FINAL: Despite slow start, No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Nev.) rolls past No. 25 East St. Louis (Ill.) in national bout

No. 3 Gaels get big night from three-star senior quarterback Maika Eugenio and 3 TDs from three-star sophomore sophomore Zyren Menor in win

Bishop Gorman quarterback Maika Eugenio had a big game as he helped his No. 3 Gaels roll past No. 25 East St. Louis (Illinois) in Las Vegas on Friday night. / Jules Karney

One of the biggest games in the country happens tonight as No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Nevada) takes on No. 25 East St. Louis (Illinois) at Bishop Gorman High School. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. PT.

Bishop Gorman enters this matchup riding a dominant 3-0 start. The Gaels have looked strong at both ends of the field, blanking Las Vegas Centennial 52-0, shutting out Kahuku (Hawaii) 38-0, and were handling Highland Lone Peak (Utah) 35-14 before an altercation forced a forfeiture - which resulted in an official 2-0 win for the Gaels.

Their offense has been efficient, their defense stingy, and their roster loaded with high-level recruits.

East St. Louis, meanwhile, is looking for its first win after a heartbreaker in Week 1. In the opener, the Flyers nearly upset No. 11 Bergen Catholic in the high-stakes Battle of the Beach, taking a late lead before giving up a blocked punt returned for a touchdown and a two-point conversion to lose. The Flyers will want to settle nerves, execute cleanly, and minimize mistakes in this road test.

The matchup will likely be decided in Bishop Gorman's ability to impose its will in the trenches and control tempo. Their balanced attack - led by senior Maika Eugenio at quarterback and several strong playmakers at running back and wide receiver - gives them multiple threats. On defense, their front line and secondary have been making big plays and stuffing runs.

For East St. Louis, the key will be how well their offense can threaten from both passing and rushing, and whether their defense can bend without breaking. Junior running back Myson Johnson-Cook, rated No. 27 nationally in his class by On3, is one of the country's top recruits at his position. The Flyers will rely on his playmaking ability, along with disciplined defense and sharper special teams after last week's breakdown.

East St. Louis senior receiver Armaad Sharp is a key player to watch in the Flyers offense. / Ricky Slaughter

This is a marquee early season clash that could tell us a lot about national rankings, depth, and how quickly East St. Louis can rebound under pressure. Bishop Gorman enters as the heavy favorite, but East St. Louis has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Players to Watch

Bishop Gorman Gaels (3-0)

Maika Eugenio, QB, sr. - Hawaii commit; 53-63 passing for 836 yards, 11 TDs, 1 INT; team's leading rusher with 106 yards on 7 carries (15.1 YPC)

Jett Washington, S, sr. - Five-star recruit; Oregon commit

Hayden Stepp, CB, jr. - Four-star recruit

Noah Cole, RB, soph. - 11 carries, 79 yards, 1 TD

Braylen Rayford, RB, fr. - 2 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD

Terrance Grant, RB, jr. - Four-star recruit; 6 carries, 49 yards

Zyren Menor, WR, soph. - Three-star; team leader with 229 yards and 4 TDs on 9 catches

Isaiah Nickels, WR, sr. - Hawaii commit; 12 catches, 164 yards, 4 TDs

Massiah Mingo, WR, sr. - 11 catches, 152 yards, 1 TD

Trent Walker, WR, jr. - 8 catches, 139 yards, 1 TD

Tamatoa Gaoteote, jr. - 27 tackles (2 for loss), 2 sacks

Jordan Lutu, jr. - 21 tackles (3 for loss), 3 sacks

Jsiah Leasau, jr. - 26 tackles (12 for loss), 5 sacks

Ocean Taufa, sr. - 19 tackles (6 for loss), 1 sack

Prince Williams, Edge, sr. - Arizona commit; 15 tackles (10 for loss), 3 sacks

Tayaun Lawrence, DL, soph. - Four-star; 13 tackles (5 for loss), 1 sack

Pesi Silva, soph. - 2 interceptions (team leader)

Fia Taufa-Langi, fr. - 1 interception

Alijah Simmons, sr. - 1 interception

Hudson Borsari, K, sr. - Hawaii commit

East St. Louis Flyers (0-1)

Reece Shanklin, QB, jr. - 7 of 9 passing for 109 yards in opener; also rushed 8 times for 25 yards

Myson Johnson-Cook, RB, jr. - Four-star; ranked No. 27 junior RB nationally by On3; 12 carries for 80 yards (long of 49), 1 TD; 1 catch, 20 yards

Ahmad Coleman, RB, jr. - 8 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD

Amir Tillman, RB, jr. - 6 carries, 23 yards; 1 catch, 12 yards

Armaad Sharp, WR/TE, sr. - Eastern Michigan commit; 2 carries, 56 yards (long of 31)

Ronnie Gomiller, WR/DB, jr. - Three-star; 2 catches for 18 yards; added 6 tackles

Randy Johnson, jr. - Led team with 8 tackles vs. Bergen Catholic

Jeremiah Reed, jr. - 6 tackles

Gregory Bell, jr. - 6 tackles

Jabarri Lofton, jr. - 4 tackles; 1 fumble recovery returned 50 yards

Raheem Floyd, CB, jr. - Four-star recruit

Kortez Rupert, WR, sr. - Indiana commit

Terrell Berryhill, OT, sr. - Purdue commit

Leon Howard, LB, sr. - Central Michigan commit

Cornell McIntosh, DL, sr. - Northern Illinois commit

Live Updates

	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	Final
East St. Louis	0	3	7	0	10
Bishop Gorman	0	14	14	7	35

Pregame

Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn was at midfield for tonight's coin toss. Bishop Gorman will receive.

First Quarter

Bishop Gorman returner Isaiah Nickels came up limping on the opening return.

PUNT! Bishop Gorman moved the ball into Flyers territory before the drive stalled. The Gaels pinned the Flyers inside their own 5 on the punt.

PUNT! East St. Louis punted it back to the Gaels 20 with 1:20 left in the first quarter.

SACK! Leon Howard gets a big sack for the Flyers as time expired on the first quarter. The Gaels are inside the red zone facing second down.

End 1: East St. Louis 0, Bishop Gorman 0

Second Quarter

TOUCHDOWN! Bishop Gorman quarterback Maika Eugenio flicked a 3-yard pass to sophomore receiver Zyren Menor to give the Gaels a 7-0 lead with 11:09 left in the second quarter.

SACK! Prince Williams, a captain for the Gaels, got a big sack to force a punt.

PUNT! The Gaels got a good bounce on the punt and take over at the East St. Louis 43 with 8:59 left in the first half.

PUNT! The Gaels punted it back into Flyers territory.

BIG PLAY! A huge run by Amir Tillman put the Flyers inside the Gaels 10.

FIELD GOAL! East St. Louis settled for a short field goal from Damon Pruitt to trim the deficit to 7-3 with 3:56 left in the first half.

TOUCHDOWN! On the ensuing kickoff, Zyren Menor broke several tackles and sprinted up the right sideline for a house call. Gorman answered immediately to extend the lead to 14-3 with 3:30 left in the half.

SACKS! Prince Williams got his second sack of the first half - good for a 4-yard loss, and on the next play linebacker Jordan Lutu got another one to set up third-and-20.

PUNT! East St. Louis punted it back to the Gaels with 24 seconds left in the half.

BLOCKED FIELD GOAL! Bishop Gorman attempted to kick a 51-yard field goal with two seconds left int he half, but East St. Louis blocked it to end the half.

Halftime: Bishop Gorman 14, East St. Louis 3

Third Quarter

East St. Louis began the second half at its own 20. Sophomore quarterback Jadon Wilson opened the second half under center for the Flyers.

PUNT! The Flyers went three-and-out. A bad snap on the punt was rolled to the punter, who bobbled it and then punted it short. Gorman began its first possession of the second half at the Flyers 34.

TOUCHDOWN! Maika Eugenio found Massiah Mingo on a 39-yard strike. Gorman scored quick to extend its lead to 21-3 with 9:07 left in the thrid quarter.

TOUCHDOWN! East St. Louis answered with a short run by Ahmad Coleman to make it 21-3 with 4:26 left in the third quarter.

TOUCHDOWN! Zyren Menor scored his third touchdown, catching a 54-yard pass from Maika Eugenio and breaking a tackle to walk in with 2:32 left to make it 28-10.

BLOCKED PUNT! A bad snap on another punt attempt helped Gorman partially block the punt. The ball was downed at the Flyers 25 with 54 seconds left in the third.

INTERCEPTION! Maika Eugenio's deep pass was overthrown and Randy Johnson picked it off for East St. Louis in its own end zone with 22 seconds left in the third quarter.

The third quarter ended on a 30-yard run by Ahmad Coleman.

End 3: Bishop Gorman 28, East St. Louis 10

Fourth Quarter

East St. Louis began the fourth quarter with the ball on the 50.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Coming off a timeout on fourth and goal from the Gaels 5, East St. Louis looked to pass, but Gorman's Jett Washington raced off the left end and got a huge sack with 9:32 left.

TOUCHDOWN! Maika Eugenio ran in a short keeper with 7:41 left in regulation to make it 35-10, Gorman.

PUNT! The Flyers punted the ball back to Gorman with 3:55 left in the game.

FINAL: Bishop Gorman 35, East St. Louis 10

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