Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

high school football:

Bishop Gorman hardly tested in demolition of Arbor View

Solomon, a three-year starter at quarterback, sets career high in passing yards

Bishop Gorman vs. Arbor View

Sam Morris

Bishop Gorman quarterback Anu Solomon looks for a receiver during their game against Arbor View Friday, October 21, 2011. Gorman won their homecoming game 56-7.

High school football: Bishop Gorman vs. Arbor View

KSNV coverage of high school football team Bishop Gorman taking on Arbor View, Oct. 21, 2011.

Bishop Gorman vs. Arbor View

Bishop Gorman running back Shaquille Powell charges into the end zone during their game against Arbor View Friday, October 21, 2011. Gorman won their homecoming game 56-7. Launch slideshow »
Prep Sports Now

Should Arbor View have accepted game with Gorman?

Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Ray Brewer and Case Keefer are back with their weekly high school football podcast. This week's episode plays more like a variety show, as the two touch on a number of issues related to last week's gridiron action.

A game billed to pair two of the three best teams in Las Vegas quickly turned into a showcase opportunity for Bishop Gorman and quarterback Anu Solomon Friday night.

The Gaels proved they could post gaudy scores against more than just the area’s lower-tier teams. They can do the same against the elite.

Behind a career-high 298 passing yards and four touchdowns from Solomon, Gorman blew out Arbor View 56-7.

“We always want to run the ball behind our offensive line,” Gorman coach Tony Sanchez said. “We have to run the ball to keep people honest, but if they load the box up, we know we have one-on-one situations.”

And the Gaels know they have the man behind center to exploit those matchups. Solomon, who finished 15-for-20, spent the night flinging spirals so tight and on-point that Joe Montana would have blushed.

Two of his touchdowns went for more than 50 yards on vertical routes to Ryan Smith and Terrence Chambers. Solomon also bombed long receptions to Lorenzo Fertitta and Jamir Tillman.

“Earlier in the game, things didn’t go as planned because the defense didn’t come out in man,” Solomon said. “But at the end of the game, we got back to it.”

No one outside of the Gorman sidelines noticed the difference. The Gaels took what they were given in the first half and Shaquille Powell, who had 10 carries for 108 yards, rushed for touchdowns on each of their first three possessions.

Solomon also went underneath to Tillman, who had close to career night with six catches for 95 yards and a touchdown, for his first four completions.

“We have a special relationship that other receivers don’t have,” Solomon said of Tillman. “He’s a great wide receiver. He’s one of those kids who will make it to the next level.”

Even if the Gorman offense wouldn’t have roared from the beginning, the defense provided room for error. The Gaels came up with a key stop on a fourth-and-four from their own 23-yard line on the only threatening Aggies drive of the first half.

Most of the other possessions ended in three-and-outs with senior Ronnie Stanley wreaking havoc with tackles at the line of scrimmage and quarterback hurries on passing downs. Not much changed in the second half, as the Gaels defensive front kept dictating their terms.

Senior defensive end Zach Hutchins forced a fumble and recovered another in the third quarter.

“Our kids got really excited because their guys made some comments about running the ball down our throat and being the more physical football team,” Sanchez said. “That wasn’t the coaches talking about it. It was the kids. Our kids really felt like they had something to prove.”

Only one Arbor View rush went for more than 10 yards and it came in the final seconds. Arbor View is known for its arsenal of running backs, but junior Donnie Gaskin was the only one to finish with more than 30 yards against Gorman. He had 49 yards on 14 carries.

The Aggies touchdown came in the third quarter when Rasheem Parks lofted a 56-yard pass to Rasheed Parks. It made the score 35-7 and provided a rare moment of silence on the Gorman sideline.

“That game makes you better,” Sanchez said. “Arbor View is a good football team. They are very well coached. They have a lot of talent out there.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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