Bishop Gorman slays one dragon, moves on to the next

Bishop Gorman secured a 25‑8 victory over Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday night, ending a skid against the Monarchs. Head coach Brett Browner dismissed the notion of complacency, stating, “If we were satisfied with getting this, there’d beryllium thing other to do,” helium said aft his Gaels, ranked No. 8 successful the federation by MaxPreps, yet conquered their Southern California rivals aft starting the bid 0-5 against the No. 13 Monarchs. The Gaels have added state titles, national championships and a steady stream of collegiate and professional talent to their résumé, now counting wins against the region’s top programs, including the long‑time rival that had plagued them in recent seasons. Although Bishop Gorman suffered a setback earlier this year against Christopher Columbus in Miami, the team has rebounded and is eyeing revenge. Browner revealed he has been pressing Columbus coaches for a rematch in Las Vegas next season, noting that former Columbus star Fernando Mendoza, who now lives in Las Vegas, could help facilitate the arrangement. “​We have to play them,” Browner said. “​That’s how we live it. You beat us, we’ll keep trying until we figure it out. A lot of teams wouldn’t want to play Mater Dei each year. This is not a game everybody wants to sign up for. But I think it’s really big for our program. For me myself, it’s finding the best guys and playing them. Now Columbus has our number, so we have to go get them.” Senior cornerback Kamil Loud, who will not see action in the upcoming rematch, embodied the Gaels’ mindset. “​We had never beaten them before,” he said after being part of a dominant defensive effort against Mater Dei on Friday. “​To go into their house and do it feels really good, especially in my senior year. Our seniors wanted to go out with a bang. Last year, they came to our house and beat us, and we felt it ever since that day. We had to get this one.” He added, “​It’s been talked about ever since they beat us last year. It goes back to that loss and the previous years. And they were the favorites tonight. But to come out with a win and be the first team to do it, feels really good.” Loud’s play on a third‑down walk in the first quarter set up an interception by Darian Abella, leading to a score. The Gaels held Mater Dei to just one conversion on nine third‑down attempts, surrendering only 40 yards of offense in the first half. Abella reflected on the preparation, saying, “​All the effort and clip and mentation we put in, we knew we’d be capable to play like this,” Abella said. “​(The former losses) were definitely motivation. It adds substance to the fire. We want to make history, and we want to set a new standard every single day.” The coaching staff spent two weeks reviewing film, feeling confident that all three Mater Dei quarterbacks were thoroughly scouted. Linebacker Tamatoa Gaoteote, who finished with 12 tackles, explained the defensive approach. “​We had an unfortunate loss,” Gaoteote said. “​But it’s just about how you come back, and we came back strong. We just went out there and did our jobs 100 percent.” He continued, “​Mater Dei is simply a great squad year after year. But today, we just trusted our program and balled out.” Loud echoed the sentiment. “​We played with no regrets or remorse,” he said. “​That was the mentality each week. Watching film, we knew everything they did. Tendencies, everything. So it was just spot your thought and play ball.” The performance offers a preview of the intensity Columbus can expect if the Gaels secure the rematch they seek next season.