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Bishop Gorman kicker Kline Fielden connects on a game-winning, 39-yard field goal against Servite during their game Friday, Sept. 30, 2011. Gorman won the game 31-28.
Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 | 2:05 a.m.
High school football: Bishop Gorman vs. Servite High
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KSNV coverage of Bishop Gorman facing off against Servite High of Anaheim, Calif. in a heated high school football game, Sept. 30, 2011.
Gorman fans ready for big game
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KSNV coverage of fans preparing for the Bishop Gorman High School football game against Servite High of Anaheim, Calif. Sept. 30, 2011.
Prep Sports Now
Gorman's national contest precedes Saturday slate
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Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Case Keefer and Ray Brewer go across the valley and break down the upcoming week of high school. They give their picks on every game and spend extra time debating Del Sol vs. Liberty and Servite (Calif.) vs. Bishop Gorman.
Don’t expect the smile to leave Kline Fielden’s face anytime soon. After all, you can’t blame the Bishop Gorman High junior kicker for being excited.
Not only was Fielden’s 39-yard field goal Friday with 1:03 to play against visiting Servite High of Anaheim, Calif., the game-winning kick in the Gaels’ dramatic 31-28 victory, it was also sweet redemption for a kicker who is more than familiar with the agony of defeat.
Five weeks ago, Fielden was low and wide left on a 40-yard attempt that would have tied the game in Gorman’s 20-17 loss to Armwood High of Florida. Both games were on an ESPN network, and the kicks were from almost identical distances.
This time, however, the result was different. Fielden couldn’t help celebrating as soon as the ball split the uprights, jumping up and down in jubilation and erasing the memories of his miss a few weeks earlier.
“I tried to stay calm and just remember what I had to do,” Fielden said. “This time, I stayed in my little corner over there and was secluded to myself. I went out there and did it. I knew it went through right when it went off my foot. (The emotion) takes your breath away."
Gorman led 28-20 at halftime but was held scoreless in the second half until Fielden’s heroics. On the decisive drive, the Gaels received the ball inside their 30-yard line with less than three minutes remaining. Anu Solomon’s 35-yard pass to Ryan Smith did the most damage in getting the Gaels into field goal position.
Fielden did the rest.
“We have confidence in all of our players. You have to allow your players to do what they are capable of doing,” Gorman coach Tony Sanchez said. “If he makes it, he makes it. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t. But you love him and you keep working.”
The victory further validates Gorman’s rise from a local power to national power.
The two-time defending Nevada state champion Gaels, ranked No. 10 by ESPN and No. 11 by Maxpreps.com, improved to 2-1 this fall against respected national opponents. Each of the three teams — Chaparral High of Scottsdale, Ariz., Armwood and Servite — was ranked in the top 15 of at least one poll when Gorman played them. Servite is No. 13 by ESPN.
“A 2-1 record is fine. You know why it is fine?,” said Shaquille Powell, Gorman’s senior tailback who had two first-half touchdowns. “Because of the way we played. It would be different if we got blown out and played with no heart.”
It’s major victory for Nevada high school football, which, until Gorman’s arrival, nationally was categorized as weak with limited college prospects. That’s far from the case nowadays — something a national audience has twice seen this fall with Gorman on ESPN broadcasts.
“Before the year started, if you would have said you are 15-1 and you will beat two teams that at the time are ranked in the top 10 of the country, you take that,” Sanchez said. “Obviously, you’d like to be undefeated. The way it went down (against Servite) and they way we played in those last two games, I’m proud our kids.”
Gorman wasted little time jumping out to a lead against Servite.
Junior Justin Sweet returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown and 7-0 advantage. After Gorman forced Servite to punt, the Gaels drove down the field, and Powell capped a six-play drive with a 6-yard touchdown run.
“When you love the sport that much, you are going to score,” Powell said of Sweet. “The dude has a passion for kickoff returns. He wants to get in that end zone every time he gets the ball.”
Gorman students started chanting, “It’s too easy; it’s too easy,” as it appeared the Gaels were headed for another blowout. In the four games after the Armwood loss, Gorman has outscored four league opponents 244-13.
But, then again, Servite is a national power and not an opponent in the Gaels' weak Southwest Division.
Servite responded by scoring 20 unanswered points for a 20-14 lead, taking advantage of a Powell fumble inside the Gorman 20-yard line and an interception from Solomon to erase the deficit.
For the night, Gorman had four turnovers and played a sloppy second half. But in a sign of their growth, they didn’t break.
“The one thing about our team is you never see our kids quit. They have heart,” Sanchez said. “That is the No. 1 team in Southern California, that might be the No. 1 team in all of California right now. That is the heck of a win.”
Gorman closed the first half with a pair of touchdowns in the final 1:35 seconds. Solomon, who was 10-of-17 passing for 167 yards, connected for scoring strikes of 29 yards to Smith and 34 yards to Powell.
“We work hard and we are dedicated,” Sweet said. “We come out here every day for practice in the heat and we just work.”
great game!!!!!
Yeah, it's really fun to watch a local high school team on ESPNU. Those uniforms were crazy cool too.
First, Gorman's helmets and uniforms looked incredible. I think only Oregon has more uniforms than Gorman. As for the game, it was a great game between the top programs in California and Nevada. This could turn into a great intersectional rivalry in the future. I do think that but for the 3 turnovers of Gorman, they would have won by at least 2 tds. But cant take anything away from Servite as they caused the turnovers. The player that stood out to me was Servite's QB Pittman. He's not very big and probably is only 5'9" or 5'10, but a big time play maker and a very shifty and elusive scrambler and runner who reminded me of Fran Tarkenton in making plays. I cant see either team losing another game this year where Servite will win the California open div championship and Gorman the Nevada state championship.
Ray i agree i was very impressed with that Pittman kid. He kept many drives alive and if he werejust a ittke taller would probably getting more offers He was legit. Not to take anything away from Servite but i felt there were more than a couple blown calls from the refs that kept their drives alive.
Again not taking anything away from Servite i think it would have been 35-21 had the refs not blown calls...but either way it was a great game and incredible atmostphere. I loved Servite's crowd and was embarassed about sine on my gorman side, i had to start insulting people who were sitting down in order to get them to stand for big third downs it really killed me to see that.
The best thing about last night besides the class displayed by both programs, was the atmosphere. It's really sad to think that the only other game with two local teams that would have that large, supportive and involved of a crowd would be the Gorman vs Palo game. Servite had more fans than Del Sol had at both their state semi game and the state championship game in 2009.
Hats off to Servite, team, staff and fans looking forward to next year in Anaheim.
Chanting "It's too easy, It's too easy" at your opponent after one play is classy? I don't think so.
sorry fan, i was on the opposite side i didn't hear that one. I'll go ahead and confess that I made several comical and offensive chants at the refs, mainly "Nuts and Bolts, Nuts and bolts, we got screwed" also "he's blind, he's deaf, he must be a ref" and on one occasion i did sink low and asked the referee to get off his knees because he was blowing the game. Nonetheless great game, atmosphere and crowd. I'm surprised no one has complained that there was pre game prayer at an NIAA sanctioned event...event though it was two private schools.
Tuasdad,
Perhaps you could shine some light on this for me. But, watching these Gorman games it appears that the Starks kids is a better running back than Powell. Is he not getting the reps because Powell is a Senior or what?
Guru, i think that is why yes. Starks already had a D1 offer as soph. Personally I thought they were limiting his action in Chap/Armwood games so that they could bust out the surprise stud 2nd string rb for Servite but that wasn' the case. He's going to have an amazing junior and senior season getting 20+ carries in good games and 4-5 carries like powell against southwest teams.
I think, outside of the linemen, Powell, Starks, Servite's QB and LB were the best players out there. That Servite QB really impressed me. He reminded me a lot of St Thomas Aquinas' (FL) QB
Also Justin Sweet is really good too and would probably start at RB at most schools in town
Great game! As a Servite alum, I tip my hat to Gorman who porved they are a great eam and worthy of their ranking, Nevada should be proud to have a classy program in their midst.
In my opinion, Servite could have won this game, but they dropped three TD passes in the end zone, and missed three FGs,that's 27 points left on the table.
Though both teams were held scoreless in the 2nd, the difference between a great team is they find a way to win, and a good team doesn't and that's the difference last night.
I look forward to next year, and hope Servite is healthier, both schools teams played classy, clean, and with a lot of heart, you can't ask for more.
Servite begins Trinity play in two weeks; where very game has 10,000 fans and every team except one is a Gorman-like team. the monster this year will be Sta Margarita which is very similar to Gorman.
Kudos especially to the Servite linemen, who were outweighed and out-sized, but more than held their own las night.
Good luck Gorman, see you next year in our turf!
Credo
your linemen did very well. After watching Santa Margarita/Los Al game thursday and now you guys play i think you'll do fine against SM. Their line is pretty big but not as fast as our guys for the size and you guy more than held your on on the defensive line. Your qb is legit. SM looked pretty good but i don't see them getting half as many big breaks against your D as they did on Los Al.
Good luck and see you next year
Went to the Gorman JV game against Servite this afternoon. Another great game with a better finish than the varsity game last night as Gorman tied the game with 1:30 minutes to play and Servite scored the winning td with 3 seconds to play. The player that stood out was Gorman freshman QB Hong. He came in with a lot of hype and he did not disappoint. Pure pocket/pro style QB. He was making throws that made it hard to believe he is only a freshman. He also just looks like a college QB now with his size ( looks 6'3") and composure. My friends from Southern California involved in high school and college football were very impressed. They said that he will be getting offers from several Pac12 schools before the end of the season. They were disappointed that Gorman RB Stewart was injured in the 1st quarter and so they werent able to see him play since they came up to watch him also. I also thought the Servite QB was very athletic and a play
maker. My friends said that he will be most likely recruited as a receiver or safety for college.
Overall, it was a great game played at a very high level.
Thanks.for the recap Ray i wasn't able to make it
Excellent football by motivated players and great fans! After living in So Nev for 16 years and enduring Rebel football, this was a slice of heaven for me. Even though Servite didn't get the "W" everyone was a winner all the way around. This community needs this type of competition and I'm proud to be here and watch it happen!
Watched the game Friday night and also taped it...just watched it again and I believe that the reason Gorman won is that overall they had better team speed. What held Gormon from winning by a wider margin was discipline the coaching staff is at fault for this. They need to have better control over the players. All in all though it was a great game to watch and enjoyed it thoroughly.