Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Gorman football scores on initial 3 plays, cruises to state title

Bishop Gorman Defeats Liberty, 56-14, in Southern Region Final

Steve Marcus

Bishop Gorman running back Micah Kaapana (22) runs for a touchdown against Liberty during the Class 5A Southern Region final at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.

CARSON CITY — On the first play of the high school football state championship game, Bishop Gorman’s Micah Kaapana raced untouched for a 51-yard rushing touchdown.

Kaapana and Gaels were just getting started against Bishop Manogue of Reno, as they scored a touchdown on their initial three plays in a 70-6 victory at Carson High School.

Kaapana broke loose for a long touchdown each of the five times he touched the ball, helping Gorman win its second straight state title. In a season of dominating performances, this might have been the most thorough victory.

“As a kid, you grow up watching the older kids win a state championship. Now, we won. It is very satisfying to accomplish that dream,” said senior receiver Trech Kekahuna, who scored Gorman’s third touchdown on a long pass from Micah Alejado at the 7:15 mark of the first quarter.

Yes, the state championship was essentially decided less than five minutes into the game, especially with how Kaapana played. He had 236 rushing yards and four touchdowns, and a 41-yard touchdown reception.

“Kaapana had a monster game. If we wanted to run the ball we could have the whole (game),” Gorman coach Brett Browner said.

Gorman, ranked No. 5 nationally by Max Preps, has won 13 of the last 15 contested titles in going from a perennial Nevada contender in the 2000s to a national power who regularly produces major Division I recruits — 19 of 22 starters had at least one scholarship offer at the beginning of the season.

It’s up for debate where this Gorman team ranks among the program’s all-time greats, especially when considering the Gaels from 2014-16 won the mythical national championship. But, what’s not up for debate, is the manner in which this season’s Gorman squad had its way with Nevada schools.

Every Friday night followed a similar script of Gorman scoring early and often, as they surrendered just 23 points in nine instate games and won by lopsided scores of 75-0, 70-0 and 69-0.

“We came out here prepared. We were ready to play and hungry for this game to finish the season,” said Alejado, who completed 6 of 9 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns. “It’s a credit to the offensive line opening holes and Kaapana. They have been doing this all year.”

This game had one distinct difference: the venue.

It was contested in the state capitol at Carson High School, and not the traditional Northern Nevada championship-game host of Mackay Stadium on the UNR campus. 

And it could mark the end of the north-south showdown for the large-school championship.

Officials at Reno schools are expected to ask the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association to be realigned to the class 4A starting next season, meaning they’d avoid Gorman in the championship round and instead compete against lower-enrollment Las Vegas schools. A realignment meeting is scheduled for the end of the month.

The last time a non-Las Vegas school won a state title was McQueen of Reno in 2008. McQueen topped Palo Verde, who beat Gorman in the regional finals. Gorman also lost in the 2019 playoffs to Liberty of Las Vegas, who two weeks later won the state championship.

But with the exception of two defeats, Gorman has rarely been challenged. And they’ll be great again next year, as they return Kaapana, Alejado, tight end Elija Lofton and many more standouts.