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Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 | 11:23 p.m.
Prep Sports Now
Familiar arguments emerge as playoffs move along
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Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Ray Brewer and Case Keefer disagree on the Liberty vs. Las Vegas matchup for the same reasons as last year. They come to a consensus on the rest of the games, but also break down the matchups.
Related coverage
Bishop Gorman High’s Ryan Smith threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Robert Stanley on a fake field goal in the second quarter Thursday in the Sunset Regional semifinals against visiting Arbor View to help the Gaels blow the game open in a 56-19 victory.
The score was tied at seven after the first quarter, but the two-time defending state champion Gaels took command in the second quarter. Smith, the Gaels’ wide receiver and kick holder, took the snap on the fake field and connected with Stanley for a 21-7 Gorman lead.
Arbor View’s first quarter touchdown came after Gorman’s punt returner mishandled a punt inside the Gorman 20-yard line.
“I thought we played a little undisciplined. We had too many penalties for sure,” Gorman coach Tony Sanchez said. “We’ll work on that and clean it up for next week.”
Smith had a pair of receiving touchdowns from quarterback Anu Solomon, who also rushed for a score. Running back Shaquille Powell carried the ball 15 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns, and sophomore Nathen Starks also scored twice.
The win sets up the annual playoff game between Gorman and rival Palo Verde, which is widely considered the most important game in Southern Nevada all year. This the fifth straight year the teams have met in the postseason — four times coming in the Sunset title game. The game is set for 8 p.m. next Friday at Gorman.
“It’s a fun game to be part of because they have such a good community that supports their school,” Sanchez said. “(Palo Verde) coach (Darwin) Rost does such a great job. He has built one of the best programs in the state. Any time you play against a proud community like that with a well-coached team, it’s a lot of fun.”
Sanchez and his assistant coaches huddled near a television after their game to watch Palo Verde rally past Centennial in the final minutes, 23-20. “Everybody cheered,” Sanchez said.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ra
Congratulations to BG. Your defense was smothering. After seeing Palo's game on TV tonight their is no question your defense is the best in the city. You play the run and pass very well. Your special teams put you in some tough spots but I see no way Palo, with limited offensive weapons and horrible pass defense, can stay w you. Your QB and receivers will have a field day w Palo's secondary. (Popal 9 catches 100 yds for Cent.)
That said, my question to Sanchez, why did you send your starters back on the field with 2:33 left in the game leading 49 to 20? Then you go quick with toss plays and score with 17 seconds left instead of doing the right thing and take a knee. What about all your backups have worked all year. Do they mean nothing to you?
I listened to a lot of Gorman faithful in the stands that were very embarrassed by your actions. Do you not believe that the AV kids should be treated with a little more respect?
I hope you come on here and give us answers. Your actions take away from great effort by your kids.
Good luck to your players and coaches. And good luck to you in finding a little humility.
Like I said last week...."Good Night Irene!"
At least Arbor View improved a little bit and only lost 56-19 instead of 56-7 like last game....LOL
Congratulations to the Arbor View Aggies for another outstanding football season. Hold your heads high for playing with pride and showing hard work and dedication. We are so proud of everyone.
To Gorman, any respect I had for you was lost in the last 20 seconds of the game. What a pathetic display of sportsmanship. Is padding the score when you have the game won worth demoralizing the other team? Is that the message they teach at Gorman? How pathetic! No wonder there's so much hate for Gorman. I guess the biggest thing missing from all the big talent and money pouring into Gorman is "CLASS"?
Ed James
Wow.. didnt know bout the BG 2 minute drill! lol. From what I hear humility and etiquette is not in Sanchez' playbook. But the guy wins and I'm sure BG fans forget about it at the end of the night!
Looks like folks are going to get their wish with a BG vs Palo game for the Sunset title. For those who are hoping for good game, they will be greatly disappointed. BG is going to destroy Palo! If anyone thinks 56 points is a lot...just watch BG put up basketball scores on Palo next week. Maybe in the past this might have been a good game but this year the gap between BG and Palo is just too big. Oh well...
On a side note, the prospect of a Liberty vs BG game has gotten us Liberty fans pretty darn excited! :) I think this would be a much better football game than BG vs Palo in my own biased opinion. lol. Go Patriots!
The last touchdown for Bishop Gorman was unnecessary and classless in my opinion. The game was in control and taking a knee would have been the sportsmanlike thing to do. Instead, players for both teams were put at risk on the ensuing kickoff which is traditionally one of the most dangerous in the sport. Following the kickoff, Arbor View took a knee and let the clock run out. Coach Sanchez needs to apologize to the Arbor View team and learn a little something about sportsmanship.
Went to last nights game (my third BG game).See the whining about BG scoring late. Can't whine. AV went "onside kickoff" to give BG short field. Then BG runs #2 tailback Starks (Powell on sideline) up the middle 4 times and ends up in end zone. No passes, no timeouts, no hurry up. Just 4 "vanilla" runs up the gut. If you don't want BG to score - AV has chance to kick deep (BG doesn't score), AV has opportubnity to tackle (BG doesn't score). Quite your whining, celebrate your 20 points. More than any other in state team. Congrats to AV with great effort against long odds. They will be a factor next year.
You know what arbor view fans you guys are just jealous that we win everybody. And no that last touchdown wasn't not class that was to shut the he'll out of your guys fans and you guys just have to face it a win is a win. And everybody hates us because we recruit but guess what we are recruited by JESUS....... Hey students at arbor view you guys should be proud of your team they did good. And parents you guys are lucky if it wasn't cold you guys could've got whooped by us... You havn't even seen our fans most of our fans weren't even there. You know what bishop gorman teaches us they teach us Pride and stewardship and CLASS you guys should just shut up a WIN is a WIN so deal with it AGGiES Psss..................
Great Job Aggies, you have the talent on offense. You did the best you can with that Pop Warner play book. Good luck to you Seniors. You were on the ground floor of something special at Arbor View.
Please don't judge all of the Gorman faithful by the actions of the 4th quarter. Sanchez plays by his own set of rules. The reward is the work, not the outcome.
I'm sure, from the Aggies perspective, the purpose of an onside kick would be to try and recover the ball with the hope of scoring again. AV wouldn't kick onside "to give BG a short field". AV made a call that shows that they hadn't given up even though they were 30 points down. They wanted the ball back. You have to respect them for that.
What's funny is pointing out BG's Pride, Stewardship, Class and being recruited by Jesus while telling folks to shutup and accusing them of jealousy!
@BG1
"And no that last touchdown wasn't not class that was to shut the he'll out of your guys fan"
"You know what bishop gorman teaches us they teach us Pride and stewardship and CLASS you guys should just shut up a WIN is a WIN so deal with it AGGiES Psss......"
Contradictions much? You say it wasn't class at the beginning then go around to say you do have class? Looking at pretty much your entire post, I'm going to assume you didn't graduate or even go to Gorman with that kind of grammar issues. But anyways Arbor played a great game and actually showed a little bit of control and dominance during the second half. They went for the fourth down conversions and converted them, they scored three times on one of the top teams in the nation! The defense forced turnovers and the offense got first downs. I couldn't be more proud of the Aggies, they did better than any in-state competitor so far. In fact, I think they've scored the most against Gorman than any in-state team in the past couple of years (last year Palo only scored 10 don't jump on me about that game). Anyways, hats off to the likely state champion Gorman and I'm considering coming to the Gorman-Palo matchup
please disregard BG1 he's clearly going through puberty and letting most of his teenage angst talk for him with good intentions but in a rude way. I wasn't at the game but my initial reaction is two things: A- It's playoffs, players have to get reps. B- It's an arrogant move that was unnecessary and probably done because 48-19 doesn't look as good as 56-19 on national radar.
However if we're talking second string running back running right up the middle then there is absolutely nothing wrong there. Players need reps. No passes? No draws, no pitches to the outside just right up the guy? That is very often done. I'm sure with 17 seconds left he could have taken a knee absolutely probably would have been the better thing to do, but if AV is onside kicking then there's still a dog in the fight i guess.
Nonetheless I gotta give a lot of credit to AV and their coach they took that game 3 weeks ago they didn't have to they are a good team and a growing program i'm sure there'll be a day and time when it'll be AV taking a knee to beat Gorman. Albeit many years from now. I look forward to realignment and playing Palo/AV regular season too.
Gorman homer couldn't have said it better-don't judge all of us by that 4th quarter. I don't agree with not taking a knee when an opponent is down and Sanchez doesn't let kids to that. I rather liked Servite's classier style more than ours to be honest. We have humility and class to still learn from programs like De la Salle and Servite.
Qosky you should definitely come to the Gorman vs Palo love the Palo fans and support that matches Gorman and the atmosphere is unique and not found in this capacity often in this town. Definitely worth coming
Let me get this right, Liberty was up 16 pts and they put their backups in to finish the game. But BG was up 29 pts w 2:33 left but they didn't play theirs.
Gray ghost, that was the entire starting o line, QB, Wrs with the Starks kid. Last play started at 20 seconds left on AV 11 yd line. Sanchez still doesn't take a knee. There is no respectable coach in the country at any level that would have done that.
What I don't hear anyone from BG talking about are the backups. Do they mean so little over there? And what about their families? BG1 how do you feel about those kids? They are part of BG too.
The funniest part was to see Sanchez let his big coaches go out first which I don't believe he ever does, and he hides behind them when time to shake hands at midfield. Not only classless but a coward as well.
Represented yourself well last night Sanchez.
thanks for that info lvfootball...ya if it was all starters with backup running back, he could make the argument that it's just finally letting the starters play a full game for only the third time this season had he taken a knee before the last play to punch it in. Punching it in was unnecessary. I would expect that against Palo since it's a rivalry and i would expect Palo to do the same but not against Arbor. Pretty di ck move.
At least that answers my questions as to what they'll do next week. I fully expect all starters all four quarters even if it means the score gets into 60's-70's
Tuasdad, I appreciate your comments, your humility, and your honesty. I know you as well as most of the BG faithful are stand-up people. The actions of Sanchez and a few ignorant comments on here does not represent all of Gorman. Also, I hate to see this take away from a great effort by the BG kids.
What bothers me the most is how there is no regard to all the other kids on the team who work hard everyday and they can't get in with 2:33 left in the game up by 29 pts. Can you imagine if Stanley had got hurt at the end. Luckily no AV kid got upset and took a cheap shot which could have happened. And yes there were quite a few gorman faithful that were embarrassed in the stands by Sanches' actions.
For the record the first two plays were over stacked to the right with toss sweep. And yes they did run 7 plays in the last 2:33.
Every player on a team is critical to the team's success. BG, Palo, Liberty or any successful program at any level is pushed in practice by the non-starters. There is greater pride in prepping the #1 O or #1 D to be sucessful in the game than a token play to get your uni dirty in a blowout. (OK, no dirty unis on artifical turf). I didn't see any disgruntled players or parents on BG sideline last night. They all understand the roles and the mission of an elite program -whether prep or college. The days of "make everybody feel good" are left at the Pop Warner level. In the playoffs one team wins and moves on, one team loses and goes home -just like life.
We all know what payback is. So come time for any other sport we all know when a team can run up the score on Gorman they will. Arbor View will have their chance come Boys Volleyball, Softball, Varsity Quiz or whatever. You want to be heard and have the last word; Scoreboard! Take a page from Sanchez's book. Make the work be the reward.
thanks lvfootballfan... i will say that I do not object to leaving the starters in that late in this particular game, against this opponent and in the playoffs. I only think the running the last play to score with 17 seconds left was not needed and in bad taste.This is why..
Gorman backups probably got more minutes than any other teams back ups in the city this season. Starters played a full game against Armwood and Servite. Starters plays 3-3.5 quarters against Chap (AZ) and Sierra Vista. (SV they needed game shape since Servite was following week). Therefore our backups played plenty during the second half of the other 7 games. More than probably any other team. Second, Arbor View is the clear third best team in the state. Gorman had a better opponent last night than they probably will for state semi and final. So the starters are getting 4 quarters against the better opposition left this season.
For 2/3 of this season most of the starters saw only a couple series in the second half. I have friends with kids who are back ups and third stringers. On any varsity team you'll have kids that will be lucky to get two plays at the end of a 70-0 game. Again, scoring was a douche move, I would have been ok with it if it was against Palo but not Arbor, they didn't deserve the insult. I think getting starters in game shape a full 4 quarters is perfectly fine. he could have and should have taken a knee.
Well another CLASSLESS display by Bishop Gorman coach Tony Sanchez.
Can someone explain to me why when you score late in the game and for all purposes the game is over you send out the first team to kick the P.A.T. "WOW" What about your second team? speaking of second team do you know on senior night (The seniors usually start the game) Gorman took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown and who does Sanchez trot out the little junior kicker to kick the P.A.T. not his senior kicker who gets maybe 1 kick attempt per game if he's lucky.
Sanchez has showed no class all year so I guess why would he start now.
Maybe if Liberty wins out they could end up playing Gorman, Wouldn't that be something the two Nacua brothers playing against one another! Funny how one gets recruited for Gorman and the other has to go to Liberty gee I wonder who is paying for that.
Also the score is wrong, the final was 56-20
Tuasdad, some valid points. Not sure how 2 1/2 minutes are going to help first team that much. Did like the " douche move" comment.
Liberty will be BG toughest matchup if it happens. Their the most physical team that can pass too. Nacua vs Nacua, would be great story for Brewer. By the way, why is one at BG, and the other at Liberty? Also isn't there a sister at Liberty?
Liberty matches up a lot better with BG than AV or Palo because they're just if not more physical and can actually pass and run. Unfortunately its the one game I couldn't get off work to attend.
When will the sunrise sunset state semi-final game be? Is that game on friday after thanksgiving and if so will it be a day game? Also, where will it be played? Does anyone know? Tuasdad, if you can't go that will suck. You've been a loyal follower of high school football, hope something works out for you, so you can go to game.
Does anyone know why Nacua brothers don't play together. That would be tough as a parent. Are parents together? Can you imagine Nacua sacking his brother?
I asked and was told the Nacua at Liberty and the Nacua at BG were cousins, not brothers. Two seperate families, but related. Thanksgiving should be interesting.
@qosky
Hey I least we are national ranked.....
Nacua's are cousins? I thought they were brothers. I guess that explains that.
Well Grayghost I don't know who you talked too but I can assure you they are BROTHERS not COUSINS who ever told you that are lying to you.I know that for a fact, Did you ever notice that when both teams play you never see both parents at the game one is a Gorman and the other is a Liberty.
They Nacuas are married not divorced they have other children also wonder how they can put the younger in GORMAN and the older at Liberty ?
Welch just for the record, not saying that it's the case with the Nacuas' but it's not that odd. I there were a couple kids i went to Gorman with where 1 sibling went to another school, usually because they didn't want to go to catholic school. But i can see the reason to wonder.
Sanchez was trying to cover the spread....can't blame a coach for doing that. It happens in college football all the time.
Unfortunately, i wasnt able to catch any of last night's games. i really wanted to see the Liberty v Las Vegas game. im hoping Liberty can get passed Foothill as ive said before that Liberty matches up best against Gorman and has the best chance to beat them. To a certain degree its all about matchups and so Gorman would easily dominate Foothill but have problems with Liberty while Liberty doesnt match up well with Foothill even though they beat them earlier this season and matches up better with Gorman. I think its interesting that many Gorman players were on the Liberty middle school program before going to Gorman. As for the Nacua boys, i dont know if they are brothers or cousins but its pretty obvious that the one at Gorman is there most likely on a full scholarship because Gorman needed a DE while the other is at Liberty because Gorman did not need a QB. Another example of Gorman being able to bring in the top talent by being able to give
full scholarships. As i have said over and over again, Gorman is going to continue to dominate as long as they are allowed to give full scholarships to their football players. Tuasdad has addressed this before when i have brought this up but i cant think of any other way to level the playing field.
The easiest way for the NIAA to even things out would be to allow the kids to leave BG without having to sit out a year of eligibility. I know a father whose son plays at BG that would start most anywhere in the city, but he has to wait til his sr. year before he'll start. His dad would have liked to transfer him out but he didn't want to lose that year of eligibility. This year BG baseball.team returns all but 2 everyday players and all but 1 of their main pitchers from last year. They have so many kids that many will never play or only a little their sr year, yet they would start most anywhere else. Look at Cunningham's kid, he won't play til his senior year. Look at their basketball team, they have 9 or 10 sr this year who are returning plus that loaded line up. What are the jr going to do? There is no spot for them. But if they transfer to a new school then they can't play. How many good rb does BG have? Believe the Sweet kid was all conference last year, now he's behind Powell, Starks, and Fertitta. How many kids are over there that could be playing elsewhere but they don't want to sit out?
This is where BG big advantage is. First, they can recruit from all over the city. They can give scholarships. Then once your there it becomes hard to leave because no one wants to lose that year of eligibility. Imagine how many of those kids in all the sports could help other schools be more competitive and BG wouldn't be able to stockpile players. This is why BG can have injuries and it doesn't affect them.
Look what a difference Chaisson has made over at Palo. But he's an exception because of family members incident over there. Otherwise, he would have had to sit one year, which he wouldn't have done. No, then he would be another player still at BG.
I don't know if doing away with the penalty of having to sit one year would be the answer, but I guarantee it would make some difference in all the sports, both boys and girls.
Maybe somebody has another solution or suggestion. Or an opinion on whether you think the above is right or wrong.
I love how everyone is jealous that Bishop Gorman is stacked full of players. It was the kid's & their parent's choice to send them to Gorman. Gorman didn't force them to come there...so if they're in a backup position 2-3 yrs later in Varsity and feel they could have started somewhere else, don't put the blame on Gorman's great program. You should thank the Gorman Freshman & JV coaches for giving them 2-3 yrs of great coaching to be thought of as a potential starter somewhere else.
My Son played Freshman & JV football @ Gorman (2 yrs) and was 3rd string. We had to move out of State and he attends a decent school with an above average football program and he started right away...not because he was a superstar, but because his coaches at his new school said he was disciplined, had solid fundamentals, practiced hard, and was ready to play on every down in the football game. All of those traits he learned from his Freshman & JV coaches at Gorman. Meanwhile, most of the team at his new school jacked around, were undisciplined, and were space cadets on the sidelines during games.
How many of those potential 'starters' riding the bench at Gorman would start at another school and be successful if they didn't have the fundamentals that their FR/JV coaches taught them at Gorman? That's the real question.
lvfootballfun,
Cunningham's kid does not have the huddle yet. Anu Solomon has one more year. Then the QuarterBack debate begins. Cunningham will be a Senior but Hong (will be a Jr.)was a personal pick of the Fertitta's. Hong and little Rocco Fertitta played together since middle school. So, now we have a debate. Cunningham has the local support being the biggest name in UNLV football ever; and we all know Gorman has no local love in the valley and could use it. Vs. Hong who is the real deal and in the Fertitta carpool. You can't just say give it to the Senior. Anu started Varsity as a freshman over 4 seniors so far. Its early, I know, its just a debate that will happen later. Can you imagine being Cunningham? Your kid is the backup when he could be starting at Palo or Liberty. Or being Sanchez looking over his shoulder at the Fertitta Brothers wondering if his job is safe. "As Gorman Turns"
lol Gormanhomer...solid points. I think Hong is the real deal and he'll be developed appropriately. Cunningham is very athletic and would probably fit right in at WR and get plenty of D1 looks. Cunningham should have sent him as a freshmen than maybe Hong would have gone to Liberty instead but that's on Cunningham Sr....He was trying to get Jr into Gorman and be an assistance coach in exchange for free tuition which Gorman was not going to do in any way shape or form (see they're not dumb) So he sent kid to silverado. Then kid realized the exposure at Gorman was worth price of tuition. I think Cunningham will fit in at WR but hell it wouldn't hurt to have two D1 qb.
As for the senior debate a couple that i know who have kids who are either jr's on varsity or one is soph on jv they all know that they can stay on JV as juniors and get some playing time or play varsity and only see the field in 4th quarter when they're up big. Most pick varsity because if you're going to be 2nd/3rd string it may as well be on one of the best teams in the country playing other nationally ranked teams. Same goes for basketball.
As for the Liberty vs Gorman game i'm pretty sure i'll be calling in sick, i've only called in twice in 4 years, last time was for Palo vs Gorman last year lol.
Sidenote, was reading about Armwood (FL) being under investigation by Florida Athletic Commission investigating that of their 16 D1 recruits on roster, 5 played varsity and 3 played jv last year at other schools. This isn't a surprise everyone knew that, FL has loose transfer rules. They'll be found not in violation. Schools like that don't need to recruit, good players and parents who want to give them maximum exposure and possibility to get a free college education find them. Armwood has college recruiters at their spring intersquad scrimmage, hard to compete with that level of exposure. Same reason kids and parents find a way to get their good football playing jr highschoolers into Palo, Gorman, Liberty, McQueen's etc....