Bishop Gorman vs. Mater Dei Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top two teams in the nation according to MaxPreps: Bishop Gorman and Mater Dei will play Friday at Santa Ana Stadium. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the fourteenth meeting between the top two teams in the nation since 2000 and the fourth time these two programs have met.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a breakdown of the matchups in this massive game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>QUARTERBACKS</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820636' first='Melvin' last='Spicer IV'], Gorman: </strong>Spicer has completed 69 percent of his passes for 390 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions this season. He is a dual threat guy with offers from Hawaii and Portland State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='270900' first='Dash' last='Beierly'], Mater Dei: </strong>Beierly is a transfer from Chaparral High in Temecula and is committed to Washington. He is built like a linebacker and the ball jumps out of his hand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/LeagueRDY/status/1827509993089777823","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LeagueRDY/status/1827509993089777823 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>RUNNING BACKS</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1209599' first='Myles' last='Norman'], [player_tooltip player_id='1354358' first='Terrance' last='Grant'], Gorman: </strong>Gorman lost two elite rushers from last season and these two have picked up the slack. Grant is one of the best athletes in Nevada's 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='282698' first='Jordon' last='Davison'], Mater Dei: </strong>Davison is a downhill runner who has the burst to breakaway for touchdowns when he gets into the open field. He is committed to Oregon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/GregBiggins/status/1826805295030431837","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/GregBiggins/status/1826805295030431837 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>RECEIVERS</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820599' first='Derek' last='Meadows'], [player_tooltip player_id='820606' first='Brandon' last='Gaea'], Gorman: </strong>Meadows is the top prospect in the state of Nevada and is committed to LSU. He is one of two five-star players in this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284103' first='Chris' last='Henry Jr']., [player_tooltip player_id='401273' first='Kayden' last='Dixon-Wyatt'], [player_tooltip player_id='282711' first='Marcus' last='Harris'], Mater Dei: </strong>Henry is the other five-star player in this game and is committed to Ohio State. All three can get open with ease and make big plays down the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/solvingfootball/status/1827458164402672085","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/solvingfootball/status/1827458164402672085 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>OFFENSIVE LINE</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820591' first='Douglas' last='Utu'], Seuseu Alogaituli, [player_tooltip player_id='820593' first='Alai' last='Kalaniuvalu'], [player_tooltip player_id='1195280' first='Stewart' last='Taufa'], [player_tooltip player_id='1111091' first='Alema' last='Iosua'], Gorman: </strong>The offensive line is the absolute strength of Gorman's team. They are all committed to Power 4 schools and can wear you down with their size and athleticism. Utu is committed to Tennessee and is the biggest of the bunch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='282776' first='Sione' last='Tohi'], [player_tooltip player_id='406673' first='Talan' last='Tumanuvao'], [player_tooltip player_id='536980' first='Kodi' last='Greene'], Joseph Genova, [player_tooltip player_id='403058' first='Lex' last='Mailangi'], Mater Dei</strong>:<strong> </strong>The addition of [player_tooltip player_id='536980' first='Kodi' last='Greene'] is a big difference maker for Mater Dei. Tohi is a four-year starter who has played in massive games and Tumanuvao is one of the more underrated offensive linemen in Southern California. Mailangi is a sophomore who the coaching staff is high on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DEFENSIVE LINE</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820602' first='Sione' last='Motuapuaka'], [player_tooltip player_id='1173821' first='James' last='Carrington'], [player_tooltip player_id='284050' first='Prince' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='717884' first='Ocean' last='Taufa'], Gorman: </strong>Carrington is the No. 1 overall prospect in Nevada's 2026 recruiting class and [player_tooltip player_id='284050' first='Prince' last='Williams'] is No. 3. Each have a sack through two games this season and Williams has seven hurries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='723702' first='Semi' last='Taulanga'], [player_tooltip player_id='283689' first='Tomuhini' last='Topui'], Mater Dei: </strong>Taulanga and Topui are two dominant interior defensive linemen but Gorman will be by far the best offensive line the Monarchs have faced.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>LINEBACKERS</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820594' first='Landon' last='McComber'], [player_tooltip player_id='820598' first='Champ' last='Kapanui'], [player_tooltip player_id='1325734' first='Aloisio' last='Maluia'], [player_tooltip player_id='876951' first='Anton' last='Gorup'], [player_tooltip player_id='940635' first='Tamatoa' last='Gaoteote'], Gorman: </strong>Gaoteote had 84 tackles as a freshman last season and Maluia got an offer from Tuskeegee. McComber and Kapanui are Division 1 commits who fly to the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='282774' first='Nasir' last='Wyatt'], [player_tooltip player_id='723696' first='Abduall' last='Sanders'], [player_tooltip player_id='212233' first='Shaun' last='Scott'], [player_tooltip player_id='723734' first='Lucas' last='Campizta'], Mater Dei: </strong>Wyatt is the top edge rusher in California and Sanders is one of the best interior linebackers in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='212233' first='Shaun' last='Scott'] is highly-touted but I'd like to see it translate to actual games a little smoother this season. Sanders should rack up tackles in this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/wy4att/status/1827152721142862072","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/wy4att/status/1827152721142862072 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DEFENSIVE BACKS</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1173839' first='Jett' last='Washington'], [player_tooltip player_id='560862' first='Hayden' last='Stepp'], Askel Ferry, [player_tooltip player_id='1323325' first='Brayton' last='Correa'], [player_tooltip player_id='1213809' first='Alex' last='Perez'], [player_tooltip player_id='402173' first='Isaiah' last='Nickels'], Gorman: </strong>Washington is an elite safety with offers from Texas, Alabama, Michigan and Tennessee. Stepp is a lengthy sophomore corner with an offer from Miami.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='282700' first='Daryus' last='Dixson'], [player_tooltip player_id='282734' first='Chuck' last='McDonald III'], [player_tooltip player_id='401232' first='Cory' last='Lavender']</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='438050' first='Ace' last='Leutele'], <strong>Mater Dei: </strong>McDonald and Dixson are the best cornerback duo in the state. Levender had some injury issues as a junior but played well against Centennial in the season-opener. Leutele is a freshman safety that will be a top recruit in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Chuck20fficial/status/1831797810343375028","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Chuck20fficial/status/1831797810343375028 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->