With 11 seconds left and trailing by two, Bishop Gorman needed a miracle. They got one — and then another.
Senior quarterback Avery Reed threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to freshman Malia Browner with 11 seconds remaining, cutting Liberty’s lead to 28-26. The Gaels then attempted an onside kick (a fourth-and-15 from their own 25), but a pass interference penalty on Liberty gave Gorman the ball at the Patriots’ 45-yard line with six seconds to go.
On the final play, Reed found freshman Zehani English wide open on a post route for a 45-yard touchdown as time expired, giving the No. 5 seed Gaels a 32-28 victory over No. 4 Liberty in a Class 5A state quarterfinal Saturday.
“I’m proud of the girls. We had our ups and downs during the season, a lot of downs,” Gorman coach Brandon Pappillion said. “We’ve been on a high up and the girls played four quarters of football. Anything is possible when we get to the playoffs.”
Gorman (14-6) trailed 15-0 at halftime and had only 3 yards of net offense in the first half. Liberty (13-6) appeared to seal the win when Keala Siu intercepted Reed and returned it for a touchdown, putting the Patriots ahead 28-13 with 5:03 left.
The Gaels answered with a 34-yard TD pass from Reed to Browner to make it 28-19. After forcing a three-and-out, Gorman got the ball back with 31 seconds left, setting up the frantic finish.
Reed finished with 197 passing yards and five touchdowns, all in the second half, after starting 0-for-10. English had 77 yards on three catches, and Browner caught five passes for 99 yards and two TDs.
Liberty quarterback Charli Taylor threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns. Leone Pitchard had two scoring catches. The Patriots’ defense recorded five sacks and four interceptions.
“We felt like (Liberty) was up a little bit too tight, so we gave them a double move, gave it to our freshman sensation (Zehani English) and she took it to the crib,” Pappillion said of the game-winner.
Gorman advances to face No. 1 Arbor View in the semifinals Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Other playoff results
5A quarterfinals
- No. 1 Arbor View 44, No. 8 Basic 6: Danielle Morales had seven receptions for 105 yards and rushed for 25 yards. Freshman QB Camryn Carvell threw two TD passes. Arbor View hosts Gorman on Tuesday.
- No. 2 Shadow Ridge 27, No. 7 Palo Verde 0: Jaylani Palmer had 111 receiving yards and three TDs, plus two interceptions. Shadow Ridge hosts Desert Oasis on Tuesday.
- No. 3 Desert Oasis 44, No. 6 Tech 13: Nariyah Williams had five tackles and two interceptions for the Diamondbacks.
4A first round
- No. 1D Centennial 34, No. 4L Rancho 0: Sidonie Marchal passed for 250 yards and five TDs. Andrea Mitchell caught six passes for 100 yards and a score.
- No. 2S Green Valley 26, No. 2M Spring Valley 6: Lyla Baxter had six receptions for 163 yards and three TDs, plus a 80-yard pick-six.
- No. 2L Las Vegas 26, No. 3D Mojave 6: Wildcats advance to play at SLAM! Nevada on Monday.
- No. 1M Sierra Vista 35, No. 4S Sloan Canyon 0: Mackenzie Jenkins had four catches for 97 yards and two TDs, plus four tackles and an interception.
- No. 2D Legacy 40, No. 3L Mater East 14: Aniyah Burress passed for 195 yards and four TDs, rushed for 75 yards and two scores.
- No. 1L Virgin Valley 25, No. 4D Canyon Springs 6: Davie Slack passed for three TDs, ran for a score, and had two interceptions.
- No. 2S Cadence 20, No. 3M Clark 12: Lia McCray had six tackles and four sacks for the Cougars.
