Longest season’ in Gorman football history produces one meaningful night

In lone class 5A game of season, Gaels flex muscles to blank Faith Lutheran

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Steve Marcus

Bishop Gorman’s Zachariah Branch (1) celebrates Jonathan Brady (6) after scoring a touchdown against Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman’s Fertitta Field Friday, March 26, 2021.

Fri, Mar 26, 2021 (10:56 p.m.)

Bishop Gorman Shuts Out Faith Lutheran, 43-0

Bishop Gorman's Kaenu Kekawa (2) intercepts a pass intended for Faith Lutheran's Jaden Turner (10) during a game against Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman's Fertitta Field Friday, March 26, 2021. Launch slideshow »

Dominic Abella raced down the field on kickoff coverage and was the first Bishop Gorman defender to reach the Faith Lutheran returner.

Abella, a senior linebacker, made a jarring tackle and quickly jumped off the turf to head toward the sideline. He was greeted by enthusiastic teammates, eventually taking off his helmet to sport a grin from ear to ear.

It was a play — and game — 16 months in the making and Abella was going to make the most of his last moment on the gridiron.

The pandemic scrapped the traditional fall season across Nevada, but private school Gorman kept practicing in anticipation of a season — regardless of the length. After the state loosened COVID restrictions in February, a shortened campaign would be played featuring about six schools, mostly in rural Southern Nevada towns. Clark County School District schools in Las Vegas aren’t participating.

Gorman’s 43-0 win on Friday against visiting Faith Lutheran was the lone game of large-classification 5A opponents for the entire 2020-21 school year.

For seniors like Abella, who is slightly undersized at 5-foot-10 but credited for a tireless spirit, it was a night to cherish. He walked onto the field with his parents for Senior Night festivities, mom holding back tears and both full of pride. They took pictures and smiled.

“It was a blessing to be out there with my boys one last time,” Abella said.

There are two ways to look at the canceled season. The first, and most obvious: It’s awful to lose games and a chance to compete for a state championship. And then the more mature outlook: Abella got to spent an extra four months with his football family.

“Our coaches guided us to really appreciate the little things in life and be in touch with our maturity,” he said. “There are more things in life than the games. It’s about the brotherhood that we formed and the memories we have made. Most seniors don’t get to spend that much quality time with their teammates.”

Gorman used the condensed season to ramp up its preparations for the fall season in August, when it will be out to avenge a loss to Liberty in the 2019 playoffs that brought an end to a championship streak dating back to 2009.

There was much to like about how Gorman handled Faith Lutheran.

Freshman quarterback Micah Alejado showed poise in passing for four touchdowns in the first half, including a pair of scoring strikes to sophomore Zachariah Branch. Junior Cam Barfield added to the scoring with 68-yard touchdown run.

The only thing that slowed Gorman down was penalties — twice erasing lengthy, electrifying scoring runs from Barfield.

“We see a lot of brightness in our future. The team is great and the energy is amazing right now,” first-year Gorman coach Brent Browner said.

Faith Lutheran reached Gorman’s side of the field on two possessions, but each trip was heavily credited to penalties. The Gorman defense was simply too fast, especially in pressuring the quarterback.

Ma’a Gaoteote had a sack that resulted in an 11-yard loss, Justyn Rhett and Keanu Kekawa had interceptions, and Aiden McComber recovered a fumble. Rhett’s interception on the first drive of the game inside the Gorman 20-yard line thwarted Faith Lutheran’s best scoring chance.

A few plays later, Alejado hooked up with Branch for a 32-yard score for the would-be winning points. The game was played by the mercy rule of a running clock in the second half.

“I didn’t let the pressure get to me. Stick my game and stick to what I do,” Alejado said.

Gorman’s seniors got one last moment. And Gorman’s underclassmen, especially its talented freshman and sophomore classes, helped make it memorable.

“These kids did a great job. They have given us everything we could want. Like I told them, this is the longest season anybody has ever had,” Browner said. “... So happy for these seniors, to actually get a Senior Night. I understand how much it means to them. We also feel for everyone in the valley that did not get that. We understand all those other teams deserve that, too. We played our hearts out today (for them).”

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