Senior quarterback
Micah Alejado completed all four pass attempts on a game-winning drive in the final 90 seconds, putting his team at the 1-yard line before Miami commit
Elija Lofton plunged in for his fourth touchdown of the night.
Lightning pushed the opening kickoff back 90 minutes but both teams shook off the delay and showed why they are regarded as two of the nation's premier programs. Gorman and Central have combined for 22 state championships since 2000.
Audric Harris of Bishop Gorman was on the receiving end of this 31-yard touchdown pass from Micah Alejado in the first half. (Photo: Dion Roseberry)
After putting up 123 points in its first two games, Gorman wasted no time getting on the board Friday as Lofton scored from a yard out with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Gorman looked like it might be running away after a touchdown pass from
Micah Alejado to
Audric Harris and another TD run from Lofton to make it 21-7 in the second quarter. But sophomore
Jayden Ford of Central came up huge with a 95-yard kickoff return for a score to keep the Rockets within reach at 21-14 heading into halftime.
Jayden Ford kept Central alive with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown. (Photo: Dion Roseberry)
On the opening drive of the second half,
J.C. Evans took over under center and helped Central notch things at 21-21 with a three-yard rushing touchdown.
From there, both offenses went to another level. Alejado threw touchdown passes to
Brandon Gaea and Lofton. Central countered with TD strikes from both Evans and Smith, the latter a 14-yard TD to Ford to give the Rockets a 35-33 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
On the ensuing Gorman possession, Central recovered an Alejado fumble. After milking clock, the Rockets were unsuccessful on a long field goal attempt.
That gave the ball back to Alejado and the Gaels, who delivered a dramatic win and kept national championship hopes alive.
This was the third meeting between the two national powers with Central winning 24-20 in 2017 and Gorman evening the score 21-20 in 2021. Rain also delayed the start of the 2017 meeting by about an hour.
Bishop Gorman (3-0) continues its rugged schedule next week against another nationally-ranked opponent in No. 14
Centennial (Corona, Calif.).
Central (0-1) returns home to face Miami rival
Booker T. Washington next Friday.
Bishop Gorman backup quarterback Melvin Spicer made the most of his appearance in the first half. (Photo: Dion Roseberry)
