April 30, 2023

Cub Football - 2023 Season Preview - schedule change - top players - Cubs in college football

2023 CUB FOOTBALL PREVIEW

As fall practice is just a little over three weeks away, optimism is building for the 2023 Cub Football campaign.

There are ample reasons to expect good fortune for Loyola this fall. By all indications the team possesses the type of chemistry that bodes well for success. That, coupled with 13 returning starters including more than a few college-caliber athletes in every class makes a shot at a fourth consecutive Angelus League title a realistic possibility.

Last year's Angelus League tri-champ squad (7-6) made it to the CIF Division 6 semifinals. This team could prove stronger based on an much improved offensive line, a deeper and very talented receiving corps, a fast, athletic defense that features a top notch linebacker unit and secondary, and an influx of highly talented players from the 2022 undefeated, Angelus League champion freshman team.

RETURNING STARTERS WHO EARNED 2022 HONORS
(In alphabetical order)
JAKE ARELLANO (5-10, 173), DB, Sr. (138 total tackles, 49 solos, 6 TFL, 1 interception, 6 passes deflected, All-Angelus League)

BRANDON LOCKHART* (6-2.5, 175), DB, Sophomore (in 11 games as varsity starter as a freshman, 11 passes deflected (second on team), team leading 3 fumbles caused, tied for team leading 3 fumbles recovered, 52 total tackles, 32 solo, Freshman All-American, All-Angelus League)

ISAIAH SANDERS (6-3, 223), DL/Edge, Sr. (team leading 27 hurries, team leading 7.5 sacks, team leading 14 TFL (70 total), All-CIF, All-Angelus League, committed to UC Davis

SCOTT  TAYLOR (6-3, 225), OLB, Jr. (9 TFL, 4 sacks, 16 hurries, 89 total tackles, 38  solo, All-Angelus League)

RYAN TURK (6-4, 285) OL, Sr. (Three-year starter, All-Angelus League - committed to Dartmouth)

CHAMP WESTBROOKS (6-5, 271) OL, Sr. (Three-year starter, All-Angelus League - committed to Arizona State)

A LOOK AT OTHER RETURNING STARTERS/MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS
Senior KHALIL CUEVA (5-11, 175) came off an injury to have a big season last fall. The sure-handed speedster will lead a receiving corps that has some special talent.

Senior kicker/punter MARK HYAN (6-4, 210) has an exceptionally strong leg and two years of varsity experience. He was lauded by the Los Angeles Times as one of the best kickers in the Southland.

Other players who started multiple games include senior offensive lineman LUKE HARRISON (6-4, 275, he is one of the squad's strongest and most improved players); senior DBs CHAZ AUSTIN (5-10, 165) and ELIJAH BRADLEY (6-1, 185); junior inside linebacker HENRY CASANI (6-2, 205); senior running back JUSTIN SMITH (5-11,180) and junior RB DESI VALDES (5-9, 175). 

Junior center JOHN FRANCIS (6-0, 275) is coming on with a good offseason, but sophomore NELSON PYE (5-11, 257) is in the hunt at the pivot.

Senior CARSON REAL (6-4, 225) is expected to be the starting tight end, with SCOTT TAYLOR seeing some double duty at the position.

The battle for the signal calling job looks to favor junior THOMAS KNYAL (6-0, 175), who progressed well in summer competition. Sophomore JACK THOMAS (5-11, 170), who helped lead the 2022 Freshman team that averaged 48 points per game to an undefeated season, is hot on Knyal's heels.

Westbrooks is expected to see some double duty on the defensive line, where he will create havoc. Junior RONAN O'ROURKE (6-2, 201) is making a push to be in the DL rotation, as is junior JACK SIMIC (6-1, 241) who also adds to OL depth.

A number of outstanding rising sophomores from last season's undefeated Angelus League championship team will start on the varsity this fall. Inside linebacker RONEN ZAMORANO (6-2, 205) is a star in the making as is wide receiver JOSH GALLAGHER (5-10, 165). Gifted athlete NATHAN TURK (6-3, 258) will start next to his brother, Ryan, at right guard. Offensive lineman PATRICK PELLEGRINI (6-4, 270) will see action on the offensive line. Talented skill player PETER SCIARRINO (5-11, 176) played well at safety all summer. MAX MEIER (6-4, 220) brings athleticism to the defensive line, where he is expected to have an impact campaign.

NEWCOMERS ENHANCE ROSTER 
Senior LUKE HYAN (6-2, 180) decided to return to football for his final year, and the athletic wide receiver is expected to be a key member of the receiving rotation after an impressive summer. Long, athletic sophomore transfer BRYCE COLEMAN (6-3, 170) will likely add in a big way to the receiving rotation and will also see action in the Cub secondary.

CUBS END SUMMER COMPETITION WITH GOOD SHOWING IN WESTSIDE PASSING TOURNAMENT
Loyola made it to the semifinal playoff round of the Westside Passing Tournament on July 8 where it lost to tournament host Culver City by a score of 20-12. Three controversial pass interference calls against the Cubs aided the Centaurs. Loyola posted victories over Dominguez, Mira Costa, Torrance and San Pedro. Their lone loss was to North Torrance in pool play. The Saxons held on for a 14-12 upset win.

JOSH GALLAGHER made his impressive summer debut after concentrating on soccer for most of the offseason. The speedy sophomore athlete led Loyola with four touchdown catches. Senior wide receiver KHALIL CUEVA hauled in three TDs, one a spectacular contested grab in the back of the end zone against Culver City.

Senior tight end CARSON REAL scored two TDs as did sophomore running back CADIN FETTERS. Sophomore wide receiver BRYCE COLEMAN also had a touchdown reception.

Over the course of six games Loyola made four interceptions. The picks were by senior corner CHAZ AUSTIN, senior safety JAKE ARELLANO, sophomore linebacker RONEN ZAMORANO and sophomore safety PETER SCIARRINO. 

Junior signal caller THOMAS KNYAL took most of the snaps on the day, but soph QB JACK THOMAS also showed well.

REVISED/UPDATED LOYOLA VARSITY SCHEDULE
August 25          @ Damien
September 1      Culver City
September 8      Leuzinger
September 15    @ Chaminade
September 22    Oaks Christian
September 29    @ St. Francis*
October 6           St. Paul*
October 13         @ Crespi*
October 20         Paraclete*
October 29         @ Cathedral* 
(* denotes Angelus League game)

LOYOLA PLAYERS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2023
Over 30 Loyola grads will be competing on college football teams this fall at schools from Storrs, Connecticut to Los Angeles; Northfield, Minnesota to New York City; Fort Worth, Texas to Princeton, New Jersey; Grinnel, Iowa to Berkeley; Austin, Texas to Chicago.

Here is the current list of Cubs participating in college football (in alphabetical order):
NICK ANDERSON ‘20, OL (Denison)
SINJUN ASTANI ‘17, DL (USC)
CHAD BAILEY ‘20, DB (Tulane)
JP BAUTISTA (Pasadena College)
NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA ‘19, K (Mississippi State)
GEORGE CARATAN '18 , P (Connecticut)
JAC CASASANTE ‘18, LS (USC)
COLIN CRUCE ‘22, OL (Bowdoin)
JORDAN HEWITT '23, DB (UCLA)
ALEX JOHNSON '18, DB (UCLA)
JEFFREY JOHNSON '21, TE (Cal)
JACOBY KELLY ‘22, WR (Cerritos College)
ANDREW KOZHAYA ‘21, DL (Grinnel)
LEIGHTON LINE '23, DL (Cal Lutheran)
CARTER LINK ‘20, LB (SMU)
SHAWN LIN ‘22, DL (Columbia)
CONNOR McDOWELL ‘21, DB (Angelo State)
BLAKE NEITHART ‘20 DB (Carleton)
TAHJ OWENS ‘22, DB (Princeton)
JACK PARIS '23, OL (MIT)
RYAN QUINTANAR ‘20, LB (TCU)
XAVIER RICE '23, QB (Duquesne)
DAKOTA SMITH '18, LB (Minnesota State)
PATRICK SODL ‘22, LB (Columbia)
ZAKHARI SPEARS ‘21, DB (Connecticut)
HENRY STICKLER '21, WR (SMU)
JACK SUSNJAR '23, OL (USC)
JOE TATUM ‘22, QB (Texas)
EVAN THOMAS ‘20, DB (UCLA)
PETER VANIS '23, WR (TCU)
WILKE WILES '23, WR (University of Chicago)
HOLMES WORMALD '23, TE (Merchant Marine Academy)
CEYAIR WRIGHT ‘21, DB ( USC)
SAM YOON ‘22, OL (UCLA)
BRAYDEN ZERMENO '21, QB (Connecticut)