Tyjon Lindsey returns with two TDs as Gorman cruises by Bonanza

The nation’s No. 1 football team still hasn’t lost to a team from Nevada since 2008.

Bishop Gorman took control early, opened up a 30-0 lead in the first quarter and cruised to a 42-0 home win over Bonanza on Friday night.

Starting quarterback Tate Martell reunited with receiver Tyjon Lindsey, who made his season debut, and the two connected on a pair of touchdowns on Gorman’s first two series.

Then reserve quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed 12 of 18 pass attempts for 139 yards, including one touchdown, while rushing for 47 yards on six carries to lead the Gaels’ offense.

“I felt pretty good coming in cold,” Thompson-Robinson said. “There are always things that you can improve on. For me it’s just getting my reads down and making sure my lines in tune and make sure everybody is set up so I can do my job.”

Gorman coach Kenny Sanchez said Thompson-Robinson is the future, so he was glad to get him crucial reps.

“And also all of our guys who haven’t played the first four weeks, who run scout for us,” Sanchez said. “They were motivated all week knowing they would likely see some time.”

That’s usually the case once Gorman gets past its rigorous non-conference schedule and opens league play. The Gaels (5-0, 1-0 Southwest) won’t have time to celebrate, however, as they host preseason No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida) next week.

“It can be hard to get them going when they see the film and know what they have in front of them, after seeing what they had to face last week,” Sanchez said. “I think it’s our job to make sure we stay sharp and stay focused. You always have to try to find ways to get good.

“We prepared this week for Bonanza, not (St. Thomas). Players are creatures of habit so anytime you start to change, I don’t think that’s beneficial. You prepare for who you’re going to play and you come out and you play that team.”

Such was the case Friday, as the Gaels’ familiar combination of Martell-to-Lindsey resurfaced five plays into the game, when the duo connected for a 40-yard strike to put Gorman ahead 7-0. After forcing Bonanza into a three-and-out, Martell and Lindsey connected once again, this time four plays into the series, on a 30-yard reception.

“I feel good out there; I felt great being back and I felt 100 percent,” said Lindsey, who has been recovering from a broken collarbone he suffered in a preseason scrimmage against Liberty. “I just had to get my feet wet against this team. We’re very thankful for Bonanza coming out and competing hard. I’m glad I came out today.”

Sanchez said it was Lindsey’s decision to get the rust off before next week’s showdown with St. Thomas Aquinas.

“We were hoping he would get hit,” Sanchez said. “But he may not get hit the rest of the year, he’s a special kid.”

Bonanza (1-2, 0-1 Southwest) was led by running back Ricardo Hill, who rushed for 60 yards. Hill, the Week 3 Nevada Preps poll player of the week, has rushed for 353 yards after three games. Bonanza, which tallied 587 yards in its first two games, finished with just 66 yards of offense against the physical Gaels, who smothered quarterback Cannon Reid.

If Reid wasn’t under pressure scrambling, the Gaels were busy batting balls down - three for the night. Reid finished 2-for-12 for 13 yards passing.

It was Gorman’s first shutout of the season after allowing an average of 12.7 points per game against four national powerhouse opponents to open the season. The Gaels have compiled 2,182 yards of offense. And with his sidekick back at wideout, Martell’s two darts to Lindsey improved his touchdown-to-interception ratio to 13-to-0.

“Tonight made me feel confident for next week,” Lindsey said. “But I know I still need to come out and prepare because I know we are playing against the nationally ranked team that was ranked number one coming into the season.”