QB Alejado leads winning drive as Gorman edges Miami Central

For the first time in his young career, quarterback Micah Alejado needed to lead a touchdown drive to secure a Bishop Gorman win.

The sophomore delivered, taking the ninth-ranked Gaels 80 yards in four plays and finding Zachariah Branch for a 37-yard touchdown pass to give them a 21-20 lead over No. 24 Miami Central with 4:02 remaining.

Miami Central drove down the field, but a 35-yard field goal try on the last play hit the crossbar. That was the difference in Gorman’s win Saturday in the Battle at the Beach at the Paradise Sports Complex in Naples, Florida.

“Offensively, we had some miscues, but we stayed focused,” Bishop Gorman coach Brent Browner said. “From the offensive line to the receivers and backs to Micah, they didn’t get frustrated. They stayed focused on what they needed to do.”

Alejado was 14-for-16 passing for 202 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a 21-yard score on the Gaels’ opening possession.

Both of Alejado’s scoring passes went to Zachariah Branch (121 yards, six catches).

Gorman (2-0) had 34 offensive plays, 28 less than Miami Central, and ran for 44 yards on 18 carries. Miami Central had a 363-246 edge in total yards.

“They did a good job of converting on third downs. We thought we had them a few times, and they converted,” Browner said. “But that’s an all-star team. They have 28 Division I athletes. That team is phenomenal.”

A few clutch plays swung the game in the Gaels’ direction.

After Alejado’s TD run gave Gorman the early lead, Miami Central scored 13 points in the second quarter on a Terrance Lewis 2-yard TD run and 30-yard pass scoring pass from Dylan Tulloch to Cataurus Hicks to take the halftime lead. Gorman blocked the extra point after Miami Central’s second score, a play that later loomed large.

The Rockets (0-2) came out of halftime with the ball, but Gorman forced a punt. Palaie Faoa blocked it, and the Gaels gained possession at the Miami Central 23.

“The kids really committed to (special teams) early in the week,” Browner said. “We knew we had a good chance of blocking a punt and blocking an extra point.

”When we did, it gave the kids belief, especially coming out of halftime.”

One play later, Branch got behind the defense for his first touchdown to put Gorman back on top with 8:34 to go in the third quarter.

Miami Central regained the lead on a 17-yard pass from Tulloch to Zaylan Reese with 5:31 left in the game, setting up Alejado’s heroics.

Contact Jason Orts at jorts@reviewjournal.com. Follow @SportsWithOrts on Twitter.