Two weeks ago, Bishop Gorman embarrassed a top-5 national team from Texas on ESPN. That’s not news. It happens every year and it will continue to happen every year, until something drastic happens.
That’s another story for another column that is sure to come by season’s end.
A different Las Vegas school, a public school, a school that relies on players who are permanently set up within its boundaries, a school that doesn’t make a mockery of high school competition, backed Gorman’s effort up on Friday.
Liberty, which would fight with Reed annually for state titles if not for Bishop Gorman University, topped Westlake (Austin, Texas), 21-14, on Friday night. Multiple national polls put Westlake in the top 15 in the nation.
It was an incredible win for the Patriots, and for Nevada public school football. Liberty even jumped into the national rankings with the road win.
FOOTBALL: Liberty @libertyotball leaps to No. 23 in national rankings following win in Texas. #NVprepsfb https://t.co/NWpyMydJtT
— Nevada Preps (@nevadapreps) September 5, 2016
As word started to make its way around the Internet, the question started to float around. Could this be the year be the year Gorman’s streak of seven straight state titles ends? Could Liberty do it?
No.
What the Patriots did on Friday was special. There is no denying that. The win puts them firmly in the driver’s seat for the metaphorical Nevada public school 4A state championship.
But Gorman is simply a different animal, on a different level. The average margin in the last seven state title games? 42 points. And many have said this is the most talented Gorman team ever.
The quarterback is committed to Ohio State (after committing to Washington and Texas A&M), the stud wide out will join him under Urban Meyer, and their running back is going to Cal. He tweeted screenshots casually texting Marshawn Lynch (a Cal alum) once he verballed.
That is just to name a few of the Gaels’ Div. I recruits.
Liberty earned the right to celebrate on Friday. It earned the right to be incredibly optimistic heading into the thick of the season. It’s just a shame that fire will once again be extinguished by Gorman. That is the current state of large-school football in the state of Nevada.
To get to Gorman in the state title game, Liberty will have to go through the 4A North champ in the state semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 26.
Reed-Carson isn’t the same this year
I’m not here to say Reed and Carson won’t meet in November in the regional title game for what would be the fourth straight year.
Carson coach Blair Roman and Reed coach Ernie Howren are two of the best coaches in the 4A North. They have nothing but time to get their squads ready for the postseason. Nobody will be excited to see either come tournament time.
The two schools matchup in three days in Carson and there will surely be signs of the rivalry that has budded within the two programs. There will be a little more noise being made during program warmups. There will be a little more celebrating after big plays. And there will be unfortunate remarks made on social media, pre- and post-game. Welcome to 2016.
It just feels a little different this year.
Reed had to fight out of a funk after dropping its season opener and even trailed Douglas early before bouncing back. And Carson is coming off a 34-17 loss at Reno where the offense appeared to be running in mud against the Huskies defense.
Maybe it’s because this matchup isn’t the opener at Mackay like it was a year ago. Maybe it’s because both teams are 1-1 and predicted to take a couple steps back from last year. Or maybe we’ve just become spoiled watching the region’s two elite programs go at it.
Even with some of the lure missing, this is still one of the mast anticipated games of the year. That hasn’t changed.
Spanish Springs volleyball shows out at High Sierra Invitational
Forty teams from all over Nevada, California and the rest of the surrounding region played in the High Sierra Invitational at multiple high schools in Reno this weekend.
Spanish Springs went 5-3 against top tier competition and finished in a tie for third. The tournament will prove invaluable for the senior-laden squad with big plans in coach Frank Sandomenico’s final go round.
The Cougars are off to a 14-3 start, including a Yerington Memorial Tournament title a week and a half ago.
It’s never easy in the 4A North, however, and this year will not be any different. Douglas took Spanish Springs to the final set and Bishop Manogue won the entire thing.
Those are two teams worth watching as the Cougs pursue a regional title.
Nathan can also be reached via email at nshoup@dailysparkstribune. His weekly column, ‘Shoup Shots,’ runs in the hard copy of the Sparks Tribune every Tuesday morning.
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