Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

kickoff 2016:

Gorman ready to face hostile Texas crowd, bring win back to Las Vegas

Las Vegas Sun's HS Football Top 10

Christopher DeVargas

Bishop Gorman High football players — from left, Palaie Geoteote, Adrian Dupuis, Farrell Hester, Haskell Garrett, Biaggio Ali-Walsh, Tate Martell, Alex Perry and Bubba Bolden — pose for a photo at the Sun’s high school football media day, July 20, 2016 at the South Point.

2016 High School Football

Members of the Cheyenne High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day July 20, 2016 at the South Point. They include, from left, Corwin Bush, William Federson, John Tarver, and Deriontae Green. Launch slideshow »
Prep Sports Now

Football: There is no close second

Las Vegas Sun sports editors Ray Brewer and Case Keefer ring in the start of football season by discussing some of the valley's top storylines and teams, like Bishop Gorman, Liberty, Arbor View and Desert Pines.

During college football season, the best game of the week is usually reserved for a late start Saturday on national television. Fans talk all week, or in some cases all year, about the matchup and spend game-day patiently waiting in anticipation for kickoff.

This Saturday, one week before college football begins, it will be Bishop Gorman High in the national spotlight playing in that marquee game. The local power is firmly cemented as a national brand worthy of occupying a prime-time television slot.

The two-time defending national champion Gaels’ season-opener at Cedar Hill of the Dallas area will be televised at 6 p.m. on ESPN2. Tickets were in such demand, Cedar Hill officials had to bring in more seats. Upwards of 15,000 fans are expected to watch two consensus top-5 ranked teams, each with a roster loaded with bluechip college recruits, put on a show.

“It is really cool because there is so much hype behind Texas football,” Gorman quarterback Tate Martell said. “... We are excited to go in there and represent Nevada.”

For all the Gorman program has accomplished over the past seven seasons, from victories over established programs in California, Arizona and New Jersey, it’s never played a team from Texas. Coach Kenny Sanchez isn’t overly concerned about the omission.

The Gaels' approach to games has always been the same. Gorman, whether it’s battling a ranked opponent on ESPN or Clark High in Southwest League play, simply wants to go 1-0.

The Gaels prepare the same. That consistency, Sanchez has long said, is the difference.

“The teams that are going to win those football games, like the Cedar Hill game on ESPN, are the first ones that can block out everything, clear the mechanism and just focus on what they are supposed to do,” said Sanchez, Gorman’s second-year coach. “If we can do that, which we have done in the past, we are going to be OK.”

Traveling halfway across the country to play in front of a hostile crowd is difficult for even college teams, let alone a high school roster of teenagers. But the Gaels may be different. Its core group of players — Ohio State commits Haskell Garrett on the defensive line and Martell, for instance — will be three-year starters.

They were supposed to struggle last year at Bingham of Utah and Bellevue of Washington and won both. The game against Bellevue was essentially over by halftime.

Gorman, the seven-time defending state champion, enter on a 39-game winning streak.

“You don’t want to lose a game now that we’ve been undefeated the past two years,” said Martell, who has 72 touchdowns with just eight interceptions in two seasons. “It’s what drives us.”

Gorman’s defense may be its strength, especially in the secondary with seniors Bubba Bolden at safety and Alex Perry at defensive back. Scout.com ranks the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Bolden, who has offers from USC, Florida and Ole Miss, among others, as the nation’s fourth-best safety. The 5-foot-10 Perry is the nation’s 14th-best cornerback recruit.

At linebacker, UNLV commit Farrell Hester had 97 tackles last season, and junior Palaie Gaoteote — one of the nation’s top 2018 recruits — had 93 tackles. The defensive line is anchored by Garrett, who had six sacks and 53 tackles last season.

“We have a strong defensive line, strong defensive backs and strong linebacker corps,” Perry said. “We should be good.

Offensively, Gorman will rely on the past two state Gatorade players of the year in Martell and senior running back Biaggio Ali-Walsh, a Cal commit. Ali-Walsh finished with 2,431 yards and 33 touchdowns last season. Against out-of-state teams to open the season last year, Ali-Walsh was the difference-maker with his breakaway speed. Long touchdown runs against Chandler of Arizona in the 2015 opener sealed the Gorman win.

In the passing game, junior tight end Brevin Jordan has double-digit scholarship offers and senior Austin Arnold is primed for a breakout season.

“We do such a good job on focusing week by week in the offseason on getting stronger, getting bigger, getting faster and not worrying about winning a national title or state championship until the season starts,” Sanchez said. “I know our boys. I know our coaches. I know we work extremely hard. It has paid off.”

Still, come Saturday night, the Gaels will be playing in the uncharted waters of Texas high school football — not only for them, for Las Vegas schools.

“This year is a little bit different. I think everyone feels it,” Sanchez said.

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

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