Gaels’ offense economical in blowout win

Time of possession can be a misleading statistic in football. For example, take Friday’s Bishop Gorman game.

The Gaels had the ball for only 5 minutes, 44 seconds in the first half and ran 15 plays compared to 41 for visiting Santa Margarita (Calif.). The difference was what they did in their short time with the ball.

Gorman scored on three big plays in the first half, one of the highlight-reel variety by quarterback Tate Martell on the game’s first touchdown, and pulled away for a 41-10 victory.

“We didn’t even have the ball in the first half,” Gaels coach Tony Sanchez said. “To have those yards and those scores on (15) plays is pretty good. We’d like to sustain some drives and keep the defense off the field, but it’s good.”

After winning its previous two games by a combined four points, Gorman (5-0) didn’t have to sweat the outcome against the Eagles (3-1). The Gaels, ranked No. 2 by USA Today, led 20-10 at halftime and then held Santa Margarita to 144 yards and no points in the final two quarters.

Gorman’s victory sets up a huge showdown next Friday against top-ranked St. John Bosco (Calif.) that could decide the mythical national championship. The game is at 6 p.m. at Fertitta Field.

“We play a great team,” Sanchez said. “It’s going to be two great football teams getting after each other. So we’ll be ready to go.”

Martell finished 8-for-11 for 193 yards and three touchdowns in one of his best performances since taking over the starting job three games ago. He connected with fellow sophomore Tyjon Lindsey for two touchdowns and also found Cordell Broadus for a 27-yard score midway through the second quarter that gave the Gaels a 20-7 lead.

Martell hit Lindsey for a spectacular 80-yard touchdown that put the Gaels up 7-0 in the first quarter. Martell was flushed to his right then peeled back to the left and heaved a deep pass across his body to Lindsey, who was wide open along the sideline and took it the rest of the way.

“I rolled out, but nothing was there and I turned around and went back the other way,” Martell said. “Tyjon and I have that connection. We’ve been playing together for awhile, and he just knows what to do to get open.”

Lindsey added a 48-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the second quarter to give Gorman a 13-7 lead.

Russell Booze rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries for the Gaels. Booze capped a seven-play drive to open the third quarter with a 13-yard touchdown run and then bolted 82 yards to put Gorman on top 34-10 late in the third quarter.

Jonathan Shumaker added 63 yards and touchdown for the Gaels, who outrushed Santa Margarita, 240-99.

Eagles quarterback K.J. Costello, one of the nation’s top players in the class of 2016, was held largely in check by Gorman’s bend-but-don’t-break defense. The 6-foot-5-inch standout finished 24-for-45 for 312 yards but was intercepted once and did not throw a touchdown.

Kyle Sweet finished with 11 receptions for 193 yards for Santa Margarita.

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ.