Bishop Gorman sophomore makes instant impact for dominant defense

Braylon Ivory, a Bishop Gorman sophomore, delivered an immediate impact for the Gaels’ dominant defense. He was consistently disruptive in the backfield, tallying three sacks and three tackles for loss to help Gorman defeat previously No. 1‑ranked St. John Bosco (California) 38‑28 on Friday. “He’s just fundamentally scratching the surface,” Gorman head coach Brent Browner said of Ivory. Ivory is one of the younger contributors on an experienced Gorman unit. At 6‑foot‑4 and 215 pounds, the outside linebacker has made an immediate impact for the Gaels. “He’s just going to get better and better and better,” Browner added. “That was fundamentally his second‑ever varsity start game. There’s a lot of material he can put on and he’s going to work. He’s a good kid. He’s a hard worker.” “He’s a pretty good football player with the makeup of hard work, discipline and being successful in the system,” Browner continued. The victory elevated Gorman to the new No. 1 team in the nation according to MaxPreps. The Gaels, now 2‑0, will continue their challenging out‑of‑state slate with a meeting against Columbus (Florida) at 11 a.m. PT on Saturday at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale. The contest will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 as part of the Broward County National Football Showcase. Although only two games into the season, Gorman’s defense is already demonstrating it belongs among the country’s elite. Its performance will be a major factor in whether the Gaels can capture a fifth mythical national championship. Against St. John Bosco, the Gaels defense amassed 18 tackles for loss, eight sacks and two interceptions. “We just don’t get complacent, honestly,” said Kamil Loud, a Cal commit and Gorman defensive back who recorded a key tackle for loss and an interception in the fourth quarter. “We beat Bosco, but we got to move forward and we just got to keep being ourselves, knowing our assignments. With the D‑line and (linebackers), they make the (defensive backs’) job easier,” Loud added. Ivory first saw action on Gorman’s freshman team last season before joining the varsity squad in the postseason, where he recorded a sack in the Open Division state semifinals versus Foothill. He flashed potential against Losee, notching a sack and a tackle for loss in a 41‑0 Gaels victory that was halted for more than 90 minutes in the first half due to lightning and called at halftime. Ivory’s first‑quarter sack of St. John Bosco back Koa Malau’ulu was recovered in the end zone by Caleb Lea’Ea, giving Gorman a 14‑0 lead. “We see what he did in the past few games, but he still has a lot of room to grow and he’s going to get better,” Loud said. “He’s been an amazing addition to our defense, sacking the QB. He’s been guarding the running back, so he’s been in coverage.” “He’s an all‑around player and with how young he is, he has a lot of potential and he has nowhere near touched the surface,” Loud concluded. Following the win, Ivory garnered several scholarship offers, including from Arizona, Kansas State, UCLA and San Diego State. He lines up alongside a group of senior starters, such as linebackers Tamatoa Gaoteote and Jordan Lutu, and defensive ends Tayaun Lawrence and twins Caleb and Calvin Lea’Ea. “He’s playing a lot more and managing those emotions that come with a big game like that,” Browner noted. “Those are the kids that are most likely going to have the hardest next leap as they go through everything. We’re working on his mentality and keeping him grounded and staying humble. Do what got you here.” Loud is one of three FBS commits in Gorman’s secondary, alongside four‑star Oregon pledge Hayden Stepp and UNLV commit Azavier McDaniel, with sophomore Pesi Silva Jr. occupying safety. The Gaels are also highlighting the nation’s future talent with four‑star sophomore Brayley Manning, who recorded an interception against St. John Bosco and is rated as 247Sports’ 11th wide‑receiver prospect for the class of 2029. “We take pride in being the best DB group in the nation,” Loud said. “A lot of work is put in behind the scenes, whether it’s weekend training, post‑practice training, film study, going over plays and hanging out. We take pride in being together throughout the game, off the field and being the best.” Up next Who: Bishop Gorman vs. Columbus (Florida) When: 11 a.m. Saturday Where: St. Thomas Aquinas HS in Fort Lauderdale, Florida TV: ESPN2