Gorman relies on big finish

Bishop Gorman quarterback Dylan Barrera didn't have a pleasant day Saturday -- at least not until the final three minutes of the game.

Barrera had completed only 2 of 7 passes for 8 yards in the first 45 minutes, was sacked three times and fumbled a snap at the end of the first half, costing the Gaels a shot at a field goal.

But the senior more than made up for it, completing his final seven passes, including a 2-yard touchdown to Kamana Kaimikaua with 23 seconds remaining, to lift the Gaels to a 24-20 victory over visiting Palo Verde for the Sunset Region title.

"They were bringing a lot of pressure and it was hard to get out of the pocket," Barrera said. "Some of those throws in the beginning I just couldn't connect, but I adjusted and my coaches had faith in me and I just had confidence. My teammates needed me, and I was ready to come back for them."

Gorman (13-0) will play McQueen (13-1) in the Class 4A state title game at noon Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Palo Verde finished 12-1.

Trailing 20-17 with 3:03 to play, the Gaels got the ball back at their 30. The drive didn't start well, as Barrera threw two incompletions. But then he hit Kaimikaua for 14 yards for a first down, and found his rhythm from there.

"He was a little off earlier, and then all of a sudden he picked it up," Gorman coach Bob Altshuler said.

One of the biggest plays came on first-and-15 from the Palo Verde 38. The Panthers pressured Barrera, but he scrambled to avoid the sack and heaved the ball down the right sideline, where Joe Huber made a diving catch at the 17.

Kaimikaua made a leaping, 14-yard catch to move the ball inside the 5, and three plays later, Barrera hit Kaimikaua in the front of the end zone with the game winner.

"We've been working on the two-minute drive the whole time in practice, and it just paid off," said Kaimikaua, who had five catches for 91 yards and two TDs. "I was in the right place at the right time."

Palo Verde got the ball back at its 38 with 16 seconds to play. The Panthers had run the ball on their first 47 offensive plays and didn't attempt a pass last week in the region semifinals. But with time running down, Kelly Zurowski completed back-to-back passes to put the ball at the Gorman 42 with five seconds left.

The Gaels were called for holding on the next play, moving the ball to the 32 and giving Palo Verde a final chance on an untimed play, but Beau Orth picked off Zurowski's pass to end the game.

Palo Verde hadn't attempted a pass mainly because its running game had been so effective, compiling 375 yards. Torin Harris, who lined up at quarterback in certain shotgun sets, had scoring runs of 67 and 57 yards. The 57-yarder put the Panthers up 20-17 with 2:01 left in the third quarter.

"He flat out broke some big plays," Altshuler said of Harris, who finished with 123 yards on five carries. "They big-played us."

With Barrera ineffective early, and top rusher Keola Antolin missing most of the middle quarters with an ankle injury, the Gaels got some big plays from unlikely sources.

Reserve running back Nick Lewis rushed for 92 yards on four carries, including a 67-yard touchdown run. And Huber, lining up as a wingback in Gorman's wing-T, had five carries for 37 yards and completed two halfback passes for 91 yards.

Antolin returned late in the third quarter and had a few strong runs before the Gaels were forced to the air on the final drive. He finished with 88 yards on 13 carries, and Kaimikaua said Antolin's presence on the field made the difference during the final drive.

"Keola just opened up the pass for us, so it was wide open and we did a good job executing," Kaimikaua said.

Contact Prep Sports Editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-4587.