Gorman’s latest state title win is convincing — like 6 before it

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 | 5 p.m.

Updated Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 | 5:13 p.m.

The Bishop Gorman High football team hasn’t lost to an in-state opponent in 76 games dating to 2008. Most of its wins have ended by the mercy rule of a running clock.

That wasn’t the case today in the Division I state championship at Sam Boyd Stadium against Liberty — but only because state rules prohibit the running clock, triggered when a team leads by 45 or more points, in the finals.

Biaggio Ali-Walsh rushed for 248 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, and Gorman scored 28 unanswered points to open the second half in a 62-21 victory to capture the program’s seventh straight state championship.

This year could have been different. The Gaels had a slightly altered look with Kenny Sanchez moving from defensive coordinator to head coach after his brother, Tony, was hired as UNLV’s coach. Turns out the Gaels didn’t miss a beat, finishing undefeated for a second straight season.

“You feel like a little bit of weight is lifted off,” Kenny Sanchez said. “The happiness is the same. I’m here with my family and all of the coaches who have been around forever. It feels good I didn’t screw it up.”

Liberty, the six-time Sunrise Region champion, was considered Gorman’s stiffest state championship game challenge. The Patriots entered averaging more than 50 points per game, confusing the opposition by having success with multiple offensive sets — the power running game and spread.

But Gorman wasn’t tricked. Defense has been its strength all season.

Gorman, ranked No. 1 by USA Today, beat a who’s-who of national opponents to open its schedule and was never seriously in danger of losing those games because of its solid defense. The 21 points Liberty scored, all on Kenyon Oblad touchdown passes to Ethan Dedeaux, were the most Gorman had given up this season.

“Our defense has been phenomenal all year,” Sanchez said. “It’s how we prepare. I know it’s a boring answer, but it is how we prepare on a weekly basis. We proved that, when it works on the final week, it worked all year.”

Gorman scored touchdowns on its initial three possessions to take the lead for good, showing its big-game experience was too much for Liberty. It forced the Patriots into early punts or turnovers, and wasted no time scoring.

Ali-Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, showed why he this week was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year. A junior, he went virtually untouched for scoring runs of 41, 26 and 58 yards.

Last season, Ali-Walsh was a speed back and played mostly in reserve. This season, he was the Gaels’ feature back and delivered the big play each time Gorman needed it.

“That kid (Ali-Walsh) put in so much work in the offseason, and it just showed all year,” said Martell, also a junior. “He’s our workhorse, man.”

Martell showed off his dual-threat ability, completing 6 of 8 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns. Whether he was scrambling for yardage to avoid the Liberty pass rush or throwing on-target passes, the Gorman offense with him orchestrating the attack was again unstoppable.

Martell connected with Tyjon Lindsey and Brandon Gahagan for second-half touchdowns as Gorman put the finishing touches on the victory. It led just 34-14 at halftime after Liberty scored on the last play of the first half, but quickly put Liberty away in the second half.

“Our offensive line is so underrated. It is ridiculous,” Martell said. “The holes they open, a train could go through. They deserve most of the credit, more than anybody.”

Gorman won’t go away anytime soon, especially next year with a strong 2017 graduating class leading the charge.

With the likes of defensive lineman Haskell Garrett and secondary standouts Alex Perry and Bubba Bolden anchoring the defense, and Ali-Walsh, Martell and Lindsey on offense, that’s six players with major scholarship offers and two years of experience.

Liberty, too, will be back.

Dedeaux, who had five catches for 87 yards and three touchdowns, is just a junior. Oblad, who was pressured into two interceptions but stood up strong to Gorman’s pass rush, is only a sophomore. And the Patriots also have an impressive stable of underclassmen.

“It wasn’t the result we wanted,” Liberty coach Rich Muraco said. “We knew we had to play a perfect or close-to-perfect game. It just didn’t work out. But it doesn’t take anything away from what we accomplished this year.”

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