Bishop Gorman, Faith Lutheran clash to determine Open Division champion

Friday night’s action at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas will determine which team faces Losee in the Open Division state championship game. The No. 1 seed Bishop Gorman Gaels host the No. 2 seed Faith Lutheran Warriors at 7 p.m. Friday. Both schools have secured a spot in the Nov. 20 title game at Allegiant Stadium regardless of the outcome.

The loser of the Friday matchup will play the 5A Northern Region champion for the 5A state title on the same day. This double-header structure results from a special agreement between the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association and three remaining 5A Southern schools: Gorman, Faith Lutheran, and Losee.

Gorman coach Brent Browner noted that the team will prepare as they do for any opponent. He spoke following the Gaels’ 54-0 win over CIVICA Academy in their regular-season finale last Friday. Browner said the players are excited to keep playing football, a sentiment driven by the specific circumstances of the current season.

The 30 Clark County School District teams in the 5A and 4A divisions moved to independence, which altered the traditional playoff bracket. This shift prompted the NIAA and the three remaining schools to create a unique format. Browner described the situation as a special circumstance, noting that many other players in the valley finished their seasons nearly a month ago.

Another high-stakes game occurs at 6 p.m. Friday at Mater East High School. The No. 1 seed Mater East faces the No. 2 seed Sloan Canyon in the Class 4A Southern Region final. These two charter schools are emerging rivals in the local football scene.

Saturday’s schedule includes state semifinals for the 3A, 2A, and 1A divisions. The 1A semifinal between Mineral County and Tonopah takes place Friday at 6 p.m. The remaining games on Saturday start at 1 p.m., except for a noon kickoff between Lincoln County and Coral Academy Reno in the 2A division.

State title games are scheduled for Nov. 20 and Nov. 21. Allegiant Stadium hosts the 1A, 3A, 5A, and Open Division titles on Nov. 20. The 2A and 4A titles are played at McQueen High School in Reno on Nov. 21. Local reporters Alex Wright and Jeff Wollard predict winners for these games, with Wright picking Gorman and Wollard also selecting Gorman for the Friday Open Division matchup.