Select '17 Tracker: Bishop Gorman and St. John Bosco Move on to Championships While Olentangy Liberty's Suffers First Loss in Semifinals

OLD FASHIONED SHOOTOUT

Bellflower, California, St. John Bosco outlasted Corona Centennial, 49-47, on Friday night to clinch a berth in the Southern Section Division I Championship. The fourth quarter featured six lead changes, but the Braves stopped the Huskies near midfield on fourth down with just over two minutes left to seal the win.

“It was a dogfight,” Ohio State offensive guard commit Wyatt Davis told the Los Angeles Times. “It was probably the funnest game I've ever played in. There was never a dull moment.”

Bosco led 28-14 just after halftime, but Centennial scored the next 20 points to grab a 34-28 lead early in the fourth quarter.

The Braves returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to regain the lead, and then the Huskies struck back with a 40-yard touchdown pass just three plays later. The teams exchanges scores again, and Bosco quarterback Re-al Mitchell sprinted 63-yards for the game-winning score with five minutes remaining.

Bosco advances to the title game for the third-consecutive year, where it will face Mater Dei. The Braves squandered a seven point halftime lead to the Monarchs earlier this season and lost 26-21.

WITHIN REACH

Top-ranked Las Vegas, Nevada, Bishop Gorman found itself in unfamiliar territory as it trailed 10-7 halfway through the first quarter.

It lasted all of 13 seconds, as Ohio State quarterback commit Tate Martell tossed an 80-yard touchdown to give the Gaels the first of 36 unanswered points on their way to a 56-17 win over Arbor View in the Sunset Regional on Saturday afternoon.

Martell completed 12-of-23 passes for 268 yards and five touchdowns to help Gorman eliminate Arbor View from the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.

“We know that if we just start playing our game — which it just takes time — we know eventually it will happen,” Martell told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “And if we just start playing our game, then we'll spread it open like we did.”

The Gaels, having won 53-straight against in-state opponents, will now take on No. 21 Henderson Liberty in the Division 4A State Championship Game. With a win, the Gaels will lock down their eighth-consecutive state title and third-straight mythical national championship.

SO CLOSE

Ohio State commit Brendon White hasn't played more than a few snaps under center for Olentangy Liberty since injuring his ankle in early October, but nearly willed the Patriots to victory in Friday night's state semifinal game against St. Ignatius.

With Liberty trailing by two scores, White entered the game at quarterback and tossed a 26-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the second half to get the Patriots on the board. The Wildcats extended their lead to 10 early in the fourth quarter, but White — who finished with 203 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns — capped another scoring drive with a 7-yard score to cut the lead to three with only a few minutes remaining.

St. Ignatius, which will face Cincinnati St. Xavier for the state championship next week, scored on a 69-yard run just a few plays later to seal the win.

Patriots get to the 10 on Brendon White's 43-yard one handed grab but cannot score. #NEOvarsity #FridayHuddle pic.twitter.com/jwLFmov5FS

— Matt Goul (@mgoul) November 26, 2016