Best of the Best Nevada: Bishop Gorman 2015 Football Preseason Preview

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

When Bishop Gorman takes the field on Aug. 29 against Arizona powerhouse high school football team Chandler, the Gaels will look the same but several key pieces will be missing from the national championship squad from a year ago, namely head coach Tony Sanchez.

Sanchez guided Bishop Gorman to a record of 85-5 over the past six seasons winning six consecutive Nevada state championships. In his final season before being hired as the new head coach for UNLV, Sanchez compiled a record of 15-0 with key wins over regional team Brophy College Prep (Phoenix, Arizona), Servite (Anaheim, California), Centennial (Corona, California), Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, California) and knocked off the nation’s top quarterback when playing 2013 national champs St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California) winning 34-31. Centennial gave Sanchez and company the biggest scare falling 43-42.

Bishop Gorman’s new head coach is Kenny Sanchez. Sanchez was promoted from within spending 2014 as the team’s defensive coordinator. The change in personnel on the field or on the sidelines have not discouraged national polls from placing high expectations on the Gaels, PrepNation ranks Bishop Gorman No. 2, MaxPreps writers No. 3, and USA Today has the defending champs at No. 4.

Offense
Perhaps the biggest returning talent to Gorman is junior quarterback Tate Martell. The new Texas A&M commit took over the reigns from Danny Hong during the Centennial game ending with 2,537 yards, 40 passing touchdowns, and just two picks. The 5’10”, 190 pound, talent is a threat to move the chains with his feet running for 433 yards on 73 carries with five more scores last season.

No matter who is in the pocket or who is getting the ball out of the backfield the Gaels’ offensive line is massive. The push up front will come from seniors Jaron Caldwell (6’3”, 305) and Julio Garcia (6’3”, 315), both UNLV commits. Other seniors expected to collaborate on a seventh Nevada state championship run include big Ryan Scroggins (6’3”, 355) and Sione Lasike (6’0”, 290). An underclassman who could push for time is Justice Watson (5’11”, 310).

The primary ball carriers are expected to be Class of 2017 recruit Biaggio Ali-Walsh and senior Jonathan Shumaker. Shumaker was second on the team in 2014 in rushing yards gained with 625 and 13 touchdowns behind Russell Booze’s 1,791 yards with 22 touchdowns. Walsh (5’11”, 185) showed explosiveness and big play ability averaging 12 yards a carry on 49 totes for 595 yards with 10 scores on the ground. A short-down back who could steal some carries in 2015 is Alex Lazarou (5’10”, 215).

The passing attack will be lethal with two junior standouts, Tyjon Lindsey and Austin Arnold. Lindsey was second on the team with 884 receiving yards off 34 receptions with 15 touchdowns. Arnold showed big play ability as well averaging 19 yards a catch making the most of his 11 receptions for 203 yards with four touchdowns. Brandon Gahagan (5’10”, 165) could be in line for a breakout season after catching 22 passes for 357 yards with two touchdowns.

Defense
The defense should be stout this season led up front by defensive end Michael Geraghty (6’3”, 240) and the run stopper in the middle with junior defensive tackle Haskell Garrett (6’1”, 286). Garrett plugged the line for 79 tackles as a sophomore. The linebacker corps should be solid with senior Ferrell Hester (6’0”, 240) and junior Ikem Okeke (6’0”, 205) roaming the middle for running backs. Okeke played well totaling 56 tackles with seven sacks and one pick as a sophomore. Hester contributed 65 stops last season.

The attention getters in the secondary are two juniors, Damuzhea Bolden (6’3”, 185) and Alex Perry (Arizona). During his sophomore season cornerback Alex Perry (5’10”, 165) had 46 stops and one interception. Bolden is a 4-star recruit with early offers from Oklahoma State and Hawaii. Senior Kalen Hicks and juniors Greg Francis and Malik Hausman should see ample playing time this season.

Schedule
Playing in-state teams has not been too difficult for BG in the last few years but 2015 might be a little bit different when the playoffs roll around. Centennial, Liberty, and Arbor View have a lot of returning talent with all of the teams seeking to become the first Nevada high school squad to beat the Gaels since 2008.

The non-conference schedule is brutal featuring Chandler, an ESPNU game at home, then on the road to Bingham (South Jordan, Utah), another ESPN game but this time on the road at Bellevue High School (Washington), and then a road game at Long Beach Poly before hosting Servite (Anaheim). The second to the last game of the season is no picnic either when Don Bosco Prep (New Jersey) comes to town.

If the Gaels manage another undefeated season they will have certainly earned the distinction of national champions for a second consecutive season.

2015 Bishop Gorman Football Schedule
Aug. 29 Chandler at Bishop Gorman
Sept. 4 Bishop Gorman at Bingham
Sept. 11 Bishop Gorman at Bellevue
Sept. 18 Long Beach Poly at Bishop Gorman
Sept. 25 Servite at Bishop Gorman
Oct. 2 Bishop Gorman at Shadow Ridge
Oct. 9 Durango at Bishop Gorman
Oct. 16 Bishop Gorman at Legacy
Oct. 23 Don Bosco Prep at Bishop Gorman
Oct. 29 Palo Verde at Bishop Gorman

Photo credit: 247sports.com; Bishop Gorman celebrates a touchdown, No. 18 Tate Martell, No. 25 Tyjon Lindsey, No. 33 Jonathan Shumaker, No. 74 Julio Garcia, and No. 75 Jaron Caldwell.