Bishop Gorman Football traveled to Draper, Utah to play against Corner Canyon High School last Friday, Aug. 18.

Friday night lights were back in action but so was adversity. After defeating Corner Canyon 44-7 last year, many thought the game would be a ‘walk in the park’ for the Gaels.

Powered by a number of high level athletes, the Corner Canyon offense drove down the field and scored four times in the first half alone.

Defensive Lineman Alijah Carnell ‘24 stated, “We have to go out there and set the tone. There were mistakes made on all levels that could have impacted the game dramatically.”

The Gaels, known for having a physically high powered defensive unit, faced a tough challenge in week one. Down 28-21 at halftime, the Gaels offensive unit was strong and took advantage of every opportunity they had. Being on the sideline for most of the first half, the offense kept the game extremely close.

Offensive Lineman Douglass Utu ‘25 said, “No matter the circumstances, we will always have faith in our defense.” He continued, “On the offensive side, we can only focus on our job to keep us in the game, and that’s what we did. We know when the time comes the defense will have our back, so we’re hoping to gain some momentum moving forward.”

Outscoring Corner Canyon 42-14 in the second half, things turned around for the Gaels as they left the locker room mid game. The offense continued to score and the defense began making big stops when it mattered most. With a final score of 63-42, the Gaels headed to Beaverton, Oregon to play against Long Beach Poly High School on August 25, 2023.