Bishop Gorman strikes through the air, rolls past Utah school

By Justin Lafferty Special to the Review-Journal

3 years ago

Bishop Gorman's Zachariah Branch (1) runs the ball for a touchdown after a catch in the fourth ... — Bishop Gorman’s Zachariah Branch (1) runs the ball for a touchdown after a catch in the fourth quarter of a football game against Lone Peak at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

Bishop Gorman’s Zion Branch (5) tackles Luke Durfey (5) for a touchback in the second quarter of a football game at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

Bishop Gorman’s Fabian Ross (4) interferes with a pass intended for Lone Peak’s Luke Hyde (2) in the second quarter of a football game at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

Bishop Gorman’s Jonathan Brady (6) runs the ball in the second quarter of a football game against Lone Peak at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

Bishop Gorman’s Zachariah Branch (1) makes a catch in the second quarter of a football game against Lone Peak at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

Bishop Gorman’s Jeremiah Hughes (13) makes a catch for a touchdown in the first quarter of a football game against Lone Peak at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

Lone Peak’s Luke Hyde (2) steps out of bounds after a catch in the first quarter of a football game against Bishop Gorman at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

Bishop Gorman’s Fabian Ross (4) interferes with a pass intended for Lone Peak’s Luke Hyde (2) in the first quarter of a football game at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

Lone Peak’s Luke Durfey (5) holds a recovered fumble by Bishop Gorman in the first quarter of a football game at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

Bishop Gorman’s Zion Branch (5) is tackled by Lone Peak’s Spencer Fotu (7) after a run in the second quarter of a football at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

Bishop Gorman’s Fabian Ross (4) and Benjamin Hudson (22) tackle Lone Peak’s Cole Christensen (1) in the fourth quarter of a football game at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

Bishop Gorman’s Fabian Ross (4) breaks a pass intended for Lone Peak’s Crew McChesney (3) in the fourth quarter of a football game at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

Bishop Gorman’s William Stallings Jr. (25) runs the ball in the third quarter of a football game against Lone Peak at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

Bishop Gorman moved the ball through the air with ease and rolled past Lone Peak (Utah) 35-7 on Saturday night in the finale of the Polynesian Classic at Gorman.

After the Knights, who traveled about six hours from Highland, Utah, scored in the first quarter, the Gaels regrouped and scored 35 consecutive points.

“We just came out and did what we could,” Gaels quarterback Micah Alejado said. “We came out a little slow out of the gate, but then we got together as a group and just told ourselves that we’ve got to do what we do every play, and nobody could stop us.”

Alejado finished 10-for-12 with 369 yards passing and three touchdowns. Zachariah Branch accounted for 131 of those yards and a TD on three receptions and added a 70-yard punt return for a TD.

Alejado has been key for the 3-0 Gaels, ranked No. 8 in the nation by USA Today. Gorman coach Brent Browner has been impressed with the sophomore’s poise against a challenging gauntlet of out-of-state opponents.

“From the first day, he’s been doing a great job,” Browner said. “He’s been in a lot of big games in his youth, and you can see his composure.”

Lone Peak’s score came on a 16-yard pass from Easton Comer to Crew McChestney. The Gaels tied the score on Alejado’s 73-yard TD pass to Jeremiah Hughes to end the first quarter.

Alejado gave Gorman a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter, finding Elijah Lofton in the back of the end zone for a 15-yard TD pass.

Midway through the second quarter, the Knights (2-1) appeared poised to tie the score, but Luke Durfey’s fumble at the 2-yard line went out the back of the end zone for a touchback. The Gaels easily drove down the field, ending the drive with a 4-yard TD run by Cam Barfield for a 21-7 lead shortly before halftime.

Branch’s impressive 70-yard punt return in the third quarter gave Gorman a 28-7 lead. He caught the ball inches from the Lone Peak sideline, evaded a defender, reversed field and sprinted down the home sideline for the score.

Branch scored again in the fourth quarter on a perfectly placed 81-yard TD pass from Alejado.

Gorman played Lone Peak two years ago in Utah, a game the Gaels won 28-21. Gorman will face Hamilton in Chandler, Arizona, on Friday to close out the nonleague slate.