Of all the great Bishop Gorman football teams over the years, the 2022 Gaels accomplished something the program had never done before: Win a game after the traditional season ended.
Gorman beat visiting Chaminade-Madonna of Florida 49-14 today in the Geico State Champions Bowl Series, a made-for-television event pitting nationally ranked state champions in a postseason bowl game.
Chaminade-Madonna, the Florida state champs and ranked No. 5 by Max Preps, entered averaging 50 points per game. But Gorman, who hadn’t played in four weeks since winning the Nevada title, was the aggressor from start to finish in putting an exclamation mark on the season.
Gorman rushed for 304 yards and six touchdowns on 31 carries, easily winning their 13th straight game following a three-point loss to Mater Dei of California in August. If Gorman doesn’t surrender a second-half lead on that hot Friday night at the beginning of the season, you could argue the Gaels would have done enough to be the mythical national champions.
Instead, they’ll settle for a No. 4 ranking by Max Preps and bowl game win.
Junior tight end Elijah Lofton rushed for 78 yards and four touchdowns, and also caught a touchdown. Lofton had three scores in the first half and Gorman led 28-0.
Gorman’s physical edge against Chaminade-Madonna mirrored how the Gaels dominated Nevada opponents this season, including a 70-6 win over Bishop Manogue of Reno Nov. 19 for the state championship.
Micah Alejado completed 12 of 16 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown against the Flordia school, Micah Kaapana rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown, and DeVon Rice had eight carries for 90 yards.