After watching Bishop Gorman win nearly every state championship since 2009, Nevada's public high schools are doing something they've never done: they're creating their own playoff system without private schools. Starting next season, public schools will compete separately for the state title while private schools like Gorman form their own bracket. It's not about bitterness. It's about letting kids actually compete for something they can win.
If you've got a high schooler playing football at Liberty, Arbor View, Desert Pines, or any of the valley's public programs, this changes everything. For years, these teams would grind through their seasons knowing that even if they made it to the state game, they'd probably face Gorman's nationally ranked roster full of D1 commits. Liberty pulled off the lone upset in 2019, but that was the exception in 15 years. Now your kid's team has a real shot at a championship they can actually hang a banner for.
The decision comes after years of debate about competitive balance. Gorman recruits nationally and plays a schedule against top programs from across the country. They're excellent, no question. But public schools are bound by attendance zones. They get the kids who live in their neighborhood, period. It's not exactly apples to apples.