Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

high school sports:

Preseason Top 10: Gorman playing for a 10th straight championship; others closing in

LVSUN HSFB Media Day 2018 Top 10

Christopher DeVargas

Members of the Bishop Gorman football team pose at the Las Vegas Sun’s high school football media day Tuesday, July 31, 2018, at Red Rock Resort. They include, from left, Falcon Kaumatule, Cade Briggs, Amod Cianelli, Beau Taylor and Kyu Kelly.

High school football top-10

Members of the Green Valley High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day Tuesday July 31, 2018 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. They include, from left, Reyden Morett, Hunter Mecham, Julian Hulse, Mitch Jacobs, Kalyja Waialae, Will Bonkavich and Brant Hershberger. Launch slideshow »

The Bishop Gorman High football team this fall is playing for a decade of dominance.

The Gaels haven’t lost to a Nevada opponent since 2008, going from a team that’s always in contention for the Nevada state championship to a perennial nationally ranked team.

If this season plays out like the others in recent memory, and there’s no reason to believe it won’t, Gorman will be the 10-time Nevada state champions. Max Preps ranks them No. 11 nationally in the preseason.

Gorman again has a who’s who of returning players, including Stanford-committed defensive back Kyu Kelly and UCLA pledge Beau Taylor on the offensive line. But the wide receivers are unproven, and there will be a first-time starter at quarterback, likely junior Micah Bowens. Bowens attempted just 25 passes last season.

Other notables from Gorman include Falcon Kaumatule, a 6-foot-8 tight end and defensive end; offensive lineman Cade Briggs (offers from Air Force, Tulane and others) and three-year running back Amod Cianelli.

While Gorman is the favorite, others are close behind. Here’s our annual preseason Top 10.

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Members of the Liberty High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day Tuesday July 31, 2018, at the Red Rock Resort. They include, from left, Troy Fautanu, Cervontes White and Kyle Beaudry.

2. Liberty

Last year: Won an eighth-straight Sunrise Region

Not only has Liberty firmly established itself as a Nevada power, it has also made a splash nationally and is ranked No. 45 by High School Football America to open the season. With the likes of senior lineman Troy Fautanu (he’s got scholarship offers from Notre Dame and USC), UNLV commits Kyle Beaudry at linebacker and Austin Fiaseu in the secondary, and defensive lineman Luke Toomalatai leading the way, there’s reason for optimism. Also, senior Cervontes White had 34 receptions for 653 yards and seven touchdowns last year to give the Patriots one of the best returning offensive players in Las Vegas. The Patriots will break in a first-time starter at quarterback but should again dominate the Southeast League. However, continuing their regional championship streak won’t be as easy because they are aligned with Gorman in the newly formed Desert Region. The Liberty schedule includes a showdown with IMG Academy, which is ranked No. 1 in the preseason and gives the Patriots a sample of what they could face against Gorman. Other players to watch from Liberty include offensive lineman Brandon Yates, who has Arizona State and Boise State scholarship offers, and sophomore Zyrus Fiaseu, who is one of the nation’s best 2021 prospects.

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Members of the Arbor View High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day Tuesday July 31, 2018 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. They include, from left, Matt Smith, JJ Tuinei, Billy Davis, Kyle Graham, Niles Scafati, Login Bollinger and Lyle Santos.

3. Arbor View

Last year: Won the Northwest League; lost in Sunset championship game

When your game plan is to have the best running game in the state and when returning one of the state’s top rushers, there’s plenty to get excited about. The Aggies, who have won five of the last six Northwest League crowns and consistently win double-digit games, are led by senior running back Bubba Graham. Graham rushed for 650 yards and five touchdowns in 2017 and led the Aggies with 274 receiving yards and another five touchdowns. He’s joined by Logan Bollinger, a three-year starter at quarterback, and offensive lineman Matt Smith. Defense will be an Arbor View strength, with linebackers JJ Tuinei (75 tackles in 2017) and Billy Davis (63 tackles), and defensive back Niles Scafati.

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Members of the Faith Lutheran High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day Tuesday July 31, 2018 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. They include, from left, Keagan Touchstone, Taimani McKenzie, Ma'a Gaoteote, Hunter Kaupiko, Nate Meredith, David "DJ" Heckard and Sagan Gronauer.

4. Faith Lutheran

Last year: Advanced to the Sunset semifinals

Faith Lutheran’s defense is stacked with returning players, especially at linebacker with Hunter Kaupiko (103 tackles in 2017), sophomore Ma’a Gaoteote (56 tackles) and senior Nate Meredith (51 tackles). And on the defensive line, senior DJ Heckard is one of Las Vegas’ top college prospects. Offensively, the Crusaders have a three-year starter at quarterback in Sagan Gronauer, who passed for 2,400 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2017. Its wide receivers and running backs will mostly be first-time starters, but players such as senior receiver Keagan Touchstone and junior Peyton Thornton have been solid in camp.

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Members of the Desert Pines High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day Tuesday July 31, 2018 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. They include, top row, Gabriel Lopez, Darnell Washington, Dejon Pratt. Bottom row, Tye Moore and Devin McGee

5. Desert Pines

Last year: Won a second-straight 3A state championship

After years of dominating the class 3A, the Desert Pines players are confident they will again make a deep playoff run in their first-season back in the class 4A. They certainly have the talent to win games. Junior tight end Darnell Washington at 6-foot-7, 245 pounds is considered one of the best recruits nationally for 2020, and has the scholarship offers — from Alabama, Michigan and others — to support the claim. Senior running back Cameron Wiley is verbally committed to Minnesota and has the breakaway speed other teams won’t be able to match, and senior wide receivers Ty Moore and Devin McGee add to the offensive arsenal. Defensively, juniors Jordan Butler and Gabriel Lopez, each of whom have major Division I offers, will make it tough for the other teams to rush the ball.

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Members of the Basic High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day Tuesday July 31, 2018 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. They include, from left, Dorian Mcallister, Boots Render, Franco Mays, Enrique Canizales, Julio Duron and Carlos Rojas.

6. Basic

Last year: Lost in the Sunrise quarterfinals

While closing 2017 on a four-game losing streak wasn’t ideal for a Basic program accustomed to making a postseason run, it did provide a core group of younger players plenty of reps. And many of those players are returning, including senior running back Dorian McCallister, who rushed for 526 yards and four touchdowns last season. Junior Paul Myro returns at quarterback and should be improved from his 11-interception performance last season. Trace Evans, who had 68 tackles last season, returns to anchor the defense. Julio Duron, at 6 feet, 240 pounds, is a leader on the line, which is considered one of Basic’s strengths.

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Members of the Legacy High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day Tuesday July 31, 2018 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. They include, from left, Jerry Martin, Jordan Goulet, Amorey Foster and Justin Lang.

7. Legacy

Last year: Lost in the Sunset semifinals

Legacy, which won seven games last season, is traditionally tough to slow down in the run game. This year will be no exception, especially with the one-two punch at running back with junior Jerry Martin and sophomore Aaron Holloway. In Holloway’s lone carry as a freshman, he raced 72 yards for a touchdown. Martin gained for 220 yards and three touchdowns in 2017. Cornerback Amorey Foster, who had 79 tackles last season, and linebacker Gregory Field will be defensive leaders. Legacy moves from the Northwest League — affectionately called the Black and Blue Division for the physical style of play — to the Northeast League. Many feel it’s the Longhorns — and not No. 5 Desert Pines — that is the team to beat.

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Members of the Foothill High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day Tuesday July 31, 2018 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. They include, from left, Julian Bradley, Braeden Wilson, Jordan Wilson and Jordan Blakely.

8. Foothill

Last year: Lost in the Sunrise semifinals

Foothill won eight games last season, returns a quarterback who passed for 18 touchdowns and completed 60 percent of his passes, and has experience at each of the offensive skilled positions. More important, those players have confidence they can compete against perennial Southeast power Liberty, which it led at halftime last season. Braeden Wilson (591 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2017), Jordan Blakely (339 yards and four touchdowns) and Jordan Wilson (209 yards and one touchdown) give junior quarterback Koy Riggin plenty of options in the passing game. Julian Bradley on the line is also experienced. Blakely, an Air Force verbal commit, doubles at defensive back and had 54 tackles and three interceptions last season. Linebacker Mateo Monterde (67 tackles) also returns. If Foothill can stay healthy, especially on defense, it will be a tough out come the playoffs.

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Members of the Green Valley High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day Tuesday July 31, 2018 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. They include, from left, Reyden Morett, Hunter Mecham, Julian Hulse, Mitch Jacobs, Kalyja Waialae, Will Bonkavich and Brant Hershberger.

9. Green Valley

Last year: Lost in the Sunrise championship game

The Gators have one of the top returners in Southern Nevada with wide receiver Kalyja Waialae, who last season had 31 catches for 582 yards and seven touchdowns. They also return running back Julian Hulse, who had 804 rushing yards and six touchdowns. When you consider the offensive line has experience, led by seniors William Bonkavich and Hunter Mecham, the Gators should be high-scoring. Defensively, Green Valley returns linebackers Reyden Morett ( 81 tackles in 2017), Mitch Jacobs (43 tackles) and Brant Hershberger (41 tackles).

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Members of the Sierra Vista High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day Tuesday July 31, 2018 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. They include, top row, Bryan Lagrange, Cole Foss, Austin Schmit. Bottom row, Josiah Antolin, Tristin Jimenez and Jordan "Polo" Solomon.

10. Sierra Vista

Last year: Lost in the Sunset quarterfinals

Sierra Vista has many returners at key positions, including at running back where Bryan LaGrange rushed for 87 yards per game last season. The Mountain Lions are also confident in their passing game, which will be led by senior quarterback Polo Solomon and wide receiver Tristen Jimenez. Defensively, linebacker Jahsiaah Maiava had 48 tackles and nine sacks in 2017, and will be joined by defensive lineman Austin Schmitz.

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