Bishop Gorman eager to prove worthy of No. 1 football ranking

Bishop Gorman’s football team has chased some of the toughest competition in the country in recent years.

This season, the Gaels will be pursued.

Gorman opens the season ranked No. 1 by USA Today.

“It put a big target on our back if anything,” senior running back Russell Booze said of the ranking. “We’ve just got to live up to it, not follow the hype.”

There is reason for the hype. Along with Booze, who rushed for 886 yards last season, the Gaels return tight end Alize Jones, a UCLA commit considered one of the nation’s top 100 players. Jones was Gorman’s leading receiver last season with 35 catches for 571 yards and 10 touchdowns. Wide receiver Cordell Broadus, who caught 60 passes for 685 yards last season at Diamond Bar (Calif.), gives Gorman another outstanding weapon.

Both made USA Today’s Preseason All-USA Football Team, which was released Thursday.

“I’m really, really curious and excited to watch this wide receiver group,” Gorman coach Tony Sanchez said. “We’ve got so many guys that are long and rangy, and we’re by far the fastest team that we’ve been.”

Sanchez said his team will have to prove itself on the field against one of the toughest schedules in the country. Gorman’s schedule includes No. 2 St. John Bosco (Calif.), No. 19 Servite (Calif.) and No. 23 Bingham (Utah).

“The fun thing is, there’s always going to be hype things going on,” Sanchez said. “And they’re cool, as long as you don’t get carried away with them. But the truth comes out. No matter what, the truth will be revealed. No one’s got to go guess or scratch or wonder how good we are. You’re going to find out unequivocally.”

Contact prep sports editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4587. Follow him on Twitter: @DamonSeiters.