One hot showdown in Las Vegas: No. 2 Armwood vs. No. 9 Bishop Gorman

LAS VEGAS – It's supposed to be 109 degrees at game time for today's national showdown between No. 2 Armwood (Seffner, Fla.) and host Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.).

"That's just about how we like it," Bishop Gorman coach Tony Sanchez. "That's why we've practiced all summer at 3 p.m."

That's a politically incorrect thing to say and – more so – do during a summer when the heat has taken at least three lives on prep football fields. 

But Sanchez not only has studied and taken great precaution to prevent heat-related injuries, he's not afraid to go against the grain or speak out loud.

Just like his opposition tonight, Armwood coach Sean Callahan.

Like Gorman, Callahan points out his team practices every day at 3:30 p.m.

"It's about 100 degrees that time and it's a lot different than this dry heat," he said.

Everything about this matchup, which will feature more than 20 Division I athletes, is hot.

The weather. The coaches. The players. The talk.

There's no pulling of punches or much coachspeak with these two flashy programs.

"Bar none, (Armwood) is the most talented team I've ever coached against," Sanchez said.

Said Callahan: "We're normally the bigger and stronger team going in, but (Gorman) is just as strong and I'd say bigger."

Neither coach is going to given an inch, however, when breaking down the game.

"I wouldn't trade my guys for anyone," said Sanchez, whose team is coming off a resounding 42-22 win over then No. 24 Chaparral, outscoring its Arizona rivals by a 35-8 count in the second half. "We're fully healthy, riding a lot of confidence and champing at the bit."

Callahan's team is champing even more.

This is Armwood's first game and it's the first time the team has traveled out of state. The Hawks arrived late Thursday night, will have a walk through at noon time then get ready for the odd 6:04 p.m. kickoff time to accommodate national TV.

"Gorman can play with any team in Florida and that's saying a lot," Callahan said. "But there's 30 other team in Florida who can play with Armwood. I don't know that Gorman can say that about other teams in Nevada."

Obviously not and indeed Callahan's point is well taken.

Gorman has dominated Nevada competition the last two state-title seasons, winning by an average score of 52-8.
Meanwhile Armwood has been knocking at the door of a state title, last year losing in the state finals to Lincoln 17-14.

The Hawks return 16 starters off that team including 11 Division I commits. The best of the lot is running back Matt Jones, but he is out with a knee injury.

Darryl Richardson, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound junior, transferred in and will take over the quarterback spot. With Jones out, Richardson will take over, Sanchez predicts.

"I expect he'll run a lot more now with Jones out of there," Sanchez said. "He's a stud."

So are Wade Edwards, another superb running back, defensive lineman Sheldin Lewinson, linebacker Eric Striker and defensive backs Jarvis McCall and Leon McQuay.

Though Armwood is loaded with talent and used to the heat, the travel could be a factor.
Callahan said that 35 of the 54 who are traveling had never been on a plane before. Ten of those hadn't stayed at a hotel room.

"It's part of the experience," he said. "But we're not going down to vacation. This is a business trip."

It will be no picnic trying to slow down Shaquille Powell, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound dynamo who rushed for 300 yards and scored six touchdowns last week.

"He's very, very good," Callahan said. "But we've faced some great backs in Florida almost every week. We're not going to be scared of him."