Three-time Super 25 champion Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) turned a three-point lead after three quarters into a 35-23 victory against DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) on Friday in the GEICO ESPN High School Kickoff.
The win ran No. 4 Gorman’s streak to 55 consecutive games, the second longest active streak in the nation behind Kimberly (Wis.), which extended its run to 58 games with a win Friday night.
“All (the win) means is 2017, this team started off 1-0,” Gorman coach Kenny Sanchez said. “That’s what we worked toward. The past is the past, the present is the present. And just like we do, we’re going to forget about this after tonight. We’ll celebrate and get back to work tomorrow morning.”
DeMatha entered the game ranked No. 6.
UCLA commit Dorian Thompson-Robinson made his much-anticipated debut at quarterback for the Gaels (1-0). He accounted for five touchdowns – three passing and two rushing — and threw for 284 yards. Thompson-Robinson has been a part of Gorman’s success in past years but not as quarterback as Ohio State signee Tate Martell was in that role.
Making the move from wide receiver to starting quarterback, Thompson-Robinson finished the night completing 19 of 25 attempts.
“It’s amazing, having the performance we did, putting up that many points … just to get that first one is pretty good,” Thompson-Robinson said.
Gorman, ranked No. 4 in the Super 25, took a 20-17 lead with 30 seconds left in the third quarter as Thompson-Robinson found Falcon Kaumatule for a 6-yard TD.
Jalen Nailor then showed why he’s known as Speedy as he scored on a 68-yard touchdown recception for a 27-17 edge with 8:15 to go. Then, Jimmy Telles caught a 22 yard TD to push the lead to 35-17 with 4:27 left.
DeMatha would not go away, however, and cut the lead to 35-23 with 1:07 to play as Dominic Lyles reeled in a 7-yard TD pass from Tyler Lenhart.
“I’m definitely pleased with our guys effort today,” DeMatha coach Elijah Brooks. “We obviously ran up against an outstanding Bishop Gorman team. They’re not going to let you make too many mistakes, and we made too many today, didn’t execute when we need to at times, and you can’t do that against a good team like that.”
Lenhart was intercepted twice in the game, by Gorman’s Andrew Ruelas and JoJuan Claiborne. Lenhart finished 11 of 23, including two touchdowns, and 235 yards.
After gaining just 46 yards on the ground in the first half, Gorman’s defense held the Stags’ rushing game to a mere 17 yards over the final two quarters. The Gaels outgained DeMatha 351-298 on the night.
“That’s a pretty good football team we beat,” Sanchez said. “That’s a big physical team.”
