Defending state champs roll past Desert Shields

Two-time defending state champion Bishop Gorman (12-1) passed its first postseason test easily, beating visiting Cheyenne (6-4) 49-6 on Friday in the first round of the Sunset Region playoffs.

Gorman’s Jarrett Solomon tossed three touchdown passes and ran for another, and Shaquille Powell rushed for 142 yards and two TD’s and caught two passes for 57 yards and a score for the Gaels.

Powell opened the scoring with a 3-yard run late in the first quarter and the game remained close until the Gaels rattled off four consecutive touchdowns in the final eight minutes of the first half.

“Our defense was lights out all night, “ Gorman coach Tony Sanchez said. “The offense struggled early but exploded late in the first half to get us going.”

Justin Sweet scored on a 1-yard run to cap a 7-play 65-yard drive that extended the Gorman lead to 14-0 with 7:56 remaining in the second quarter.

Solomon burst through the line and outran the defense for a 58-yard score with 2:57 left in the first half and on the first play of their following drive, Solomon found a wide open Robert Stanley over the middle for a 73-yard score.

The Gaels forced a quick punt and two plays later Solomon connected with Powell on a 39-yard TD pass with 20 seconds remaining in the half.

Powell added a 65-yard touchdown run and Solomon found Jamir Tillman on a 7-yard TD strike in the third quarter to put the game far out of reach.

Gorman hosts Arbor View on Thursday in a Sunset semifinal. The Gaels beat the Aggies 56-7 two weeks ago.

“Arbor View is a well-coached team that plays hard and it won’t be as easy for us the second time around, “ Sanchez said. “It’s on our team to realize that, be mature and come out focused for the challenge.”