Gaels rally late, remain undefeated

Nationally ranked Bishop Gorman survived its second scare in as many weeks, defeating host Centennial 43-42 on Friday night at Corona, Calif.

Trailing 42-35 with 2:25 left, Gaels quarterback Tate Martell connected with Brandon Gahagan on a 56-yard touchdown reception, then hit tight end Alize Jones for a 2-point conversion and their first lead of the game.

The Huskies had one last chance, but Centennial running back J.J. Taylor fumbled, and Gorman’s Harry Futryk recovered.

The Gaels (4-0) outscored their first three opponents by a combined score of 115-47, including last week’s 23-20 overtime win against Bingham (Utah). But Centennial exposed vulnerabilities in Gorman’s defense.

The Huskies (1-2) outgained the Gaels 251-225 in the first half, controlled the tempo for most of the game and led 42-28 before Gorman scored with a little more than five minutes left in the contest.

Centennial finished 4-for-4 on fourth-down attempts, including three times when it needed 10 or more yards to keep drives alive. All three of those conversions led to touchdowns, including a 1-yard run by Taylor on fourth-and-goal that put the Huskies ahead 42-28 early in the fourth.

Gorman, ranked third in the country by USA Today, was led by senior Russell Booze’s 185 yards rushing. Jones caught eight passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns, and Martell completed 12 of 23 passes for 266 yards and three TDs.

Meanwhile, St. John Bosco (Calif.), USA Today’s No. 1-ranked team, scored 35 unanswered points to rout Central Catholic (Ore.), 42-14. After hosting Santa Margarita (Calif.) next week, the Gaels host St. John Bosco on Sept. 26 in what many perceive to be the game that could determine the mythical national championship.

Centennial wasted little time in establishing its no-huddle offense against the Gaels, scoring on its first two possessions. Taylor led the charge on the game’s opening drive by rushing for 44 yards, including a 14-yard TD run.

Gorman responded quickly, driving 70 yards in 11 plays, capped by Martell’s 16-yard TD strike to Jones.

The Huskies took advantage of a fourth-and-13 conversion when quarterback Nate Ketteringham hooked up with Greyson Bankhead for 21 yards to the Gaels’ 14-yard line. Two plays later, Ketteringham scored on an 11-yard run.

Jonathan Shumaker rushed for 91 yards on 12 carries and had two TDs for the Gaels, while Gahagan finished with three receptions and 103 yards and one touchdown reception.

Taylor had 124 yards on 18 carries and scored three touchdowns for the Huskies, who owned a 21-14 lead at halftime. Centennial’s Anthony Catalino completed 11 of 13 passes for 155 yards and one TD, and Ketteringham finished 6-of-8 passing for 71 yards.