Live blog: Bishop Gorman defeats Servite, 31-28

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Friday, Sept. 30, 2011 | 7:16 p.m.

Updated Friday, Sept. 30, 2011 | 9:53 p.m.

Final: Bishop Gorman 31, Servite 28

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With 1:03 left in the game, Bishop Gorman has recaptured the lead, 31-28, against Servite with a 39-yard field goal from Kline Fielden.

It was redemption of sorts for Fielden, who missed a field goal against Armwood of Florida that would have forced overtime in Gorman's last nationally televised game.

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Servite struck on the first play of the fourth quarter with a 12-yard touchdown run by Pauu Manaitozini, who followed up with a 2-point conversion to tie Bishop Gorman, 28-28. There is 11:53 left in the game.

Gorman ran only eight plays in a scoreless third quarter. Servite, which missed two field goals in the third, has been dominant and had the ball at the Gorman 12-yard line entering the fourth quarter.

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In a seesaw battle, Bishop Gorman has taken the lead back from Servite, scoring two touchdowns with less than 2 minutes to play in the half.

Gorman headed to the locker room up 28-20 just as a heavy downpour sent fans running for cover and popping open umbrellas.

With just 1:37 to play in the half, Gorman quarterback Anu Solomon connected with junior wide receiver Ryan Smith on a 29-yard pass for a touchdown to take the lead, 21-20.

Solomon followed that up with a 34-yard touchdown strike to senior Shaquille Powell to extend the lead at halftime.

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With 7:01 left in the second quarter, Servite is up 20-14 over Bishop Gorman after scoring 20 unanswered points.

Servite’s Conner Bevans kicked a 27-yard field goal to bring the game to within one point, with Gorman leading 14-13.

After taking over the ball, Gorman quarterback Anu Solomon threw an interception and four plays later, Servite’s Domain Mora scored on a seven-yard touchdown run.

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At the end of the first quarter, Servite has cut Bishop Gorman’s lead to 14-10 after scoring a touchdown and a field goal.

Gorman dominated the first part of the quarter, but it’s been all Servite since then.

Servite’s Domain Mora scored on a two-yard run, and Conner Bevans kicked a 30-yard field goal after Shaquille Powell turned the ball over on Gorman’s 18-yard line.

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Gorman scores again.

With 6:31 left in the first quarter, it’s 14-0 after a 6-yard touchdown run from Shaquille Powell to cap a six-play drive.

The Gorman fans are chanting “it’s too easy.”

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That was fast.

Bishop Gorman junior Justin Sweat returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown for a 7-0 lead against visiting Servite of Anaheim.

Sweat appeared stopped at the Gorman 27, but broke free and raced for the score to excite a backed Fertitta Field. The game is sold out with 5,000 fans and extremely loud. It was pouring rain shortly before kickoff, but the skies have now cleared.

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This won’t be your typical game under the Friday night lights in Southern Nevada.

Simply step one foot into Bishop Gorman High School's Fertitta Field, or drive within a few blocks of the school on South Hualapai Way, and you’ll swear you are in the middle of Texas on a high school football Friday night.

Gorman’s nationally televised game tonight against Servite High of Anaheim, Calif., is one of the most anticipated regular-season games locally in recent memory. It’s so anticipated that Gorman sold out of 5,000 tickets in the middle of the week, and school officials have instructed fans without tickets to stay home and watch the game on ESPNU.

For a majority of schools in the Las Vegas area, especially schools playing on the road, it’s rare to see more than a few hundred fans. Sellouts are reserved for the playoffs or rivalry games.

That won’t be the case tonight in a contest of two nationally ranked teams — Gorman is No. 10 by ESPN; Servite is No. 13. Fans are parking blocks away in the adjacent neighborhood and walking to the stadium. Unreal.

Both teams will be wearing new uniforms and helmets courtesy of Nike, with the Gorman players finding out about the new gear this afternoon when they arrived in the locker room. Gorman’s uniforms are navy blue, which is designed as a throwback to when Gorman apparently wore those colors in the 1960s or 70s. They are down right impressive.

The design is only worn by a handful of colleges and five high schools, coming free to both programs playing tonight.

We’ll keep you posted as the game progresses all night, mostly after scoring plays or at the end of a quarter. If you are looking for prediction, check out our picks section. Talk to you after kickoff.