THE MATCHUP
What: Third Annual Barry Sollenberger Classic.
Teams: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) vs. Brophy Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Last season: Gorman went 14-0 and won the Nevada 4A state title; Brophy went 12-2 and won the Arizona 5A crown.
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium.
Returning starters: Gorman 9 (five on offense), Brophy 11 (eight on defense).
Top players: Gorman – DE Justin Chaisson (6-5, 265; 23 sacks last season), DE Xavier Trimble (6-5, 250), OL Vince Noctra (6-1, 240), LB Evan Pelelei (6-3, 230). Brophy – LB Matt Padilla (first team, all-state selected by coaches, 5-10, 205), LB Adam Holzmeister (5-10, 190), DL Seyi Adebayo (6-4, 225), DE Trenton Murphy (6-5, 235), DL Mike Tree (6-2, 240). .
MaxPreps computer state ranking: Gorman No. 4, Brophy No. 5
MaxPreps national ranking: Gorman No. 1,840, Brophy No. 321
Coaches: Bob Altshuler (Gorman), Scooter Molander (Brophy).
Gorman keys: Big, strong OL must be more physical than quick and fast Brophy front; Adjust to new vast, surroundings, New skill guys must handle ball.
Brophy keys: New skill guys must handle ball; Must not cheat on defense and let Gorman break long ones; New QB must not try to do too much.
Game honors: The late Barry Sollenberger, AIA sports information director and Arizona state historian.
Ticket/game information: http://www.aiaonline.org/
Live streaming of game: http://www.aia365.com/
Stephens tribute to Sollenberger: Click here.
Game story: Brophy wins defensive battle.
By Mitch StephensMaxPreps.com
GLENDALE, Ariz. – They were still a couple miles out on Friday, heading North via the team bus on Highway 101 when it came into view.
Like a meteor or distant tornado or magnificent sunset, at first it caught their collective breath.
Then, members of the Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) High School football team let it all out.
“There were a lot of ‘ooos,’ a lot of `ahs’ and then just a bunch of ‘ah mans,’ “ said junior linebacker and guard Evan Pelelei. “Frankly I was just speechless.”
That was the reaction when the Gaels first caught sight of the rather overwhelming architectural monstrosity that is the University of Phoenix Stadium, site of last year’s Super Bowl XLII, home of the NFL Cardinals and most important to these 47 teens, the venue for Saturday’s highly-anticipated Sollenberger Classic against defending Arizona 5A champion Brophy Prep of nearby Phoenix.
The spectacular state-of-forever-art $455 million structure is in the shape of a massive barrel cactus.
It features alternating sections of shimmering metal panels intended to reflect shifting desert light, a trend-breaking retractable translucent 206-foot high “Bird-Air” roof and a first-ever retractable natural grass 18.9-million-pound field.
This colossal cactus encompasses 1.7 million square feet of space.
“The place is just huge,” junior tight end and defensive end Xavier Trimble said.
If set in a straight line the stadium seats would stretch approximately 18 miles, the amount of concrete used on the stadium is equal to 900 miles of sidewalk (the distance between Phoenix and San Francisco) and the building’s air-conditioning system generates 8,000 tons of cooling capacity which could cool 2,300 homes in the Phoenix Area. See more stadium notes.
“It’s really spectacular,” senior lineman Vince Nicotra said.
This coming from dudes by way of not-so-rural ‘Vegas. Frankly, they’ve seen some things. But, quite frankly, nothing quite like this.
“It’s really a dream come true,” Trimble said. “This will be the first time I’ve played in a NFL stadium. I never really expected to do it. Certainly not in high school.”
The bigger-than-life setting sets a tone for by what some believe might be the largest non-playoff football game in each state’s history.
It pits two defending state champs in two growing regions seeking national respect.
Last season despite its second state crown in three years under Scooter Molander, Brophy Prep (12-2) finished No. 180 in MaxPreps’ final computer rankings. Bishop Gorman, which ran the table at 14-0 and played 12 games on the road, was No. 515.
“We can’t control all that, all the rankings,” returning Brophy Prep all-state linebacker Matt Padilla said. “We’re the defending Arizona state champion. They’re a defending Nevada state champion. That’s all cool but we have a game to decide.”
Said Gorman defensive end Justin Chaisson, the 30th top senior in the country according to CBS College Sports recruiting expert Tom Lemming: “It’s exciting to play in this great game and we’re ready to play them. But we can’t worry about last year. I’m worried about this year. We have a lot of new people learning our system.”
Both teams lost significant seniors from last season, leaving this one up for grabs.
Brophy graduated eight starters on offense, but return eight on defense giving it the slight edge.
Gorman returns all five starting offensive linemen, but must replace all skill starters and 25 seniors overall.
Asked if Gorman was rebuilding this season, second-year head coach Bob Altshuler said: “I’m too old to be rebuilding. We’re going to find a way to get it done. We lost a good group but we have good kids who are stepping up.”
It might be asking too much to have them step up in this almost surreal setting. Altshuler said the Gaels are used to road cooking after they played all of the regular season in 2007 season on the road because Gorman was under construction.
Besides, Altshuler said, the competition is good for Gorman and the exposure important. The Gaels play four out-of-state teams the first four weeks this season.
The Sollenberger Classic was finalized only about five weeks ago and the Arizona Interscholastic Association, which is putting on the event in conjection with the Cardinals, wants to turn it into an annual game pitting a defending Arizona champion against an out-of-state power.
“It’s competition and a chance for us to play at a higher level,” Altshuler said. “Having that respect and being recognized as a top team is what we really appreciate. We’ve worked hard to get to this place.”
Brophy coach Molander, who like Altshuler won a state title in his first season as head coach, also sees this game as a big opportunity.
Before 20,000 fans at the same venue, the Broncos won the 2007 state crown 34-21 over Desert Vista after defeating 2006 state champion and arch-rival Hamilton 24-14 in the semifinals. Brophy travels to Hamilton next week but Molander said the Broncos won’t hold anything back against Gorman.
“We definitely feel a sense of responsibility to the state of Arizona to play well,” Molander said. “We attend to play well.”
Said Brophy senior defensive end Seyi Adebayo: “We want to start our season and end our season right here with a win.”
All of the Broncos said they felt state bragging rights were a huge part of Saturday’s game.
“They could have picked any team in the state, but they chose us so we’re going out and giving it our all,” said third-year starting defensive end Trenton Murphy. “We feel honored. At first I felt a little overwhelmed by the hype, but then realized (the hype) is out of our control. Now I just see it as a great opportunity.”
Neither team has seen the other live, but each has loads of video tape from last season. With so many new starters, the tape might be somewhat obsolete.
The Gorman contingent is impressed with Brophy's discipline and defense: "They're definitely a solid team," Altshuler said. "On offense they run a lot of three-step drops, dives, punch it at you and then run the fly sweep. It's a nice little system. They really make you defend the entire field, just like we do."
Brophy seems most concerned with Gorman's speed and big-play prowess, but Molander said: "They do what typical top football programs do - they're athletic and smart, really run the football and are well coached. They accomplish all the finner things in the game."
Brophy senior linebacker Adam Holzmeister said Gorman has “Hamilton type speed. But we fly to the ball pretty good so hopefully that will take away their speed.”
Said Adebayo: “We have to be very disciplined with our assignments. We can’t let up ever otherwise they can bust one on us.”
Returning all-league defensive lineman Michael Tree said besides following orders and game plans, the game comes down to something more basic.
“It’s playing with passion,” he said. “That’s what we intend to do.”
NOTES: The game is expected to draw anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000, the latter was the total of the state title game last year. “The game and matchup is reason enough, but for no other reason fans can come and sit in a beautiful air-conditioned facility," AIA Director of Media Marketing Brian Bolitho said. … Temperatures have ranged from 105 to 109 in the Phoenix area this week. … Molander said his star LB Padilla’s toughness is unmatched: “He’s like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Off the field, he’s one of the nicest and quietist and most loving kids you’ll ever want to meet. On the field he truly has a nasty streak. He’s fearless.” … Said Padilla: “I just want to make a play every play.” … Bolitho said a trophy will go to the winner of the game, one for them to keep. This year’s trophy is the biggest Bolitho has ever seen. “Bigger than our state championship.” That’s just the way Sollenberger would have wanted it. “He loved big shiny trophies,” Bolitho said. … A 75-minute news conference at the stadium featuring 10 players, both coaches and both state athletic administrators took place Friday. ... For the first time since Molander took over he won't have Bryan Berens as his quarterback. Seniors Sam Quinif (5-11, 175) and Beau Maggi (6-1, 195) will share duties against Gorman. ... A camera crew from Toyota's Line of Scrimmage has followed around Brophy all week for a NBC fall show "America's gutsiest high school football teams." ... "None of it is a distraction," Padilla said. "We're always focused."
E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.