No. 8 Mater Dei edges No. 2 Bishop Gorman in national top-rank showdown

Mater Dei High School's football team rebounded impressively from a tough 43-36 loss at Centennial to defeat Bishop Gorman of Nevada 27-24, maintaining their undefeated record against Bishop Gorman and boosting their national ranking to No. 8. Key performances included Ohio State commit Chris Henry Jr., who caught the game-winning 37-yard touchdown pass, and USC commit tight end Mark Bowman, who scored two touchdowns. Quarterback Ryan Hopkins overcame previous turnovers to effectively lead the offense, emphasizing resilience and a "next-play mentality." Mater Dei's victory over the No. 2 ranked Bishop Gorman has significant national championship implications, shaking up the Top 25 rankings. Coach Raul Lara highlighted the importance of overcoming adversity and reducing costly turnovers, which had plagued the team in their prior loss with seven turnovers resulting in 30 points for the opponent. The game was marked by strong defensive plays, momentum swings, and a competitive atmosphere under clearing skies after earlier rain in Las Vegas.