FSM Essential Recap: Las Vegas High School Football – Playoffs – Week 3

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Week 3 of the 2021 NIAA playoffs is in the books and it was action packed! In the third week of the 702 High School football playoffs, Bishop Gorman and Liberty faced off in a much anticipated rematch at the 5-A level.

 

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Photo Credit: TQ/Franchise Sports Media

Bishop Gorman finally had their revenge game against the Liberty Patriots. This game has been circled on their calendar since 2019 and is one of the reasons offensive coordinator Craig Canfield was one of Brent Browner’s first hires when he took over the Gaels. Bishop Gorman also had bulletin board material.

After Liberty’s win last week, head coach Rich Muraco said that his All-World athlete, Germie Bernard, was the best player in Las Vegas.

But Bishop Gorman also has a speedy wide receiver, Zachariah Branch, who touched the ball twice in the first half. The first time he went 93 yards on a punt return and the second he went 53 yards to the house after catching a pass.

“It’s humongous to have an electrifying player like that,” Gorman coach Brent Browner said after the game. 

Bernard touched the ball 19 times. He rushed 10 times for 84 yards along with catching seven passes for 143 yards. To put a bow on it, he returned a kickoff 49 yards and scored both of Liberty’s touchdowns.

“We knew all week, ‘Don’t kick the ball to that kid,’” Muraco said about Branch’s blue streak to the end zone. “I think he’s the 100-yard dash champion, and he showed it on that play.”

The second half was essentially a stalemate, with each side scoring a touchdown before Gorman tacked on a score inside of a minute to play. It gave credence to a notion that Liberty might be inching closer to leveling the playing field against a Gorman.

Gorman will now play McQueen High School (Reno) for the Nevada State 5-A Championship.

 

 

The 4-A Division had their Final 4 to see who will play for the 4-A State Championship.

 

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Photo Credit: Quincy Hatcher/Franchise Sports Media

Silverado quarterback Brandon Tunnell led the Skyhawks to a 42-7 home victory over Coronado in the Class 4A state semifinals Friday night.

The win gave Silverado (11-0) its first look at a state championship. “The kids know the previous best record in school history was 10-1 back in 2007,” Silverado head coach Andy Ostolaza said. “And we’ve never been to state, so this is a great thing for the school and the system. It’s taken some years, but we’re here now.”

Tunnell had 96 yards on 6-of-12 passing to go along with 3 rushing touchdowns to help lead the Skyhawks. Silverado teammate, Caden Harris, rushed 11 times for 106 yards, while Coronado’s Chris Avila led the Cougars with 10 carries for 114 yards.

Meanwhile, Shadow Ridge pulled away in the fourth quarter against Las Vegas for a 65-37 win.

Shadow Ridge will now play Silverado on Thursday at Allegiant Stadium for the state championship.

Mustangs quarterback, Coen Coloma, ran the Mustangs’ triple-option offense to near-perfection, rushing for 183 yards and three touchdowns. The Mustangs as a team had 567 yards on the ground.

“It’s hard to contain that offense,” Las Vegas coach Erick Capetillo said. “You’ve got to get a few stops versus that offense. You obviously don’t imagine an offense like that in a shootout, but at the end of the day, if you can’t stop them, you’ve got to keep scoring.”

Las Vegas freshman quarterback Elijah Espinoza completed 30 of 47 passes for 476 yards and four first-half touchdowns.

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The Prep Rally 3rd Round Scores:

 

5-A:

 

Bishop Gorman 35 – Liberty 7

 

 

4-A:

 

Silverado 42 – Coronado 7

 

 

Shadow Ridge 65 – Las Vegas 37 

 

 

Franchise Sports Media has your 702 High School Football season covered. Make sure you tune into The FSM Prep Rally all season for your Las Vegas High School Football coverage and interact with us on all our social media platforms in the comments sections.

 

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