Bishop Gorman football coach Brent Browner calls every game his team plays in the Gaels’ Super Bowl – no matter if it is a highly-ranked national opponent or a team from Southern Nevada.
The Gaels’ game this Friday rightfully fits the “Super Bowl” billing.
Gorman is ranked No. 2 nationally by MaxPreps and welcomes No. 1 St. John Bosco (California) in a matchup that many are calling the de facto high school football national championship game.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Gorman’s Fertitta Field and the game will be streamed on MaxPreps’ website and YouTube channel.
“It’s exciting just being able to play high competition every week,” said Hayden Stepp, Gorman’s four-star cornerback and an Oregon commit.“It’s great because that’s what we came here to Bishop Gorman for. We come to play the best of the best.”
It’s the first meeting between Gorman and St. John Bosco since 2016, when the Gaels claimed a 35-20 win in California on their way to the program’s third straight mythical national championship.
Friday marks the most challenging portion of Gorman’s schedule, as the Gaels open against the Braves, then face Columbus (Florida), Lone Peak (Utah) and Mater Dei (California). It’s also expected that Gorman will participate in the inaugural four-team Overtime Nationals postseason tournament with teams from around the country.
A win Friday would put Gorman on the right path to contend for a fifth mythical national title.
“It’s definitely a blessing to play Bosco,” said Gorman four-year varsity linebacker Tamatoa Gaoteote. “I’ve been here four years and we haven’t played them yet. It’s an exciting game and we’re definitely ready for it. Playing the best of the best, that’s what we come here for.
“We all have a team goal and that’s to be national champions. Going against the best of the best, that’s how you do it.”
Gaels’ QB situation
Friday will be St. John Bosco’s season opener. Gorman played one half last Friday against Losee in a game that was called at halftime due to persistent lightning delays, with the Gaels winning 41-0.
The Gaels played both of their quarterbacks last week: senior Chance Thomas, a Kansas commit and transfer from California, and junior Ace Amina, who started the game against Losee.
Amina, known for his strong arm similar to past Gorman quarterbacks Micah Alejado and Maika Eugenio, completed four passes for 70 yards and had a touchdown. Thomas, more of a dual-threat quarterback, completed both of his passes for 21 yards and had a 1-yard touchdown run as the two quarterbacks alternated drives.
Browner didn’t declare one as the starter heading into the St. John Bosco game, but said both may see action in Friday’s game.
“We wish we could have had a little longer on the field so they could do more stuff, but they both did good,” Browner said after the Losee win. “That was kind of the hard part of not having a full game to really give those some good (evaluation).
“We just have to figure it out and keep moving forward. They both bring two different things, dynamically two different guys. We’re blessed to have them both. We just got to figure it out and see.”
‘Nothing new’
The Gaels will need to lean on their stout defense to top St. John Bosco and Braves junior quarterback Koa Malau’ulu, a three-year starter who threw for 33 touchdowns last season.
Stepp anchors what is considered one of the top defensive backs units in the country, playing alongside Cal commit Kamil Loud, UNLV commit Azavier McDaniel and four-star sophomore Brayley Manning.
Stepp is also a four-year varsity player. The Gaels’ defense includes multi-year starters that have played in the team’s biggest games in recent years, which Stepp said will be a factor in the Gaels’ national games this year.
“Always being in these high-pressure situations, you kind of get used to it,” Stepp said. “You know what to expect, so you’re not caught off guard or you don’t let the big moments get to you.
“We’ve all been there and played in the big games. It’s nothing new. It’s something that we’re used to.”
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
Up next
Who: No. 1 St. John Bosco (California) vs. No. 2 Bishop Gorman
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Gorman’s Fertitta Field
Stream: MaxPreps’ website and YouTube channel
All-time series: Bishop Gorman 2-0 (34-31 in 2014 and 35-20 in 2016).
