Bishop Gorman will host St. John Bosco on Friday night in a game that has the feel of a high school football national championship game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Fertitta Field, with No. 2 Bishop Gorman and No. 1 St. John Bosco meeting in a matchup that will stream on MaxPreps’ website and YouTube channel.
Hayden Stepp said that is exactly the point. He said Bishop Gorman comes to play the best of the best, and that the chance to face elite competition every week is what makes the program matter to players like him. The matchup also carries real national weight because these two teams have not met since 2016, when Bishop Gorman beat St. John Bosco 35-20 in California.
Last Friday offered a short but revealing look at Bishop Gorman’s offense. The Gaels beat Losee 41-0 after one half, with the game called at halftime because of persistent lightning delays. Ace Amina started that game and completed four passes for 70 yards while adding a touchdown, while Chance Thomas finished both of his passes for 21 yards and ran for a 1-yard touchdown.
That is why the quarterback situation matters this week. Brent Browner did not name a starter for St. John Bosco, and said both Thomas and Amina may see action. He said he wished the team had a little longer on the field so both could do more, but added that each quarterback did good and brings something different. The issue is not whether Bishop Gorman has options. It is how quickly Browner decides which one to lean on when the opponent is ranked No. 1 in the country.
Koa Malau’ulu, a three-year starter who threw for 33 touchdowns last season, gives Bishop Gorman another layer of depth as the stakes rise. Tamatoa Gaoteote called it a blessing to play Bosco and said the Gaels came to Bishop Gorman to face the best of the best. He said the team goal is to be national champions, and that playing top competition is how that standard gets tested.
Bishop Gorman is also expected to take part in the inaugural four-team Overtime Nationals postseason tournament, which gives Friday’s game even more meaning beyond a single night. The immediate question is simple: when the ball is kicked off at 7 p.m. Friday, which quarterback will be the one asked to settle the Gaels against the top-ranked team in the nation?
