Ninth consecutive title for powerhouse Gaels squad
The Reed High football team knew it had a tall task ahead of them entering Saturday’s state championship game against Bishop Gorman at Mackay Stadium in Reno. After all, they were facing a Gaels team that was nationally ranked in the top 10 and seeking its ninth straight state title. Not to mention the fact they had outscored its last 10 opponents by an astounding margin of 526-26.
When the dust was settled Gorman went on to do what they seemingly always do, win championships in the State of Nevada. The final score was 48-7.
“We didn’t end the season like we wanted to, but we played hard and competed in the very last play,” said Raiders coach Tony Amantia. “I was pleased with our effort and attitude during the game.”
The Raiders couldn’t get much going offensively, and their defense suffered at times after losing three linemen to injury. Gorman led 31-0 at the half and nearly pulled off the shutout, but Cameron Emerson hooked up with George Moreno for one last touchdown between the pair of seniors with just under four minutes to play to get Reed on the board.
“Gorman simply had more speed and size than we did and executed better,” Amantia said.
Title game aside, the season couldn’t have gone much better for the Raiders (12-3, 4-1). After being blanked by Reno 39-0 on Oct. 13, they ripped off seven straight wins to get to the spot they were in, including two wins over previously undefeated teams in Damonte Ranch and Reno in the regional playoffs.
“I thought our kids had a great season and really came together as a group, especially after the Reno game earlier in the season. We proved we were the best team in the North,” the Raiders coach said.
Amantia was also proud of the way his team handled a leadership change and embraced him after losing their longtime coach to another school last January.
“We had a very mature group of seniors who handled the coaching change like champions,” he said. “I can’t say enough about our kids. I was very fortunate to be chosen to lead a very special group of football players.”
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