Bishop Gorman linebacker Tamatoa Gaoteote played against Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium as a sophomore in 2024.
His effort to try and help Gorman get its first win against Mater Dei ended prematurely after Gaoteote tore his ACL during the game and missed the rest of his sophomore year.
Back on that same field as a senior last Friday, Gaoteote helped Gorman defeat their California rival for the first time.
Gaoteote, a four-year starting linebacker and UNLV commit, had 12 tackles and helped Gorman, ranked No. 8 nationally by MaxPreps, limit Mater Dei’s running game en route to a 25-8 road win for the Gaels.
“It was definitely a blessing just being able to go out and play Mater Dei, the team that they are being a great team year after year,” Gaoteote said. “Being the first team to beat them at Gorman, it’s great to be a part of. We worked hard all season long, sticking to our playbook, trusting our coaches and players and living up to the standard that we hold.”
Gorman had lost all five prior matchups against Mater Dei. According to MaxPreps, the defeat was Mater Dei’s first loss to an out-of-state team since 1991, snapping a 30-game winning streak against out-of-state teams.
“I’ve played Mater Dei three times out of my four years here,” Gaoteote said. “Sophomore year, I tore my ACL against them and then junior year we had a tough loss and senior year finally able to beat them is a great feeling … and to make history at Gorman for beating Mater Dei is great.”
‘Understands what the standard is’
Gaoteote, listed at 6-foot-1-inch and 215 pounds, has been the backbone of Gorman’s defense since he started as a freshman in 2023, when the Gaels won a fourth mythical national title.
“He’s kind of been through everything with ups and downs, goods and bads, good wins, bad losses, stuff like that,” Gorman coach Brent Browner said. “He knows the even-keel (mentality). He understands what the standard is and that’s the biggest thing, playing to our standard this week, playing for who we are, what we do.”
Gaoteote has several older cousins that played at Gorman, which includes EA Gaoteote (who played on Gorman’s national title teams from 2014-16), Palaie Faoa (Boston College) and Ma’a Gaoteote (who played at Michigan State). Tamatoa’s younger brother Toleafoa is a junior on the team.
“We’re a big football family and just representing our last name on the jersey and our family is a blessing,” Tamatoa Gaoteote said. “We don’t take it lightly.”
Gaoteote’s football knowledge stood out immediately when he came to Gorman as a freshman where he started next to current Purdue linebacker Charles Correa, and starred on a defense with Jett Washington (Oregon) and Prince Williams (Arizona).
“It’s very difficult to start as a freshman here, but when he (came here) it was like, ‘Man, this kid is extremely good,’” Browner said. “Instinctually, the smartest kid on the freaking field. … That’s how you grow as a player. Not a lot of kids are doing that, but we challenge them and we trust them to do it and he’s done a great job of it.”
Gaoteote is committed to UNLV. He said the relationship he built with linebackers coach Mike Scherer was a key factor in committing to the Rebels.
Gorman not peaking yet
Gorman resumes local play hosting Faith Lutheran at 7 p.m. Friday in its 5A Southern League finale before playing other 4A charter schools to fill its regular season schedule. It’s likely that the Gaels will participate in the new Overtime Nationals four-team tournament after the Open Division state title game.
Browner said Gaoteote’s leadership as a senior captain has been pivotal in helping Gorman maintain a high standard while transitioning into playing local teams.
“Having good leadership is always good for the start of (the season), for the middle and for the end of it,” said Browner, who added that he feels his team hasn’t played its best football yet. “The guys are focused on what they got to do. The captains know the standard. Just because we’re (playing local teams) doesn’t mean we’re not going hard.”
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
