Many happy returns for Loyd, Gaels
Johnathan Loyd returned a pair of punts for touchdowns as Bishop Gorman rolled to a 56-6 road victory over Spring Valley on Thursday night.
Loyd had a 59-yard punt return for a score in the first quarter and a 72-yard scoring return in the third quarter.
“If you kick the ball deep, you’re taking your chances because he’s an incredible athlete,” Gaels coach Tony Sanchez said. “Wow, what a great athletic young man he is. That kid can play Division I football, too. That’s the scary thing.”
Loyd is a Division I basketball prospect as a point guard.
“It shows that you don’t have to be a single-sport athlete,” Sanchez said. “He’s one of those guys that shows you can be great at one sport and go have fun with another.”
Victor Belen had touchdown runs of 23 and 7 yards for the top-ranked Gaels (9-0, 7-0 Southwest League), who had 207 rushing yards.
Gorman also got touchdown runs from Taylor Spencer (11 yards), Alex Turner (5 yards) and Shaquille Powell (4 yards).
Freshman quarterback Jarrett Solomon had a 32-yard TD pass to Xavier Grimble.
Gorman’s defense forced three turnovers and sacked Spring Valley quarterback Anton Stallworth five times. Tim Wilkinson had two sacks, and Spencer and Ian Bobak had interceptions.
Stallworth scored on a 56-yard pass from Jordan Cox with 3:25 to go for the Grizzlies (5-4, 5-3).
Sanchez left his starters on the field for most of the game as Gorman prepares for the postseason.
“Those other guys getting ready to go in, they’ve played a bunch of good games ... and they’re going to be ready, and they’re going to be hunting for us,” Sanchez said.
