Bishop Gorman safety Nicco Fertitta in hot seat versus St. John Bosco

LAS VEGAS — His dad is Lorenzo Fertitta, the principal shareholder for Station Casinos and Ultimate Fighting Championships.

His older brother Lorenzo Jr. and cousin Frank played before him at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.).

So, being the young buck, senior strong safety Nicco Fertitta had a lot to live up to. He's been on the hot seat. There's only one way to shine through.

"Hard work," Nicco said.

Said Gorman coach Tony Sanchez: "If you watch him practice, he's an everyday grinder."

But at 5-foot-9 and 178 pounds, grinders tend to play a lot of special teams. And that's about it.

But Fertitta, in many ways, is the heart and soul of Gorman, the top team in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings which takes on No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) 6 p.m. Friday in a nationally televised game. With Bosco boasting the nation's top-rated pro-style quarterback in Josh Rosen, Fertitta will once again be on the hot seat.

But that's nothing new for him.

A four-year letterman, Fertitta has gradually grinded his way to the top of the Gorman hit list, as big bashers from the secondary. He's earned a scholarship to Notre Dame and more importantly around Gaels' camp, utter respect among the coaching staff and peers.

"He's a great, great kid," Sanchez said. "There's a perception that when you come from a real successful family that it has something to do with it. It has nothing to do with it. He's a flat out football player."

He made the defensive play of the year for Gorman,

Utah power Bingham was going in for what looked to be a game-winning touchdown, but instead Fertitta came off the edge, recorded a sack, forced a fumble and Gorman recovered.

It preserved a 23-20 overtime win and their national title dreams. A win against Bosco would put Gorman in prime position to take home their first mythical national crown.

As usual, Fertitta, who earlier made a key interception. was humble in victory.

"I can't even take credit for that play," Fertitta told Dave Schoen of the Las Vegas Nevada-Journal "That's my defensive coordinator (Kenny Sanchez) and my defense setting me up for that play. We all fought hard. It was a great game. Bingham's a hell of a team. You know, winners find a way, and that's what we did."

Fertitta has found a way despite his size and pressure to succeed. He's also had to tone out critics who think that he's succeeded on the field largely because of family's influence.

"His last name doesn't have anything to do with how he plays football," Sanchez said. "Obviously, it does because he has a great sense of worth ethic and a great sense of achievement, but he uses it to work harder and not be complacent."

Sanchez, himself was an undersized receiver, earned All-State honors in California and eventually earned a scholarship to New Mexico State. He believes the critics help motivate Fertitta.

"You have to have a chip," he said. "It's what drives you. The more successful you are the more naysayers you're going to have. As many people cheering for you, there's more cheering against you."

Besides his work ethic and chip on his shoulder, Sanchez said Fertitta has a great feel for the game.

"He has phenomenal instincts," Sanchez said. "His play recognition, his understanding of the game, down and distance, his situational awareness is unbelievable.

"Beyond that, his physicality is fantastic and he's a very good athlete. He puts himself in the right position and being a good tackler, he's as good as anyone we've had around here."

Q&A with Nicco Fertitta

Mitch Stephens: Can you describe your journey here at Bishop Gorman, especially with your brother and cousin in the program?
NF: It's been unlike anything else. Being on the field at the same time as my brother and cousin at the same time was unbelievable. It's been an amazing experience to just work my way up from being a freshman on the varsity and not get much playing time and then starting just one game as a sophomore. It's very cool to finally being my year. I get to take on a leadership role like guys like Ronnie Stanley and Shaq Powell had. It's cool to be in their shoes.

MS: Your team was ranked No. 1 in the country to start the year by USA Today/ESPN. Today you are No. 1 in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings. Is that a burden or something you embrace? 
NF: We definitely embrace it. It's an honor to be No. 1. It's something that doesn't allow you to be complacent. It gives you confidence, but you can't get arrogant about it. Nothing has changed how we all work. We're focused all on the same thing. We're ready to keep going.

MS: Are you a big Ultimate Fighting fan? Do you engage in it?
NF: Not so much in Ultimate Fighting. I'm a big boxer. I don't mix it up much, but I love to box. I started around when I was 10 years old, maybe even younger.

MS: Is there anything comparable, playing the secondary to Ultimate Fighting or boxing?
NF: I've done a little wrestling and that's more comparable. The thing that really translates into football is tackling. Stuff like wrapping up legs and that type of stuff. I think it helps.

MS: Are you an MMA fan?
NF: Of course. I watch all the fights. I'm a big fan.

MS: Are you a big fan of your last name? Like your team being No. 1, do you embrace it or is it a giant burden?
NF: I guess a little of both. I embrace it because people can hate on it all they want, but at the end of the day, it shows that all the success has attained as been achieved through nothing but hard work. I'm proud of it. I'm proud of what he does and proud of the success he's had. At the same time, it definitely gets hard sometimes because I want to be my own person. But I don't' resent it at all. I take it with full pride.

MS: That's great. Really is. But I imagine if you read too much, it can get wearing.
NF: It happens a lot. Recently I read after committing to Notre Dame, someone wrote he's only going to Notre Dame because his dad is who he is, which is completely false because anyone who knows me knows my work ethic. I've earned it. A prestigious university with all its history isn't going to just give it away. It's earned.