Bishop Gorman overpowers Kahuku in battle of reigning football state champions: 5 takeaways

It is that time of the year high school football has returned. And, as always, that meant Bishop Gorman is back to doing what it does best: annually pursuing the national title. 
 
Despite some early season jitters on the offensive side of the ball, the Nevada high school football power was dominant in its first contest of 2024, handing the reigning Hawaiian state champion Kahuku team a 33-7 loss, thus tapping into the team’s expectation as the number two team in the SBLive/SI Power 25 preseason top high school football power. 
 
While Las Vegas was almost equally threatening, Bishop Gorman won 19-0 at halftime and hardly met with much competition in what must have been one of the most commanding victories for the team, which seemed to be on the verge of a blowout. 
 
Here are five takeaways: 
 
BISHOP GORMAN'S DEFENSE DOMINATES 
 
Overall, the Gaels did well to contain a strong offense though it was the Bishop Gorman side that did exceptionally well in the defensive front, a contrast to what was observed in 2023. 
 
Of all the senses the defense was just plain overwhelming as soon as the new season tipped off. The Red Raiders were able to penetrate the end zone only once on a spectacular race of quarterback Christian Sanford-Tupuola in the third quarter which was arranged by their defense. Apart form that, Gorman was almost impregnable in the defensive side of the game. 
 
Bishop Gorman was led by four-star 2026 athlete Jett Washington who had two interceptions, Isaiah Nickels and Brayton Correa also both had an interception each. Some good playmaking from the secondary was helped by a strong pass rush that made some of these throws necessary. 
 
Washington opined that there is even the possibility that the Gaels will be significantly improved on defense from where they were a year ago when fans and media alike crowned them as the national champions. The Gaels were fourth in the nation in the final SBLive/SI Power 25 rankings for the 2023 season. 
 
Washington said they have many returners so many people coming back next year. ‘And we added a lot of big pieces’ he said, ‘So I think we’re way more developed than last year, and we’re ready to play’. 
 
GAELS' IDENTITY: AS GOOD AS IT GETS UP FRONT 
 
Bishop Gorman is simply elite in the trenches. On both sides. However much the Gaels also possess in other genres, their brand of identification can only be pegged to their authority up front. 
 
Defensively, their success began upfront, and it is understandable, why. The Junior 3-star defensive end, Prince Williams continues where he left off from a monstrous sophomore campaign where he recorded 96 tackles, twenty-four of which were losses, ten of which were sacks and twenty six quarterback hurries. Now, he has 5-star junior James Carrington – one of the best players of Rabun Gap, Georgia, with 30 offers from the Division I schools – who showed a lot of enthusiasm during his first game for Bishop Gorman. Sione Motuapuaka, a 3-star commit from Utah will be joining them on the line while sophomore Tamatoa Gaoteote will be returning at inside linebacker, so be prepared you lines. 
 
On offense, the high expectation of the Bishop Gorman line rotation remains justified as the team parades three four-star recruits, and three three-star recruits, from the senior class. Of course, the same could be said for the Gaels’ own longtime and very formidable group of first-string linemen, although they themselves could’ve needed some shaking off as well accompanied by the current no-show of 4-star Miami commit SJ Alofaituli. And the group leaves much to hope that the team can quickly restore last year’s offense in its composition. 
 
Potential of QB Tandem of Spicer-Eugenio on Field 
 
Last year, Bishop Gorman possessed star seniors at every skill position, and the offense looked the part of the nation’s best right out of the box. The offense is in different terrain in 2024 with those seniors gone, and it was evident right from the start of the Friday match. The Gaels scored often against a Kahuku defense that had only given up 29 points in three previous games, but it wasn’t the calculated or assertive attack that could be assumed of the team pre-injury. Indeed, Bishop Gorman did not even reach 39 points in a single game last season and gave more than 50 points to several schools of the highest category. 
 
But, that does not mean the Gaels’ offense is off base. The offense line is as strong as it comes, and there are some phenomenal components at the skill positions that just need some maturation. 
 
Another attractive package of a 3-star quarterback recruit teammates was Melvin Spicer IV/Tim, and Makai Eugenio/Tim, who played in a combinations, and Eugenio ran for two short scores, while Spicer passed for a 17-yarder to Greg Toler, and a 6-yarder to Myles Norman. Spicer, a senior, got a few key reps last year as a backup to Alejado and wants to be a quick decision-maker in an offense that requires it. Spicer completed the season 10-of-13 for 180 yards, 2 TDs and an interception. 
 
Eugenio, the other faster, smaller signal caller, can do the exact same, but he was at his best when scrambling back and heaving it deep on Friday. If in fact, Bishop Gorman is looking to commit to the tandem look for the long term then the tandem look is not one that should be looked at in disgust. 
 
Once Spicer and Eugenio get more comfortable, look for them to take higher-profile wideouts. Much-acclaimed seniors Brandon Gaea, who is committed to Hawaii, and 5-star prospect Derek Meadows both saw considerable playing time last year and should make jumps. Meadows is a 6-5, 200-pound bruiser who clearly still has a lot of untapped talent; the still rather ragged offense may with Meadows’ help move the team up in future games against national calss teams including the Aquinas of Florida and the Mater Dei of California. 
 
KAHUKU IS A GOOD TRAVELLING PLAYER AND A HARD FIGHTER 
 
In the past few years, Kahuku has become well known outside the state with many games against power house programs from around the country. They’ve been mostly like this one – other than the shocking defeat of St. John Bosco last year – but even when Kahuku was soundly beaten, it has made quite a statement. 
 
On Friday, the Red Raiders had no potency whatsoever on the attacking front, yet they were stout in defense and fought quite ferociously. And their fans invaded the away-end bleachers of Fertitta Field after having arrived early to engage in pre-game grilling. This was a devastating blow but it isn’t difficult to understand why Kahuku is fast becoming a nationally-ranked team. 
 
Also, Kahuku was short perhaps of its best player, all-purpose Utah bound Mana Carvalho. If Kahuku was having a better game, it would have been so because the versatile speedster was catching passes and ballhawking too at times. 
 
Aiden Manutai was credited with an interception for the Red Raiders. 
 
Jett Washington steadily outlines a niche at Free Safety

In regard to the talent level of Bishop Gorman’s 4-star 2026 prospect, Jett Washington, there has never been an issue as to his projection skills and potentials for improvement and expansion, Washington has at least attracted 21 college offers, including Georgia, Alabama, and Washington. The only debate has been about where exactly the 6-foot-5 ATH prospect with the requisite athleticism and ball skills can be best used on the field. 
 
It may now be more appropriate to retire those questions. Washington played free safety exclusively in nine games as a sophomore, when he had 37 tackles and two interceptions, and he has equaled his 2023 interception output in his 2024 season opener. He was a smooth ball-thief – not just a fantastic physical talent who happened to pick of a couple of intercepciones. 
 
He said post-game that all but one of his offers have been at free safety and now he feels he can focus more at the position. Expect him to remain coming off the bench as a star playing as the last man in defense for the Gaels. 
 
Bishop Gorman and Kahuku went head to head in front of a sell out crowd at Fertitta Field in Las Vegas. Below I share with you several photos taken during the first game of the season.