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Bishop Gorman running back Shaquille Powell dives into the end zone against Palo Verde during their game Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, at Bishop Gorman. Gorman won the game, 35-7, and will play for the state title.
Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 | 1:15 a.m.
Prep Sports Now
The week everyone has been waiting for
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Las Vegas Sun reporters Case Keefer and Ray Brewer get their wish — Palo Verde and Bishop Gorman meeting on the local high school football gridiron. The boys will take a look at the this game, and also discuss the Sunrise Regional finals between Liberty and Foothill.
High school football: Palo Verde v. Bishop Gorman
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KSNV coverage of high school football teams Palo Verde taking on Bishop Gorman, Nov. 18, 2011.
Team pages
Bishop Gorman High senior running back Shaquille Powell remembers his introduction to the rivalry football game with the neighboring Palo Verde Panthers with a small chuckle.
As a freshman in 2008 during the Sunset Regional championship game against the Panthers, the public address announcer mistakenly called Powell another player on the Gorman roster after recording a 35-yard run.
That turned out to be the least of his problems, with Gorman losing by five touchdowns that evening in its worst defeat in the last five years.
Some three years later, Powell is continuing to make up for the loss. He rushed for more than 200 yards and a touchdown Friday in leading Gorman to its third straight victory against Palo Verde, a 35-7 win in the Sunset Regional title game at Gorman’s Fertitta Field.
The win puts two-time defending state champion Gaels (13-1) in next Saturday’s state semifinals against Sunrise champion Liberty. Going for a third straight title is something Powell admits he never envisioned.
“When I first came here, I never thought we would win three in a row,” Powell said. “It is a kind of like a dream come true to be nationally ranked and be the best team in your city and your state. And to have another shot to go prove you can do it again.”
Gorman built a 14-0 halftime lead behind a pair of 97-yard scoring drives — one in each of the first two quarters. After Palo Verde’s initial drive of the game stalled at the 3-yard line, Powell rushed for 47 yards on Gorman’s first play from scrimmage to set up a seven-play scoring drive. Quarterback Anu Solomoncapped the drive with a 1-yard keeper to give Gorman the lead for good.
Later in the half, Gorman again drove 97 yards, this time with Powell scoring on a 7-yard touchdown run in extending the lead to 14-0.
Powell, however, was far from a one-man show in the backfield. Sophomore Nathen Starks, his understudy, rushed for almost 100 yards on eight carries and two second-half touchdowns in helping Gorman put the game away.
Late in the fourth quarter, Starks broke free for a 45-yard run to bring the ball to the goal line, carrying two Palo Verde defenders the final five yards. He scored from 1 yard out on the next play.
“I wanted to try to get the ball in the end zone one more time,” Starks said of his late run. “Coach is always telling us to not give up on any play and that is what I was striving for there.”
Palo Verde’s touchdown came with 6:57 remaining on a 2-yard run from Lee Griggs. The Panthers recovered a fumble inside the Gorman 20-yard line later in the quarter, but couldn’t produce any points.
Early in the game, it didn’t appear Palo Verde would struggle scoring.
Palo Verde converted a pair of third-down plays into first downs on its first drive of the game, and junior tailback Ryan Beaulieu had a 46-yard run to bring the ball deep into Gorman territory. The Panthers, however, couldn’t get the early score.
“We caught them off guard,” Palo Verde coach Darwin Rost said. “We are a double-wing team and we went spread and they weren’t ready for it. But they settled down. That is why they are a nationally ranked team.”
Palo Verde has lost two games in the last two years — both in the Sunset finals against Gorman.
“We have had great games. None of the games have really been lopsided,” Gorman coach Tony Sanchez said. “They have been hard-fought battles. It’s two well-coached teams, two talented football teams. That was another (good) game tonight. It was a lot closer than the score shows. We expected it to be like that.”
And, for the last three years, the name Shaquille Powell has constantly been announced. He’s rushed for more than 4,800 yards and 77 touchdowns, usually bringing his best performances in Gorman's toughest games.
Ray - Looks like you lost the bet...LOL You had Gorman & the Over.
I had the line at Gorman -28, O/U 51.
Line on the Liberty Game:
Gorman -30
O/U 55
It was the obvious outcome to the game. Gorman players have all three area's against any team in the valley and they have them by a wide margin. They are bigger, faster and more talented than any team by far. That's what happens when you pick an all star team, especially on the high school level. All of their linemen had 40 pounds on Palo Verde's linemen, opening up holes for their backs who are way faster than their opponents.
One thing that Gorman cannot claim is coaching. While their players are what I described above, they committed a ton of holding penalties, pass interferences and personal fouls. They also had several turnovers and if the game or talent would have been close, it would have cost them.
No hate for Gorman, they are what they are. If my kid was that good (or I built the field), I would send him there too. It just isn't fun to watch when they are that far ahead of other teams.
things of note:
Great atmosphere. I am glad Palo has the student, parent and community support and gets people that excited about its program. They do well and in some sports great and it's great to see you don't have to be a private to have love.
It's absolutely pathetic that Palo the NW winner had packed, excited, rabid fans that sold out their side and just two weeks NE winner Canyon Springs had 20-25 people to start their first round game vs Basic and maybe had 50 at maximum during the game. Absolutley pathetic. Yes i am aware these are completely different social and economic communities but Basic isn't in exactly the nicest part of Henderson, half their skills players live in "The Gardens" government housing on Major and they get plenty of support. Absolutely great Palo support absolutely pathetic how little some people take pride in their school, kids and community.
On the game:
The penalties were ridiculous. That was the sloppiest i've seen Gorman. The refs had only had a couple that were phantom penalties, by and large the majority were deserved. Sanchez needs to clean that up I think Gorman had more yards in penalties than Palo did running yards. On the same note the refs did not have control of this game. Obviously heated rivalry boys will be boys and talk trash and give a little shove but the refs took way to long to nip it in the butt and it nearly went bad.
Palo had every right to be fired up and i loved watching it but it's the refs job to keep it from going over board and they failed to do that.
I have disagreed with Sanchez not letting the kids take a knee when a player is down, but when Rost went down for a couple minutes and also #7 it was dead silent. When Stanley dislocated his elbow (from 20 rows up i could see it was clearly baaaad) rolling on the ground clearly in pain, and Palo cheers widly. I understand it's a rivalry. I understand chants will be insulting and hits came in late but the crowd going nuts for an injury? Stay classy Palo.
Can't wait for next Sat, sounds like it was a hell of a game over at Liberty, Congrats to Falcons on a very unexpected succesful season. Wish i could have been there too
Those totals always get me. I'm a sucker for playing the totals over. :)
Brewer, did they not have stats after game? Nvpreps didn't post Gorman stats only the liberty . one I'm curious if we really did have more penalty yards than Palo had rushing
Ray - So what are you taking on the Liberty game? :)
Well I finally had a chance to see the Palo Vs Gorman game it was a good contest but once again Sanchez shows his lack of class,With the score 28-7 with 1:43 left om the clock and having the ball first and ten at the Palo 1 yard line one would think that taking a knee would be the classy thing to do, BUT what does Sanchez do he calls a dive play off tackle "WOW" what a class move but after watching Sanchez play all year what else would you expect.Has to look good for the rankings I guess.
I went to the bar across the street from Bishop Gorman after the game to relax and have a drink and guess who was there Sanchez himself after a few drinks the bartender had to tell Sanchez to shut up because he was getting loud and out of line just another class move by the Bishop Gorman coach.