The last time Bishop Gorman played in Texas, there was a lot at stake as well.
“A lot of pride,” said University of Texas assistant coach Jeff Traylor, who was head coach at Gilmer when it hosted Gorman in 2006. “In Texas, we like to think we’re pretty good at coaching and playing football. Gorman was a program trying to prove itself and that’s a lot of the pressure, a lot of pressure, leading up to the game.”
Bishop Gorman returns to Texas for the first time since that 56-14 loss that seems much longer than a decade ago. Gorman was just establishing itself as a national high school football power from Las Vegas as a project of UFC gurus Dana and David White.
Now, Gorman is the two-time defending national champion in USA Today’s Super 25 poll and plays at Cedar Hill at 8 p.m. Saturday in a game broadcast live by ESPN2. The matchup features Cedar Hill’s Notre Dame commit quarterback Avery Davis and Gorman’s Ohio State commit quarterback Tate Martell.
In the age of social media, both sides have sent barbs toward each other since the end of last season as the matchup unfolded. Gorman made no secret to add a Texas victory to its resume and tried to pursue games with Allen and Katy before everything fell into place with Cedar Hill, which won state titles in 2014 and 2013 and reached the 2012 state final.
Before Traylor was lured away by Texas before last season, Traylor had built Gilmer into quite the East Texas power. Gilmer had quarterback G.J. Kinne leading a typically talented roster when it defeated Gorman in a game at Tyler’s Rose Stadium.
Gorman was being built by Coach David White with the support (financial and moral) of his brother Dana, who is president of the ultra popular Ultimate Fighting Championship. One of Gorman’s first stars was former Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma running back Demarco Murray. David White no longer coaches the Gaels, but still is prominent in Vegas as an MMA/UFC trainer.
In Gorman’s first Texas showdown, Gilmer (which won a 2004 Class 3A state title) finished strong to rally after Gorman took an early lead and intercepted Kinne’s first pass attempt.
“Our guys being used to playing a whole game in Texas-type heat was a big factor,” Traylor said. “We played fast with fast players and Gorman wasn’t as deep (in its roster) as it probably is now. But they had everything a good program has.”
Cedar Hill is loaded with college prospects including Davis, receivers Charleston Rambo and Camron Buckley, running back Kaegun Williams, linebackers Dimitri Moore, tackle Shabazz Dotson and safety Josh Newman among a roster ready to represent Texas . Making the case for Gorman will be its three Ohio State commits led by Martell (once a Texas A&M commit), receiver Tyjon Lindsey, tackle Haskell Garrett and Cal commit running back Biaggio Ali Walsh and Arizona defensive back commit Malik Hausman.
It’ll be a matchup worthy of #txhsfb and #UFC200
