Bishop Gorman quarterback Micah Alejado (12) keeps the ball against Liberty during the first half of a high school football game at Fertitta Field Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 | 11:08 a.m.
Members of the Bishop Gorman football squad boarded the team bus to head back to campus Friday night after beating host Desert Pines.
The ride from northeast Las Vegas to Summerlin certainly became entertaining because there was another game the program had a rooting interest in.
California powers St. John Bosco and Mater Dei were playing in a game of much significance for Gorman, which was ranked behind Mater Dei in the race for the mythical national championship.
Coaches found a livestream of the game and put it on the bus televisions. The team was able to watch most of the second half, witnessing a favorable result that could ultimately help Gorman become national champions.
Turns out, Gorman won twice on Friday.
St. John Bosco beat top-ranked Mater Dei, paving the way for Gorman to move into the top spot in the rankings. And that’s what happened late Monday, when Gorman was ranked No. 1 in the Max Preps’ poll. Mater Dei slipped to No. 5.
Gorman coach Brent Browner stressed to his players — both Friday and this week — that being ranked No. 1 doesn’t change the approach for remainder of the season. With or without the St. John Bosco win, Gorman would still prepare the same way with hopes of winning a Nevada state championship.
There are very capable opponents in Nevada, after all, and local rival Liberty would love nothing more than to squash Gorman’s championship aspirations.
“We are honored and grateful (of the ranking), but we still have games left to play and still have to hold up our end,” Browner said.
The players were certainly excited on the bus ride in watching the St. John Bosco win, Browner said.
That’s when he stepped in with a simple message: “We have to play some good teams. We have to be sound in what we do,” he said.
Gorman won the mythical national title three straight years from 2014-2016. It’s in the driver’s seat to again be ranked No. 1 at the end of the year.
“Until the season is done, we aren’t putting muck stock into it,” Browner said. “It won’t change our focus (on the games ahead).”
