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For much of Friday night’s game in Las Vegas, No. 1 DeMatha appeared destined to deliver the same level of heroics that won them the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title in epic comeback fashion a year ago. But when the Stags slipped up, even in the slightest of way, Bishop Gorman kept its foot on the gas.
In the program’s longest road-trip ever — nearly 2,500 miles — No. 1 DeMatha couldn’t hold on to an early lead, and eventually came up short against reigning national champion Bishop Gorman, 35-23.
The Gaels push their win streak to 55 games, while the Stags’ 17-game win streak that dated back to Week 8 of 2015 comes to a halt.
DeMatha quarterback Ty Lenhart finished with 251 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on 12-for-24 passing. MarShawn Lloyd, who suffered a season-ending broken wrist in the second quarter, led the Stags in rushing with 34 yards on eight carries.
The 5-star sophomore running back registered the game’s first touchdown when he ripped up the gut for an untouched 29-yard score, which put DeMatha ahead 10-0 at the 3:48 mark in the first quarter.
From there, Bishop Gorman quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17-for-21, 265 yards, three passing touchdowns; three rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on nine carries) turned up the heat, leading the Gaels to back-to-back scoring drives on 1-yard keepers to take a 13-10 halftime lead.
Out of the intermission, Lenhart took the Stags 86 yards in six plays, highlighted by a 60-yard reception to DeMarcco Hellams (98 yards and one touchdown on four receptions) and capped by a 12-yard Lenhart-to-Hellams score.
With the 17-13 lead midway through the third quarter, DeMatha stuffed Bishop Gorman on a 4th-and-4 at the Stags 8-yard-line, appearing to be the game’s turning point. But on DeMatha’s ensuing offensive possession, the Stags couldn’t out of their own 5-yard-line, setting up prime field position for the Gaels at the DeMatha 30-yard-line.
Three plays later, and Bishop Gorman took the lead for good when Thompson-Robinson flicked a shuffle pass over the Stags’ defensive front to the 6-foot-8 Falcon Kaumatule for the 6-yard touchdown.
DeMatha’s front-seven, led by 4-star defensive tackle and Maryland commit Austin Fontaine, stifled the Gaels on the ground — allowing only 63 yards on 29 carries.
Stags running back Myles Miree mustered 31 yards on 13 carries, and had one reception for 10 yards. Dominic Lyles registered 57 receiving yards and one touchdown — an 8-yard score with 1:07 left in regulation — on three catches.
Bishop Gorman outgained DeMatha in total yards, 365 to 308.
The Stags return to the Maryland area next week as they prepare to face Avalon in Gaithersburg.
