November 20, 2007
What a season of high school football it has been. I don’t know about all of you but I've opened the paper every Saturday to read about some very exciting match-up and games and this week is going to be even better.

The areas top offensive team and number one ranked Bishop Gorman (11-0) is going to meet up with the areas other high powered offense and second ranked Palo Verde (11-0) for the sunset title this weekend.

Gorman has been in the driver’s seat all season and really wasn’t tested until its semifinal game against Cheyenne. The Desert Shields got off to a fast start putting Gorman down 16-0 early. The Gaels were able to get going with a push from star running back Keola Antolin.

Antolin who sat out the previous week against Cimarron has been bothered by a sore ankle. Antolin put the Gaels on the board late in the first half and that started the run. Gorman wouldn’t look back and finished off the Shields 43-16.

On the other side of the Sunset it was a little different the wing-t offense of Palo Verde can not be stopped. The Panthers took it to Western big time 52-12. Palo Verde is on a mission and there are three teams in there way.

The first is going to be the top ranked team in the state who is also on a mission to win a state title. Palo Verde will need to beat Gorman this weekend to make it to the state final against two-time defending state champ Las Vegas or North winner McQueen. Many think the state final game is going to be the winner of the Gorman/ Palo Verde but we all know that usually isn’t the case. Cimarron had a great season last year and lost to Gorman in the first round.

Palo Verde and Las Vegas have the most experienced squads both times have been in the playoffs and made the state final in the last few season with  Las Vegas winning the last two times. Gorman is the long shot. They will have to beat a very experienced offense two weeks in a row for their first state title since the 1980’s. After losing their coach and two highly touted players the past two seasons that would be a great accomplishment for Gorman. They could also hang a new banner on that new field as something the school has never really had until now.

It’s going to be exciting. Las Vegas has McQueen this weekend for a chance at the state final for the fourth year in a row. Also an undefeated will lose their first game of the season when Gorman takes on Palo Verde for the Sunset title and birth in the state final at Sam Boyd Stadium the following week.

Not sure how to pick this one but I would never count out a team that’s been there 5 out of the last seven years and has back to back titles…

          -Mike Sims