Gaels not perfect, still blank Grizzlies
Even in a 45-point victory Friday, Bishop Gorman coach Tony Sanchez found a few areas his top-ranked team could have done better.
But Sanchez also found plenty of reasons to be happy.
The Gaels rolled up 454 yards, and posted their fourth shutout in five league games on the way to a 45-0 home win over Spring Valley.
Sanchez said he was pleased with his team overall, but key penalties in the first half concerned him.
Sanchez said he was pleased with his team overall, but key penalties in the first half concerned him.
“We did a good job on offense and defense tonight, but we had three things that really bothered me,” Sanchez said. “We had two roughing the kicker penalties and a roughing the passer penalty. Those three plays cost us three offensive possessions in the first half.
“You just can’t do that as you go down the stretch.”
“You just can’t do that as you go down the stretch.”
Whenever Gorman got the ball on offense, quarterback Jarrett Solomon had the Gaels running on all cylinders.
Solomon, who connected on 9-of-16 passes for 228 yards, threw TD strikes to Even Zeger (65 yards), Ryan Smith (43) and Joshua Hawks (15), while also adding a 7-yard TD run.
“Solomon is throwing some nice balls,” Sanchez said. “He is really starting to evolve, spreading the ball to all of his receivers.”
Gorman was again without starting running back Shaquille Powell, but the ground game didn’t miss a beat.
Justin Sweet had eight carries for 148 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown run, to lead the Gaels’ rushers.
“We are very fortunate we have some depth at the running back position,” Sanchez said. “Sweet is a good ball player. He hasn’t had a lot of opportunities, but now he has two 100-yard rushing games.”
Spring Valley (3-4, 2-3) came into the game averaging 37 points in its last four games, but was held to 118 yards and no points by a Gorman defense that has only allowed six total points in its five league matchups this year.
“That’s the way our defense has played all year,” Sanchez said. “When you play well against the No. 7 and No. 8 teams in the country, you kind of expect it.”
Jelanie Wells and Jimmy Clark each had an interception, Jalen Grimble recovered a fumble, and Ronald Lyles had a sack for Gorman.
One more highlight for Gorman was kicker Collin Ditsworth, who blasted a 50-yard field goal that cleared the uprights by nearly 10 yards.
“There aren’t many kids in the country who are kicking 50-yard field goals,” said Sanchez. “Overall I thought we played well; we just have to work on a few mental mistakes.
“We never got stopped, we just stopped ourselves. When you do those kind of things in the playoffs, they will make you pay for it.
