Bishop Gorman romps past McQueen, 56-7, in 5A Nevada football championship - Reno Gazette-Journal

If not for penalties that nullified three touchdowns, it might have been even worse.

Bishop Gorman rolled over McQueen, 56-7, to claim the 5A state football championship on Thursday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

It is the Gaels 11th state title in the past 13 seasons. There was no state game last season. Liberty won in 2019

The  Lancers finished the season at 10-2 after winning the Class 5A North Regional for the first time since 2010. 

Gorman took a little while to get rolling, but when it did, the game was a runaway.

The Gaels led 42-0 at the half, despite having three touchdowns called back due to penalties.

Midway through the second quarter, Gorman recovered a fumble and scored, but the play was not immediately ruled a touchdown. After a 5-minute review, which led to McQueen coach Jim Snelling getting ejected, after bumping a ref. The fumble return was ruled a touchdown.

The running clock was used in the second half.

Snelling said despite the loss the Lancers have established a winning culture at the school, something the younger players can strive to also achieve.

"It wasn't the outcome we wanted, but it's about the process, and the process to get here is what I'm most proud of," Snelling said. "We played against a really good football team and (the Lancers) didn't shy away., they didn't back down."

"This (McQueen) group has set an expectation of back to where we want to be," he said. "Now they know what it's like to be there and they know what it takes to get there and that's part of that process."

McQueen ran the opening kickoff back to midfield, then Ashton Hayes ran for 14 yards.

But then the Gaels woke up.

McQueen senior Robby Snelling said you want to face a tough opponent in a state championship game.

"(Gorman) is really good. They're explosive, there's no other way to put it. They're physical, they stay on their blocks," he said.

He said the season highlight was winning the North 5A Regional last week and is what he will remember most about this season.

The NIAA created the Class 5A for the larger Las Vegas-area schools and Bishop Gorman. But the North schools voted to also play in the 5A, instead of remaining in the 4A, which leads to lopsided playoff scores.

The second half had a running clock. Gorman scored midway through the third period to go ahead 49-0.

McQueen senior Ashton Hayes scored on a 6-yard run to make it 49-7 for Gorman. His run followed a 58-yard catch by Corbyn Wadleigh.

Hayes said the Gaels were fast.

"I knew they were going to be fast, but I didn't know they'd be that fast," Hayes said. "I was disappointed in how unsportsman-like they played. That was part of the adversity we faced. That's' part of what the score shows. They had eight or nine unsportsmanlike penalties. That was something our team didn't like. We were trying to play a clean game. But at the end of the day, they deserve it."

Hayes would try to turn the corner, but there were usually more Gorman defenders waiting if he did make it past the first two or three.

Hayes, who moved to Reno from Pennsylvania, has committed to play football at Nebraska next season.

He appreciated the opportunity to play at Allegiant Stadium.

"From where I'm from, I would have never imagined being in a stadium like this," Hayes said. "This is awesome."

An unusual play followed Hayes' TD as Elija Lofton had a catch and long run to score, but he threw the ball up in celebration before crossing the goal line.

McQueen picked it up and ran to the Gorman 38, before the refs huddled and called it a score for the Gaels.

Gorman lineman Jake Taylor scored the first touchdown of the game, running it in from 5 yards out at at 7:35 mark in the first quarter.

Gorman quarterback Micah Alejado had three touchdown passes in the first half, to Maleik Pabon for a 15-yard touchdown and to Jonathan Brady for a 61-yard score. Brady then scored on 61 yard pass for Gaels, up 21-0, 10:40 in second

There was another Northern Nevada connection as Gorman tight end Jeremiah Bwire moved to Las Vegas from Sparks after the eighth grade. He had been in the Reed youth program.

His uncle, Isaiah Ross, coaches at McQueen played at Nevada. Bwire has committed to Air Force.

Jim Krajewski covers high school and youth sports for the Reno Gazette Journal. Follow him on Twitter @RGJPreps. Support his work by subscribing to RGJ.com.