Live Blog: Bishop Gorman, Shaq Powell rout Chaparral to open season

By Ray Brewer (contact), Case Keefer (contact)

Published Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011 | 6:30 p.m.

Updated Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011 | 10:41 p.m.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — A slow start against one of the nation's top ranked teams wasn't enough for Bishop Gorman to drop its season-opening game in the Sollenberger Classic at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

Not even close. Behind six total touchdowns from Shaq Powell, Gorman slammed Chaparral 42-22 to kick off its 2011 campaign.

The Gaels scored 28 unanswered points after halftime to take control of the contest. The score was 35-14 until the final two minutes, when Chaparral quarterback Connor Brewer got the ball to receiver Davonte Neal on a screen for an 81-yard touchdown.

Neal was the most heralded player on the field Saturday, but far from the best. Not even Neal could take that honor away from Powell, who unofficially had 28 carries for 303 yards. Powell also caught three passes for 34 yards and a touchdown.

He repeatedly ran behind the left side of the line, consisting of Nick Strehlow and Tanner Britton, with the Firebirds showing no ability to stop the approach. Chaparral had to play without its best defensive lineman, Arizona State commit Jarvis Lewis, who the Arizona Republic says is being investigated by the Arizona Interscholastic Association after reportedly being recruited to the school.

But it's unlikely any one could player could have made a difference against Powell tonight. Gorman says its ultimate goal is to win a national championship this year, and at least after one night, that seems like a possibility.

Check back to lasvegassun.com later for full coverage and look below for a full live blog.

4:40 left, 35-14 Gorman

How Chaparral led this game at halftime is bound to go down as one of the more puzzling facts in recent Southern Nevada high school football memory.

In the 17 minutes since Bishop Gorman came out of the locker room after the first two quarters, it hasn't only looked like a team a step ahead of its competition. The Gaels seem galaxies better than the Firebirds.

They've outscored Chaparral 28-0 in the second half to make the score 35-14. Running back Shaq Powell has all five touchdowns and just took in the latest on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line.

The Gaels defense has totally shut down the once-cruising Firebirds offense, too. Gorman's Jake Smirk has repeatedly disrupted plays in the backfield, while Ben Guida likely leads the team in tackles.

End of third quarter, 28-14 Gorman

Shaq Powell is closing in on the 250-yard rushing mark as the Gaels are about to enter the red zone again.

Not to take anything away from Powell's incredible night, but guard Nick Strehlow and tackle Tanner Britton deserve as much credit as he does. Gorman is running behind their side of the line, the left, on every single play.

Strehlow and Britton are clearing the way for Powell to use his speed and get up field. Put simply, their strength seems to be overwhelming Chaparral's defensive front.

Gorman leads 28-14 with 3:59 left in third quarter

Make it 64 more yards and another touchdown for Shaquille Powell.

Powell broke loose against Chaparral for a 62-yard run on the first play after a change of possession. He punched in another score two plays later and now has all four of Gorman's touchdowns — three rushing and one receiving.

Powell has approximately 180 rushing yards after gaining 55 in the first half. The Sollenberger Classic staff has just made the official first half statistics available. Gorman quarterback Anu Solomon went 7-for-12 for 94 yards and a touchdown, while counterpart Connor Brewer completed 7 of his 13 attempts for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

6:01 remaining third quarter, Gorman leads 21-14

It's been 14 points in eight minutes to open the second half for Bishop Gorman.

Shaquille Powell just took another sweep in for a touchdown at University of Phoenix Stadium to put his team ahead of Chaparral 21-14. It was his second rushing touchdown and third score of the day for the Gaels.

Powell scored after Gorman went for an unforeseen onside kick after scoring their first touchdown. Nathan Starks was able to recover the kick on a bounce to set the Gaels up with ideal field position.

A couple of rushes from Powell got Gorman inside the 10-yard line. Right now, he's the best player on the field and looks unstoppable.

7:39 remaining in third quarter, tied at 14

One of the oldest tricks in a football coach's arsenal paid off in a major way for Bishop Gorman.

On fourth-and-two from midfield, the Gaels used a hard snap count to draw the Firebirds offside and prolong their drive. Two plays later, Shaq Powell took a sweep approximately 40 yards for a touchdown.

Powell has easily been Gorman's most valuable player thus far as he has both of its touchdowns. Tajon Allen also had a pivotal third down reception earlier on the latest scoring drive.

We're still waiting on official halftime statistics from classic officials and will post highlights when they become available.

Halftime, Gorman still trails by a touchdown

Anu Solomon bombed a 60-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Smith with 1:20 remaining in the first half for the Gaels, but the officials wiped it away with a 15-yard personal foul call.

Another penalty followed as Gorman lost five more yards for a delay of game. On the sidelines, coach Tony Sanchez is all over his players for the two gaffes. Shaq Powell picked up around 20 yards on second down, but a pass fell incomplete on third and made a punt the only sensible call with 45 seconds remaining.

Chaparral's superstar receiver recruit, Davonte Neal, muffed the punt but no one from Gorman was close enough to jump on the ball. Chaparral tried to go to the air in the final seconds, but Gorman defensive end Jake Smirk put an end to those plans with a sack.

2:12 remaining in second quarter, Chaparral 14 Gorman 7

If Chaparral opened the game with any jitters, they have withered away now.

The Firebirds just took a 14-7 lead after a 29-yard touchdown strike from Connor Brewer to Zach Skeen. Chaparral picked up the pace on its latest drive, running a fast no huddle offense and not giving Gorman much time to position defensively.

The Gaels haven't been shy about taking shots in the game so far. Look for them to attack with an early season version of the two-minute drill here.

8:00 remaining in second quarter, Gorman 7 Chaparral 7

A four-minute Gorman drive to open the second quarter stalled at Chaparral's 40-yard line.

Quarterback Anu Solomon had open receivers deep on two occasions, but missed them by inches. Chaparral will take over at the 16-yard line.

Even though the crowd is sparse — which is understandable for an NFL venue with more than 60,000 seats — it's a big game atmosphere here at the University of Phoenix Stadium. The Chaparral side is vocal — chants of "Connor Brewer", the Firebirds quarterback, briefly took over — and the Gaels seems to have brought a solid contingent of students down the road themselves.

End of the first quarter, Gorman and Chaparral tied at 7

Gorman got on the scoreboard by throwing down field and firing for big plays early. Chaparral used the opposite approach to tie the game at 7 right before the end of the first quarter.

The Firebirds pieced together a near 80-yard drive before quarterback Connor Brewer found Cody Ippolito for a three-yard touchdown pass with 25 seconds remaining. Although Brewer's passing prowess was on display during the drive, Chaparral's running game ate up much of the yardage.

Speedy backs Malcolm Thomas and Zach Skeen ran straight ahead for the most part and picked up four or five yards per carry. The Gaels were called for roughing the kicker and started their next drive at the 20-yard line after a touchback on the short-field kickoff.

10:00 remaining in first quarter, Gorman ahead 7-0

The words came out of the Chaparral captains' mouths as soon as they noticed they had won the coin toss.

The Firebirds wanted the ball. They may be re-thinking that decision already.

Gorman forced to Chaparral to punt after a quick three-and-out possession to start the game. The Gaels first possession was just as quick, but had much better results.

They scored in three plays. Anu Solomon found Zach Hutchins for a 32-yard completion on the first offensive play of the season. After one rush, Solomon hooked up with Shaquille Powell for a 31-yard touchdown.

Pre-game

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The two-time defending state champion Bishop Gorman High football team couldn’t have asked for a better way to open the season.

The Gaels are minutes away from kicking off at the University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, in the Sollenberger Classic against last year’s Arizona champ, Chaparral High of Scottsdale.

The 63,400-seat facility is great venue for professional football, let alone a high school game. It’s the same stadium of the 2008 Super Bowl, Bowl Championship Series title game last January and the Fiesta Bowl.

It’s an appropriate setting for one of the most significant high school games nationally in August, with both schools near the top of several national polls — Gorman is No. 10 and Chaparral No. 24 by Maxpreps.com.

No Nevada team had been victorious in the Classic, which normally features the past season's Nevada and Arizona champions, before earlier this afternoon. Last year's 3A runner-up Moapa Valley made the most of the opportunity to play in the game after Truckee turned it down by upsetting Arizona's Show Low 28-26.

Sean McConnell scored two rushing touchdowns for the Pirates and combined with fellow junior Conner Mortensen for 145 yards. The Moapa Valley defense made numerous stands, including stopping Show Low four times within the 10-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Show Low missed a two-point conversion attempt with a minute remaining and failed to recover an onside kick, which clinched the victory for Moapa Valley.

Gorman is 0-2 in the event, falling last year 24-17 to Hamilton High and 16-6 in 2008 to Brophy Prep.

Last year, the Gaels were hindered early with penalties, dropped passes and mental mistakes. Despite the awful start, they rallied to lead in the fourth quarter before falling late. They also lost 28-14 last year to power De La Salle of Northern California — the Gaels’ lone two blemishes over the last two seasons.

With 10 returning offensive starters and the experiences of last year’s national games, Gorman players are confident the outcome will be different.

“We can’t start slow and expect a victory against a good team,” Gorman senior running back Shaquille Powell said. “Experience is the best thing that can help us.”

But can the experience help stop the Chaparral tandem of quarterback Connor Brewer and wide receiver Davonte Neal? Brewer is a five-star prospect who is committed to the University of Texas and Neal has 20-plus scholarship offers from some of the nation’s best college programs.

It’s widely believed the speedy Neal will be the best player on the field, with the ability to alter the game every time he touches the ball.

“Davonte Neal is really good,” Gorman senior safety Marc Phillippi said. “I’ve seen him at a couple of camps and he is the real deal. But if we do what we are supposed to do, and if we don’t let him do his little Davonte Neal show, we will be fine.”

Check back for game updates from the Sun’s Case Keefer and Ray Brewer. We’ll keep you posted on all the scoring and other action — such as Gorman’s new look: the Gaels are wearing blue helmets instead of orange for the first time in more than 15 years. The uniforms are practically identical to those worn by Boise State.