Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

high school football:

Bishop Gorman takes care of Arbor View, next up Palo Verde in Sunset title game

Prep Sports Now

Familiar arguments emerge as playoffs move along

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.

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

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