Sollenberger Classic: No. 10 Gorman and No. 24 Chaparral jump straight into fire

GLENDALE, Ariz. – There's no chance to warm-up. No time to refine and tinker.

The football teams at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.) are jumping straight into the fire.

The nation's No. 10 (Gorman) and 24 teams collide in the sixth annual Sollenberger Classic at beautiful and vast University of Phoenix Stadium, host of the Arizona Cardinals and the 2008 Super Bowl.

The first national showdown of the season takes place more than two weeks before Labor Day – a time normally high school teams take to finish up conditioning and polish up special teams.

Today each team will need to put together its best final product.

"We need to start fast and finish," Gorman running back and safety Shaquille Powell said at a posh and detailed press conference overlooking the pristine Phoenix Stadium field. "It's not going to be a problem."

The distraction at playing such a dreamy venue is another obstacle. Forget the fact that both teams are defending state champions and nationally ranked.

It's perhaps less of an issue for Chaparral, who won its 5A-II state crown on the same field in December, a 32-17 win over Centennial.

It helps the Firebirds that they return the nation's No. 2 ranked quarterback and field general Connor Brewer, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior who has committed to Texas.

"You can't come out too hyped, too crazy," said Brewer, who is known for his poise under pressure. "It's a big game and great atmosphere and we're definitely going to be excited, but not too the point where we forgot our game plan."

Gorman's plan, like always, is pretty simple. Behind and enormous and talented offensive line, led by 6-6, 295-pound Ronnie Stanley and 6-4, 300-pounder Ron Scoggins, pound the ball down the field with Powell, an immensely talented 5-10, 205-pound senior who has accounted for 49 touchdowns the last two seasons.

"We have to come out hard and fast and not hesitate," Stanley said. "We have to focus at the job at hand and not get caught up in the glamour."

Said Gorman strong safety and fullback Marc Philippi: "We just have to get the job done."

But slowing down Brewer, the nation's No. 28 recruit, and fleet wideout Davonte Neal, the nation's No. 25 recruit who accounted for than 1,600 yards to go along with 29 touchdowns last year, along with whom Chaparral coach Charlie Ragle said is arguably Arizona's top running back Lucas Petrullo (1,166 yards, 20 TDs) will be no easy task.

Gorman has five new starting defenders and is considered somewhat susceptible.

"Everyone knows we have these two super kids (Brewer and Neal) and that's all well and good, but what people are going to find out is we have some very good players up and down our roster," Ragle said. "We acknowledge Gorman has an exceptional team and are very well coached, but we're not in awe of anyone. We're pretty good too."

Ragle did acknowledge this, however. With 10 starters back on offense – including at least four Division I players, Gorman is going to be hard to slow down.

"That experience is hard to match-up with," he said. "They definitely have an advantage in that regard."
But Chaparral has more experience on this field.

"We definitely created some good feelings here last December," Petrullo said. "We're excited to play here and hope that carries over."

Said Powell: "It's an amazing atmosphere. You don't get this opportunity every day."

There's no rest for the weary in Gorman's case. On Friday, the Gaels host Armwood (Florida), the nation's No. 2 team.

"It's going to be a heck of a six days," Gorman coach Tony Sanchez said. "We better be ready."

NOTES: For the first time, there's a second Sollenberger Classic game, this one is defending Arizona 3A champion Show Low (Ariz.) against Nevada 3A runner-up Moapa Valley (Overton, Nev.). That game starts at 3 p.m. followed by the Gorman-Chaparral tussle at 7:30 p.m. …Hall of Fame guard and former Arizona High School legend Randall McDaniel was the keynote speaker and gave a truly heart-felt and honest presentation in front of all four teams and some 400 in attendance. … McDaniel attended Agua Fria (Avondale, Ariz.) HS and was – and still is – a physical freak. Despite his size (6-3, 287) he ran a 4.68 40, bench pressed 425, squatted 640 and dead-lifted 650. A track and field star, his best times were 10.60 in the 100 meters and 21.90 in the 200. … A model of consistency, McDaniel made 202 consecutive starts and made 12 consecutive Pro Bowls. He also never missed a day of school from kindergarten through high school. He was the first in his family to ever earn a college degree… Now a second-grade teacher, McDaniel still wakes at 4 a.m. to train before school. … His most general message was: "Put as much effort into the classroom as you put into athletics," he said. … Asked if he had any regrets during his career, he said. "Absolutely none. I wouldn't change a thing. If you're playing before 70,000 or 80,000 fans every Sunday how can you not have fun? Every day was a ball." ... More on the press conference and the Sollenberger Classic, go HERE. ... See McDaniel's Hall of Fame induction video. ... Chaparral defensive end and Arizona State-commit Jarvis Lewis is likely out after allegations he was recruited. Lewis transferred to Chaparral from nearby Kellis (Glendale) before the season.