Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 | 2 a.m.
Kris Cinkovich stood on the sidelines last fall as the Bishop Gorman football team hosted Mater Dei of California in a battle between two of the nation’s premier prep programs.
He was impressed. “Just big and fast,” he said.
Cinkovich’s Las Vegas High teams dominated the early 2000s, but since 2009, Bishop Gorman has rewritten the record books. The Gaels have captured every state championship but one over that span, establishing such overwhelming dominance that the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association has repeatedly restructured its alignment — schools have simply grown weary of facing the powerhouse.
But could Cinkovich’s squads have changed that narrative?
“Ultimately, we would have been outmanned,” the coach said. “We didn’t have guys like that. Most impressive was the speed. We couldn’t duplicate that. And we weren’t that big up front.
“But we were coached well, and with a few breaks, I’d like to think (a hypothetical game) would be watchable.”
His Las Vegas teams were impeccably organized and disciplined, winning the state title in 2001, 2005 and 2006.
They featured some of the city’s elite talent, including linebacker Chad Pool and defensive lineman Billy Winn, who went on to a six-year NFL career.
“We were the last dynasty before Gorman,” Pool said. When asked how his Wildcats teams compare, Pool offered a direct assessment: “The Gorman dynasty is on another level. It bums me out.”
Gorman’s dominance is clear: 11 of the 25 players on the Sun’s quarter-century team are former Gaels.
Offense
Quarterback: Tate Martell, Bishop Gorman (2014-16)
Martell was the national player of the year in 2016 after leading Gorman to its third straight undefeated season and USA Today national championship. He passed for 113 career touchdowns with just nine interceptions in three seasons, completing 60% of his passes for 7,507 yards.
After high school: Played collegiately at Ohio State, Miami and UNLV.
Running back: Donnell Pumphrey, Canyon Springs (2010-12)
Tallied 4,152 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns over three seasons, and averaged nine yards per carry.
After high school: Rushed for an NCAA record 6,405 yards in four seasons at San Diego State. Was with the Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons, including in 2018 when they won the Super Bowl.
Running back: Antoine White, Las Vegas (2000-01)
White’s senior season was legendary: 2,949 yards and 48 touchdowns in leading the Wildcats to the state title. He had 74 career touchdowns.
After high school: Played in junior college for Feather River of California.
Wide receiver: Ryan Smith, Bishop Gorman (2009-12)
Had 132 career receptions for a state-record 3,208 yards and 51 touchdowns during a four-year career with Gorman. The Gaels only lost four games during his tenure.
After high school: Played collegiately at Duke.
Wide receiver: Rome Odunze, Bishop Gorman (2017-19)
Had 121 career catches for 2,699 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns.
After high school: Was an all-American at the University of Washington; second-year pro with the Chicago Bears.
Tight end: Brevin Jordan, Bishop Gorman (2014-16)
Had 100 receptions for 1,788 yards and 26 touchdowns over three seasons. As a senior, caught 63 passes for 1,111 yards and 14 touchdowns.
After high school: Played collegiately at Miami; In fifth NFL season with Houston Texans.
Offensive line: Troy Fautanu, Liberty (2016-18)
He’s arguably the best player in Liberty history. And Liberty has been a powerhouse for most of the century.
After high school: Played collegiately at the University of Washington; in second NFL season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Offensive line: Ronnie Stanley, Bishop Gorman (2009-12)
Stanley arguably stands as the greatest player to emerge from Las Vegas in the last 25 years. His credentials speak for themselves: an exceptional college career at Notre Dame, followed by a remarkable decade-long tenure in the NFL with the Ravens. Stanley was a three-year starter at Gorman, which went 43-3 and finished ranked in the top 10 nationally.
After high school: Stanley is in his 10th NFL season with the Ravens.
Offensive line: Tyrell Crosby, Green Valley (2011-13)
Crosby was a force on both sides of the ball during his three seasons at Green Valley, ultimately ranking among the nation’s top offensive tackle recruits.
After high school: Stated four years at the University of Oregon; played four seasons in the NFL with the Lions.
Offensive line: Seuseu Alofaituli, Bishop Gorman (2022-24)
It’s rare for an offensive lineman to be named state player of the year. Then again, few dominated like Alofaituli. Rated as the nation’s No. 1 offensive guard recruit for the Class of 2025, he played in the Under Armour All-American Game and led Gorman to the 2023 national title.
After high school: Finished his first collegiate season at Miami.
Offensive line: Jeremiah Poutasi, Desert Pines (2009-11)
Poutasi, a multiple-time all-state and all-league pick, was a four-star recruit and the nation’s 10th overall offensive guard prospect. Was named the top offensive lineman in the 2012 Offense-Defense All-America Game in Dallas.
After Desert Pines: Played in college at Utah and was a third-round NFL Draft pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2015. Also played with Jacksonville and Raiders.
Liberty High’s Kai Nacua celebrates with teammates and cheerleaders following the Patriots’ 59-20 victory against Coronado Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, in the Sunrise Regional title game. Liberty advances to next week’s state title game to face Bishop Gorman.
Photo by:
Stephen R. Sylvanie / Special to the Sun
Two-way: Kai Nacua, Liberty (2014-16)
Widely considered the best player in Liberty history — the school, after all, retired his jersey. A two-way standout, Nacua passed for 3,339 career yards and 33 touchdowns and rushed for 1,585 yards and 30 scores. Defensively, he had 69 career tackles and five interceptions.
After high school: Played three NFL seasons after a collegiate career at BYU
Kicker: Caden Chittenden, Faith Lutheran (2021-23)
Made 18 of 22 field goal attempts with a long of 57 yards as a senior. As a junior, made 17 of 22 field goals with a long of 56 yards.
After high school: Was the Mountain West Freshman of the Year at UNLV in 2024 before transferring to USC.
Defense
Defensive line: Billy Winn, Las Vegas (2004-06)
Winn started on the Wildcats’ back-to-back state title teams in 2005 and 2006, blocking a punt against Galena in the 2005 championship game to help the Wildcats break open a close game. Had 15 sacks and 81 tackles as a senior.
After high school: Had 117 tackles over six NFL seasons, most recently in 2020 with the Packers. Played collegiately at Boise State.
Defensive line: Lawrence Guy, Western (2005-07)
Guy had 89 tackles, including 20 for loss, and 12 sacks as a senior for the Warriors. Played is the U.S. Army All-American game as a senior after finishing his three-year career with 238 tackles and 30 sacks.
After high school: Spent 13 seasons in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Patriots.
Defensive line: Prince Williams, Bishop Gorman (2022-25)
One of the best defenders in Gorman history, Williams recorded 265 career tackles and 34 sacks over four state-championship seasons.
After high school: Will play collegiately at the University of Arizona.
Linebacker: Tony Fields II, Desert Pines (2014-16)
One of the most dominating players during Desert Pines’ run in the mid-2010s, Fields had 110 tackles and two interceptions as a senior in leading the Jaguars to the state championship. As a junior, had 93 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.
After high school: Recorded 88 tackles over four NFL seasons.
Linebacker: Palaie Gaoteote, Bishop Gorman (2015-17)
Had 240 career tackles (45 for a loss) and eight sacks over three seasons, receiving first-team All-America honors in 2017 from Max Preps. Helped Gorman win two national titles.
After high school: Played collegiately at USC and Ohio State.
Former Las Vegas High linebacker Chad Pool led the Wildcats to the 2001 state title and is widely considered the best linebacker to play in Las Vegas the past 10 years.
Photo by:
File photo
Linebacker: Chad Pool, Las Vegas (2000-2002)
Led Las Vegas to the 2001 state title as a junior with 132 total tackles, including 74 solo takedowns, 16 for a loss and six sacks. Had 24 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks as a senior.
After high school: Played collegiately at the University of Idaho.
Linebacker: Christian Thatcher, Arbor View (2021-24)
Established a Nevada record for tackles with 443 over a four-year career, helping Arbor View finally reach the state title game in 2024. Was a three-time all-state pick.
After high school: Played this fall at the University of Utah.
Linebacker: Ryan Reynolds, Bishop Gorman (2003-04)
Reynolds recorded 96 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss and six sacks as a junior before adding 106 tackles his senior year. His impact extended far beyond the stat sheet. As the area’s premier defender, Reynolds attracted a level of collegiate recruiting attention rarely seen in Las Vegas at the time — and in doing so, helped transform Gorman into a destination for elite talent. His success laid the foundation for the program’s two-decade run of dominance.
After high school: Played collegiately at Oklahoma.
Defensive back: R.J. Hubert, Moapa Valley (2013-15)
Hubert had 132 tackles and 12 interceptions in his final two seasons in dominating the lower-classification — which at the time included Desert Pines and other Las Vegas schools. Had 50 total touchdowns, including 12 in the return game.
After high school: Played collegiately at the University of Utah.
Defensive back: Jarrell Harrison, Palo Verde (2002-04)
A two-sport star who cemented his legacy as Palo Verde’s greatest athlete, Harrison led both the football and basketball teams to state championships. On the gridiron, he dominated on both sides of the ball, earning all-state honors at two positions while capturing Offensive Player of the Year as a senior — punctuating his final season with 22 total touchdowns. He threw for 763 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 683 yards and 13 scores.
After high school: Played collegiately at Missouri.
Safety: Jett Washington, Bishop Gorman (2023-25)
Washington is rated as the nation’s No. 22 overall prospect and No. 1 safety for the class of 2026. He had 11 career interceptions in leading Gorman to three state championships.
After high school: Will enroll this month at Oregon.
Punter: Gavin Wale, Coronado (2014-16)
Averaged 43 yards per punt during his senior season, when he was first-team all-league as both kicker and punter. Averaged 42 yards per punt as a junior. Made 15 of 19 career field goals.
After high school: Played at Boise State.
