Gorman would control its national championship destiny by beating Don Bosco

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015 | 2 a.m.

The Bishop Gorman High football team has rolled through its schedule with relative ease. Consider this: In each of the Gaels' eight games, including against five notable national programs to open the season, the outcome has been decided by halftime.

Friday, you can argue, is the last significant challenge remaining for the defending mythical national champions. Gorman, ranked No. 1 by USA Today and most other polls, hosts Don Bosco of New Jersey in its final game against an out-of-state opponent.

The six-time defending state champions have outscored local schools 202-21 in three games, meaning Don Bosco marks the last chance to impress voters who compile the national rankings. With a victory Gorman, again arguably, could be in the driver’s seat to repeat.

Just don’t tell that to coach Kenny Sanchez. He’s not looking at Friday as a de facto national championship game and knows there’s still plenty of football left.

“Here is what reality is: We are the No. 1 team in the country in most polls. If we win this game, we have a chance to control our own destiny, we believe,” Sanchez said. “Every game after this could become a national title game. We win this game, we set ourselves up to control our destiny as far as the national title hunt goes.”

Gorman’s calling card has been its defense, which has surrendered just 82 points in eight games. And most of the points have been allowed by reserves.

Sanchez, who calls the defensive plays, always expects his unit to be successful. Even this season, with some new players in key spots, Sanchez didn’t lack confidence. Those players have delivered.

“We have more veteran players now. We are better just based on our schedule,” Sanchez said. “We have been in grind games already. We played really good football teams. Played teams that can throw the ball really good; teams that can run the ball really good. We have traveled. We have been on airplanes. We have been on long bus rides.”

Don Bosco is a new challenge.

While the New Jersey power has two defeats, they are by a combined 10 points. Also, Maxpreps ranks them No. 26 nationally. More important, Don Bosco has big linemen who can match Gorman’s size up front.

Don Bosco’s size, just like game-planning against Long Beach Poly’s speed a few weeks ago or Bellevue of Washington’s running game in early September, will be a new challenge to defend. But Gorman hasn’t flinched in its title defense.

If the Gaels produce another dominating performance, one where the outcome is again decided by halftime, they will make a strong case to repeat. That, of course, is if they beat the likes of local powers Arbor View and Liberty in the playoffs.

“Of course, it’s on our minds,” Gorman senior defensive lineman McKay Wilson said about the national title implications of Friday’s game. “But the focus is on doing our jobs and taking one step at a time.”

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21