SANTA ANA, Calif. — Bishop Gorman junior running back Corey Hinton Jr. played football last season for St. John Bosco in California’s Trinity League.
He, like the Gaels, never beat Mater Dei — until Friday night.
Hinton pushed the No. 8 Gaels past the No. 13 Monarchs at Santa Ana Stadium with 201 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a 25-8 victory.
Gorman had lost its first five matchups with its powerhouse counterpart from Southern California, but Hinton paired with a dominant defense and ensured a Gaels celebration.
Senior safety Darian Abella had a first-quarter pick after Hinton’s first touchdown and junior kicker Cason Clark made field goals from 29 and 30 yards. Junior quarterback Ace Amina managed the offense and added a 1-yard touchdown run. Senior linebacker Tamatoa Gaoteote had 12 tackles, snuffing out several runs.
Said Gaels coach Brett Browner: “It feels good just to play this team in general. … To have a rivalry like that. To have a group that’s always going to play. Always shows up every single time.
“They’re a hell of a team. Definitely is great to win but just the process, the journey, just knowing you have this kind of opponent on your schedule every year is probably the best thing about it.”
The Gaels (4-1) and Monarchs (4-1) are longtime rulers over their respective football roosts, making their budding rivalry natural amid four hours of driving separation. Two of the last three meetings between them were decided by a field goal and Mater Dei knocked off Gorman last year, 27-24.
With Gorman’s loss to Christopher Columbus (Miami) behind them as the nation’s top team after beating Bosco, the Gaels planned to run the ball and stop the run, according to Browner. Never mind the injuries they’re managing on their offensive line. Their depth up front, paired Friday with Hinton, helped them keep the Monarchs at Bay.
Hinton capped the opening drive, an 11-play, 62-yard saunter down the field, with a 1-yard score, adding another in the final quarter. Abella intercepted freshman quarterback Paytyn Guess on the ensuing possession, setting up Clark’s first field goal — along with Hinton’s explosive showing.
Part of a timeshare backfield, Hinton had runs of 69, 37, and 28 yards — prompting Browner to keep him behind Amina.
“We said we’re going to run the ball,” Browner said. “To say you’re going to run the ball against that team is not something you’re usually going to go in there and do. …
“But coaches have been coaching (the offensive line) up. We believed in them. … We said ‘Just feed the monster, right? … We usually rotate a little bit more. We just fed the monster.”
Before joining the Gaels in jubilation in the visitors locker room adjacent to the field, Hinton reflected on the merit of his showing, crediting his makeshift offensive line.
“We didn’t change nothing up and we just kept our foot on their necks the whole time,” he said. “… I felt as if when I got the first long one and I kept getting the first downs, I felt as if we we’re going to run the ball all night.”
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
