored on a 1-yard keeper with a little more than a minute to play. The clock has been broken virtually the entire fourth quarter and time is being kept by the referees on the field.

Gorman touchdown, 2-point conversion ties game at 17-17

Shaquille Powell's monster day now includes Gorman's first touchdown of the season. The junior running back scored on a 7-yard run with 3:23 to play, and Anu Solomon ran in the 2-point conversion to even the game at 17. Gorman was one play away from losing the game, but Solomon barely picked up a first down with a 5-yard run on fourth down. Powell, who has carried the ball 28 times for almost 200 yards, scored on the next play. Should be a great ending.

Hamilton extends lead to 17-9 over Gorman

The Gorman defense allowed Hamilton to move the ball inside its 10 yard line to open the fourth quarter but held strong and limited Hamilton to a field goal. Hamilton's Tanner Clay kicked a 22-yard field to up the lead to 17-9 with 10:19 to play. Gorman, which went undefeated last year in winning the state title, needs to rally or it will lose for the first time in 16 games under coach Tony Sanchez.

Gorman trails after 82-yard Hamilton TD on punt return

Gorman gave up a special-teams touchdown three minutes into the second half when Hamilton's Malcom Holland returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown and a 14-9 Hamilton lead. The Hamilton defense stuffed Gorman on its initial possession of the second half, forcing a three-and-out and a loss of eight yards of offense.

Gorman takes 9-7 halftime lead on third Ditsworth field goal

Colin Ditsworth drilled a 43-yard field goal as time in the first half expired to give Gorman a 9-7 halftime lead against Hamilton. Ditsworth has accounted for all of the Gorman scoring, making two other field goals of 23 and 44 yards.

After giving up a touchdown to Hamilton five minutes into the game, the Gorman defense has been solid. It has forced Hamilton to punt twice, and defensive tackle Jaylon Jackson recovered a fumble late in the second quarter to set up the final Ditswoth field goal. Shaquille Powell has been a force for Gorman, gaining 142 yards on 16 carries. Talk to everyone in the second half.

Gorman behind 7-6 after scoring on second field goal

Colin Ditsworth made his second field goal of the first half, connecting on a 44-yard attempt with 7:36 to play in second quarter to cut Gorman's deficit to one point, 7-6. Gorman passed for a pair of first downs on the scoring drive, with quarterback Anu Solomon connecting with Ryan Smith on an 11-yard completion and Evan Zeger for 19 yards. Both plays came on third down. After struggling early with the noise, the Gorman's offense has been more efficient.

Gorman scores on field goal, trails 7-3

Gorman has scored its first points on a 23-yard field goal from senior Colin Ditsworth. Shaquille Powell had the big play of the drive when he broke free for a 60-yard run. Powell has 82 yards on six carries in two drives. He has carried the ball on six of Gorman's seven plays. The haven't passed. Great atmosphere inside the Skydome at NAU. Hamilton fans are loud.

Gorman falls behind 7-0 in season opener

Hamilton wasted no time in taking a 7-0 lead, only needing four plays to travel 66 yards for the initial score of the game. Hamilton's Kendyl Taylor scored on an 8-yard touchdown run with 731 left in the quarter. The Hamilton drive was assisted by a 15-yard face mask penalty by Gorman's Jalen Grimble.

Gorman struggles as game gets under way

The Bishop Gorman High football team struggled on its first possession against Hamilton, being flagged three times for a false start and once for a delay of game.

The confusion was the result of noise created by hundreds of Hamilton fans. The Gorman offense literally couldn't hear quarterback Anu Solomon shouting the snap count. Gorman went three-and-out and punted.

Gorman minutes away from kicking off season opener

Welcome to the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome at Northern Arizona University for the defending state champion Bishop Gorman High football team’s season opener against Hamilton High of Chandler, Ariz., in the Sollenberger Classic.

We are about 30 minutes away from kickoff at this indoor stadium and one thing is apparent while watching the teams go through their pregame preparations — both squads have massive athletes. This is definitely big-time high school football, something this scribe has rarely seen in nearly 15 years covering the prep game.

It’s no wonder why both are nationally ranked by USA Today — Gorman is No. 11; Hamilton is No. 16.

Gorman has a crowd of about 200 to 300 fans in the stands. But Hamilton has probably five times as many.

One of Hamilton’s strengths is its offensive line. Led by Texas-commit Christian Westerman, a massive 6-foot-5, 290-pound tackle, Hamilton’s size up front could be problematic for a Gorman with several new starters defensively.

The Gaels, decked out in their white uniforms with orange lettering, graduated eight from last year’s undefeated team who received Division I scholarships, including six defensive starters. Defensive end Jalen Grimble, who committed to Southern California in May, returns and will be matched against Westerman all night.

It won’t be the first time the two have challenged each other. They went head-to-head at the USC Rising Star camp last summer, and after both shining at the event, Grimble knows he will have his hands full tonight.

Both are four-star prospects on the Rivals.com evaluating system of five stars and both have could potentially take over the game.

“It’s not whether I get the best of him, or if he gets the best of me,” Grimble said last week. “I could have a bad game, but if we win, it doesn’t matter.”

One player to watch tonight for Gorman is senior defensive end Bryson Mook, who will start opposite of Grimble on the line. The senior Mook, a 6-foot-2, 235-pounder who played in Hawaii last year, has a scholarship offer from UTEP and will be expected to help neutralize Hamilton’s line.

Gorman, which won its second state title in three years last fall, is an impressive 41-2 over the last three years. One of those losses, however, came in the 2008 Classic when they lost to Brophy Prep of Arizona.

As for my prediction: I’m taking Gorman, but it will be close. Gorman 24, Hamilton 19.

Photographer Sam Morris and I made the drive to Flagstaff this morning. We’ll bring you updates throughout the game. Enjoy.