Gorman crushes Arbor View to win 5th straight state title — PHOTOS
The name of the state football championship game that Bishop Gorman and Arbor View played Tuesday night might be different, but the result was the same as it was last year.
The top-seeded Gaels, who defeated the Aggies 69-7 in the Class 5A Division I state title game in 2024, rolled to a 44-7 victory over No. 3 Arbor View to win the inaugural Open Division state championship game at Allegiant Stadium.
“It changes every year, every year is different, but this is a group that I’ve had for, it seems like I’ve had this group forever,” Gorman coach Brent Browner said. “Watching the growth and development is probably the biggest thing about this team.”
Gorman, after a rare three-and-out on its first possession, scored on its next four drives in the first half.
“The motivation is there,” Browner said. “Every single day is an opportunity to put something on film, to better yourself and give yourself an opportunity to do that. They don’t take any team for granted. Every game is a big game for them because they have a chance to do something. It’s a lot of work to do what they do.”
The Gaels (11-1) won their fifth straight state title and 22nd overall, the second-most in state history. Gorman has won 15 of the past 16 state titles in the top classification.
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“(Offensive coordinator) Coach (Craig) Canfield and (defensive coordinator) Coach (Michael) Cosgrove have been here (with me) for the last five years doing the same thing … those guys do a hell of a job,” said Browner, who has coached Gorman to each of its past five state titles. “Sometimes as a head coach, you got to get out of the way, so I let my offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator (make adjustments).”
Senior quarterback Maika Eugenio ended his high school career on a high note. The Hawaii commit completed 20 of 27 passes for 303 yards and five touchdowns.
“It’s crazy and really a sad moment,” Eugenio said. “Never thought I’d cry, but I was crying a little bit on the field. This is great. Last one with my brothers, and it’s definitely fun to go out with a win, and it’s been a blessing all four years just all the obstacles and the success that’s come from it.”
Eugenio had 218 yards and four touchdown passes in the first half to give the Gaels a 28-0 halftime lead.
“We got the best coaching staff in the country, and a lot of people don’t really see that,” Eugenio said. “We got one of the greatest (offensive coordinators), Coach Craig Canfield, he could coach at any level. The players, we work hard for everything that we had.”
Gorman’s defense forced Arbor View, making its second-ever state title game appearance, into a three-and-out on the Aggies’ first possession. The Gaels then got the ball back and marched down the field, with Eugenio ending the drive with a 6-yard pass to wide receiver Massiah Mingo, a New Mexico commit.
Arbor View (9-3) twice marched into Gorman territory in the first quarter but couldn’t score. Gaels junior cornerback Hayden Stepp came up with two pass breakups on fourth down to end the two Aggies possessions.
Eugenio threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Zyren Menor, then threw a 28-yard touchdown to put Gorman up 21-0 with 9:30 left in the second quarter. He also tossed a 13-yard touchdown to Isaiah Nickels, a Hawaii commit, to give the Gaels a 28-0 lead shortly before halftime.
“We continued to work, and I feel like we definitely left our legacy out here on a good note winning state,” Eugenio said. “I’m going to miss it.”
Arbor View had success in spurts in the first half but couldn’t sustain drives. The Aggies had 133 yards of total offense in the first half and sacked Eugenio twice.
Arbor View quarterback Thaddeus Thatcher, a Utah commit, threw for 164 yards and had a 7-yard touchdown pass to Kamareion Bell in the fourth quarter.
Nickels finished with 98 receiving yards on eight catches, and Kaina Watson added 78 receiving yards on five catches for Gorman. Jayden Williams had five catches for 81 yards for Arbor View.
“We executed great,” Browner said. “That’s a great team we just played. … (Arbor View coach Sam Norris) is a great coach, and he’s doing the right thing.”
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
