This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
When some Bingham High football fans heard the Miners were facing a team ranked No. 1 in the country, their reaction was that Utah's defending 5A champion might not be up to the task.
But veteran Miners coach Dave Peck said his team is looking forward to playing five-time defending Nevada state champion Bishop Gorman on Friday night in Las Vegas.
"My response is, 'What a great opportunity for our program,'" Peck said as he prepared his players for a 6 a.m. bus ride to Nevada on Thursday morning. "This is a great opportunity for our kids to showcase what Utah football is like. Our kids are well-coached and well-prepared. We expect to play a good game."
That said, Peck is realistic enough to know that the Catholic school from southern Nevada will definitely challenge the Miners' 16-game winning streak, currently the longest in Utah.
USA Today ranks the Gaels as the top high school football team in the U.S. Bishop Gorman is ranked third by PrepNation and eighth in the MaxPreps Excellent 25.
Bingham has been moving up in the national polls. The Miners are currently ranked 18th by USA Today, 23rd by PrepNation and 24th in the MaxPreps Excellent 25.
"Bishop Gorman averages 290 [pounds] along its front line," said Peck. "They are big and physical. They have a great team. We expect our kids to compete."
The Gaels switched quarterbacks last week in a 48-27 win over Servite, Calif. According to David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, sophomore Tate Martell replaced senior Danny Hong to jumpstart the Bishop Gorman offense.
Peck called the Gaels' stadium the nicest prep facility in the nation.
"It looks like a small college," he said.
The veteran coach expects a number of Bingham supporters and Utah fans to be in the stands and said tickets were still on sale at Bingham High School.
Peck feels as though the long ride and the chance to play against a nationally-ranked foe provides many benefits to his team.
"We pride ourselves in running a class program, and this gives them a chance to showcase themselves," he said. "They are fine young men who represent Utah well. When the kids spend time together, they get closer and get to bond real quick. It's us against them. The kids have to be ready to play the best game they have ever played if we expect to be in this game."
Twitter: @tribtomwharton
Football schedule
Thursday
• Highland 28,Northridge 6
Friday
All games at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted
• Summit at Layton Christian, 4 p.m.
• Monticello at Richfield, 6 p.m.
Alta at Timpview
Altamont at Milford
ALA at South Summit
Beaver at Parowan
Ben Lomond at Morgan
Bingham at Morgan
Box Elder at Bear River
Brighton at Granger
Cedar at Skyline
Clearfield at Layton
Cyprus at Copper Hills
Davis at Taylorsville
Delta at Emery
• Diamond Ranch at Whitehorse
East at Whitehorse
Enterprise at Millard
Fremont at Roy
Grand at North Sevier
Grantsville at Manti
Hillcrest at Murray
Hunter at Herriman
Hurricane at Herriman
Jordan at Pleasant Grove
• Kanab at Monument Valley
Kearns at Cottonwood
Lehi at Pine View
Logan at Bountiful, KJZZ
Minico (Idaho) at Sky View
• Mountain Crest at Syracuse
• North Sanpete at Maple Mountain
• North Summit at Gunnison
Ogden at Wasatch
Olympus at West Jordan
Orem at American Fork
Park City at Judge
Provo at Mountain View
Rich at West Side (Idaho)
Riverton at Dixie
Salem Hills at Juab
San Juan at South Sevier
• Snow Canyon at Juan Diego
Spanish Fork at Payson
Springville at Stansbury
Tooele at Canyon View
Uintah at Union
Weber at Bonneville
West at Lone Peak
• Westlake at Corner Canyon
• Woods Cross at Viewmont
• Bingham at Bishop Gorman (Nev.), 8 p.m.