Cub Football - A look back at each decade of Loyola football - Join the Loyola Gridiron Vanguard
A DECADE-BY-DECADE LOOK AT CUB FOOTBALL’S STORIED CHAMPIONSHIP LEGACY
The Loyola football game-by-game record book only go back to 1924, but the program has the sixth most victories in California prep gridiron history according to CalHi Sports, the definitive authority on the history of Golden State high school sports.
Here is a look at the highlights, including win-loss records, of each decade beginning with the 1930s.
THE THIRTIES (1930-1939)
Record: 54-18-3 (74% winning percentage)
Best seasons:
1935 (7-1, Head Coach Al Tassi, California State Catholic Champs, defeated San Francisco St. Ignatius)
1936 (7-1, Head Coach Al Tassi), defeated CIF Large Schools Champion L. B. Poly)
All-CIF players: 5
THE FORTIES (1940-1949)
Record: 62-11-3 (84%)
Best seasons:
1942 (7-0, Head Coach Tony DeLellis, Catholic League Champs, defeated CIF Large School Champ Redondo Union)
1945 (7-1-1, Head Coach Bill Sargent, Catholic Legue Champs)
1946 (10-1, Head Coach Bill Sargent, Catholic League Champs, CIF Large Schools Runners-up)
All-CIF players: 7 (Running back Al Pollard was CIF Player of Year in 1945 and 1946)
THE FIFTIES (1950-1959)
Record: 36-44-5 (45%)
Best seasons:
1950 (8-3, Head Coach Jack Bouchard, League Champs, CIF Large Schools semifinalists)
All-CIF players: 3
THE SIXTIES (1960-1969)
Record: 82-20-3 (80%)
Best seasons:
1961 (9-2, Head Coach Lew Stueck, Catholic League Champs)
1962 (12-0, Head Coach Lew Stueck, League Champs, CIF AAAA Champs)
1963 (12-0, Head Coach Mario DiMuro, League Champs, CIF AAAA Champs No. 2 in nation)
1964 (11-1Head Coach Mario DiMuro, League Champs, CIF AAAA Runners-up)
All-CIF players: 14 (RB Paul Horgan, RB Steve Grady and lineman Don Swartz were CIF AAAA Players of the Year in 1961, 1962 and 1963, respectively)
THE SEVENTIES (1970-1979)
Record: 65-36-3 (64%)
Best seasons:
1975 (13-0, Head Coach Marty Shaugnessy, Del Rey League Champs, CIF AAAA Champs, National High School Champs)
1977 (9-2-1, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs, CIF Big Five Conferenc semifinalists, defeated state’s number one ranked team Fountain Valley in quarterfinals)
1979 (11-1, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs)
All-CIF players: 18
THE EIGHTIES (1980-1989)
Record: 86-27-2 (76%)
Best seasons:
1983 (10-1, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs)
1987 (11-1, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs)
1988 (12-1, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs, CIF Div. I semifinalists)
1989 (10-2, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs, CIF Div. I semifinalists)
All-CIF players: 24
THE NINETIES (1990-1999)
Record: 100-27-1 (79%)
Best seasons:
1990 (12-2, Head Coach Steve Grady, Angelus League Champs, CIF Div. I Champs)
1991 (9-3, Head Coach Steve Grady, Angelus League Co-Champs, CIF Div. I semifinalists)
1992 (12-2, Head Coach Steve Grady, CIF Div. I Runners-up)
1995 (11-3, Head Coach Steve Grady, CIF Div. I Runners-up)
1996 (11-3, Head Coach Steve Grady, CIF Div. I Runners-up)
1997 (12-1, Head Coach Steve Grady, CIF Div. I semifinalists)
All-CIF players: 34 (Linebacker Drew Casani and DE Antoine Harris were CIF Div.I Players-of-the-Year in 1990 and 1996, respectively.)
FIRST DECADE OF 21st CENTURY (2000-2009)
Record: 76-42-1 (64%)
Best seasons:
2000 (12-2, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs, CIF Div. I Runners-Up, No. 15 in nation)
2003 (11-3, Head Coach Steve Grady, Serra League Co-Champs, CIF Div. I Champs)
2005 (10-4, Head Coach Jeff Kearin, CIF Div. I Champs
All-CIF players: 26 ( Quarterback/Safety Matt Ware, quarterback Scott Deke and quarterback Henry Burge were CIF Division I Players-of the-Year in 2000, 2003 and 2005, respectively.)
THE 2010s (2010-2019)
Record: 49-57-0) (46%)
2015 (9-3, Head Coach Marvin Sanders)
2019 (6-7, Head Coach Drew Casani, CIF Div. 4 Runners-Up)
All-CIF players: 16 (Linebacker Steven Arellano was CIF Division 4 Defensive Player-of-the-Year in 2019)
THE ROARING ‘20s (1924-1929)
The Cubs’ six-year record from 1924-29 was 25-13-4 (64%).
THE 2020s (2020-2021)
Loyola’s two-year record under head coach Drew Casani ‘91 from 2020-2021 was 12-4 (75%).
THE GREATEST DECADES
In terms of winning percentage, the 1940s was the best decade with victories in 84% of the 76 games played.
A strong argument can be made that the 1960s was the best decade in Cub Football annals. From 1962 until an upset in the CIF AAAA Championship game in 1964, Loyola won 35 consecutive contests, which still stands as a CIF Large Schools victory skein. The Cubs won two CIF AAAA titles (1962 and 1963) and were Runners-up in 1964. Loyola’s 80% winning percentage was the second best of all decades. Three players earned CIF AAAA Player-of-the-Year honors in three consecutive seasons, an unprecedented achievement..
The decade with the most wins (100) was the 1990s. The Cubs started the decade by winning the 1990 CIF Division I Championship. Loyola was the CIF Division I Runner-up in 1992, 1995 and 1996. It could be argued that the ‘90s was the top decade based upon four trips to the title game and an unprecedented six trips to the semifinal round of the CIF Division I playoffs.
The first five years of the inaugural decade of the Twenty-First Century were among the most impressive five-year runs during all decades from the ‘30s to the present. The Cubs lost an overtime heartbreaker in 2000 to national power L.B. Poly in the CIF Div. I title contest, and finished the campaign ranked 15th in the nation. Loyola made it to the CIF Div. I semifinals in 2002 and was crowned CIF Div. I Champion in both 2003 and 2005. Four trips to at least the CIF Div. I semifinal playoff round in five years is quite impressive.
Legendary head coach Steve Grady’s retirement in the spring of 2005 ended a three-decade run of incredible success. There have been a total of six head coaches at the reins of the program over the course of the last 17 seasons, which has no doubt impacted continuity and consistency.
The hiring of Cub icon head coach Drew Casani in 2019 was propitious as he is expected to hold the head coaching position long term, and he comes from a Loyola culture that saw the Cubs play in eight CIF Championship games in the span of just over three decades. In Casani’s first year at the helm he led Loyola to its 13th CIF title game, and his teams have won 75% of their games in the first three seasons of the Twenty-First Century’s third decade.
BLUE - WHITE DAY ON AUGUST 20
The Loyola intrasquad scrimmages will be held on Saturday, August 20, with the freshmen playing at 9:00 a.m., the sophomores at 11:00 a.m. and the varsity at 1:00 p.m.
SUPPORT CUB FOOTBALL - JOIN THE LOYOLA GRIDIRON VANGUARD
Plans are in the works for a Vanguard-hosted tailgate before the August 26th home opener against Damien. Vanguard members and a guest of each member will be invited. More information will be forthcoming in short order.
The Vanguard provides much needed financial and volunteer support to Loyola’s football program.
The link below provides sign-up information. The Vanguard’s goal is to grow to over 1,000 members this fall.
https://www.loyolahs.edu/lgv/
The Loyola football game-by-game record book only go back to 1924, but the program has the sixth most victories in California prep gridiron history according to CalHi Sports, the definitive authority on the history of Golden State high school sports.
Here is a look at the highlights, including win-loss records, of each decade beginning with the 1930s.
THE THIRTIES (1930-1939)
Record: 54-18-3 (74% winning percentage)
Best seasons:
1935 (7-1, Head Coach Al Tassi, California State Catholic Champs, defeated San Francisco St. Ignatius)
1936 (7-1, Head Coach Al Tassi), defeated CIF Large Schools Champion L. B. Poly)
All-CIF players: 5
THE FORTIES (1940-1949)
Record: 62-11-3 (84%)
Best seasons:
1942 (7-0, Head Coach Tony DeLellis, Catholic League Champs, defeated CIF Large School Champ Redondo Union)
1945 (7-1-1, Head Coach Bill Sargent, Catholic Legue Champs)
1946 (10-1, Head Coach Bill Sargent, Catholic League Champs, CIF Large Schools Runners-up)
All-CIF players: 7 (Running back Al Pollard was CIF Player of Year in 1945 and 1946)
THE FIFTIES (1950-1959)
Record: 36-44-5 (45%)
Best seasons:
1950 (8-3, Head Coach Jack Bouchard, League Champs, CIF Large Schools semifinalists)
All-CIF players: 3
THE SIXTIES (1960-1969)
Record: 82-20-3 (80%)
Best seasons:
1961 (9-2, Head Coach Lew Stueck, Catholic League Champs)
1962 (12-0, Head Coach Lew Stueck, League Champs, CIF AAAA Champs)
1963 (12-0, Head Coach Mario DiMuro, League Champs, CIF AAAA Champs No. 2 in nation)
1964 (11-1Head Coach Mario DiMuro, League Champs, CIF AAAA Runners-up)
All-CIF players: 14 (RB Paul Horgan, RB Steve Grady and lineman Don Swartz were CIF AAAA Players of the Year in 1961, 1962 and 1963, respectively)
THE SEVENTIES (1970-1979)
Record: 65-36-3 (64%)
Best seasons:
1975 (13-0, Head Coach Marty Shaugnessy, Del Rey League Champs, CIF AAAA Champs, National High School Champs)
1977 (9-2-1, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs, CIF Big Five Conferenc semifinalists, defeated state’s number one ranked team Fountain Valley in quarterfinals)
1979 (11-1, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs)
All-CIF players: 18
THE EIGHTIES (1980-1989)
Record: 86-27-2 (76%)
Best seasons:
1983 (10-1, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs)
1987 (11-1, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs)
1988 (12-1, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs, CIF Div. I semifinalists)
1989 (10-2, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs, CIF Div. I semifinalists)
All-CIF players: 24
THE NINETIES (1990-1999)
Record: 100-27-1 (79%)
Best seasons:
1990 (12-2, Head Coach Steve Grady, Angelus League Champs, CIF Div. I Champs)
1991 (9-3, Head Coach Steve Grady, Angelus League Co-Champs, CIF Div. I semifinalists)
1992 (12-2, Head Coach Steve Grady, CIF Div. I Runners-up)
1995 (11-3, Head Coach Steve Grady, CIF Div. I Runners-up)
1996 (11-3, Head Coach Steve Grady, CIF Div. I Runners-up)
1997 (12-1, Head Coach Steve Grady, CIF Div. I semifinalists)
All-CIF players: 34 (Linebacker Drew Casani and DE Antoine Harris were CIF Div.I Players-of-the-Year in 1990 and 1996, respectively.)
FIRST DECADE OF 21st CENTURY (2000-2009)
Record: 76-42-1 (64%)
Best seasons:
2000 (12-2, Head Coach Steve Grady, Del Rey League Champs, CIF Div. I Runners-Up, No. 15 in nation)
2003 (11-3, Head Coach Steve Grady, Serra League Co-Champs, CIF Div. I Champs)
2005 (10-4, Head Coach Jeff Kearin, CIF Div. I Champs
All-CIF players: 26 ( Quarterback/Safety Matt Ware, quarterback Scott Deke and quarterback Henry Burge were CIF Division I Players-of the-Year in 2000, 2003 and 2005, respectively.)
THE 2010s (2010-2019)
Record: 49-57-0) (46%)
2015 (9-3, Head Coach Marvin Sanders)
2019 (6-7, Head Coach Drew Casani, CIF Div. 4 Runners-Up)
All-CIF players: 16 (Linebacker Steven Arellano was CIF Division 4 Defensive Player-of-the-Year in 2019)
THE ROARING ‘20s (1924-1929)
The Cubs’ six-year record from 1924-29 was 25-13-4 (64%).
THE 2020s (2020-2021)
Loyola’s two-year record under head coach Drew Casani ‘91 from 2020-2021 was 12-4 (75%).
THE GREATEST DECADES
In terms of winning percentage, the 1940s was the best decade with victories in 84% of the 76 games played.
A strong argument can be made that the 1960s was the best decade in Cub Football annals. From 1962 until an upset in the CIF AAAA Championship game in 1964, Loyola won 35 consecutive contests, which still stands as a CIF Large Schools victory skein. The Cubs won two CIF AAAA titles (1962 and 1963) and were Runners-up in 1964. Loyola’s 80% winning percentage was the second best of all decades. Three players earned CIF AAAA Player-of-the-Year honors in three consecutive seasons, an unprecedented achievement..
The decade with the most wins (100) was the 1990s. The Cubs started the decade by winning the 1990 CIF Division I Championship. Loyola was the CIF Division I Runner-up in 1992, 1995 and 1996. It could be argued that the ‘90s was the top decade based upon four trips to the title game and an unprecedented six trips to the semifinal round of the CIF Division I playoffs.
The first five years of the inaugural decade of the Twenty-First Century were among the most impressive five-year runs during all decades from the ‘30s to the present. The Cubs lost an overtime heartbreaker in 2000 to national power L.B. Poly in the CIF Div. I title contest, and finished the campaign ranked 15th in the nation. Loyola made it to the CIF Div. I semifinals in 2002 and was crowned CIF Div. I Champion in both 2003 and 2005. Four trips to at least the CIF Div. I semifinal playoff round in five years is quite impressive.
Legendary head coach Steve Grady’s retirement in the spring of 2005 ended a three-decade run of incredible success. There have been a total of six head coaches at the reins of the program over the course of the last 17 seasons, which has no doubt impacted continuity and consistency.
The hiring of Cub icon head coach Drew Casani in 2019 was propitious as he is expected to hold the head coaching position long term, and he comes from a Loyola culture that saw the Cubs play in eight CIF Championship games in the span of just over three decades. In Casani’s first year at the helm he led Loyola to its 13th CIF title game, and his teams have won 75% of their games in the first three seasons of the Twenty-First Century’s third decade.
BLUE - WHITE DAY ON AUGUST 20
The Loyola intrasquad scrimmages will be held on Saturday, August 20, with the freshmen playing at 9:00 a.m., the sophomores at 11:00 a.m. and the varsity at 1:00 p.m.
SUPPORT CUB FOOTBALL - JOIN THE LOYOLA GRIDIRON VANGUARD
Plans are in the works for a Vanguard-hosted tailgate before the August 26th home opener against Damien. Vanguard members and a guest of each member will be invited. More information will be forthcoming in short order.
The Vanguard provides much needed financial and volunteer support to Loyola’s football program.
The link below provides sign-up information. The Vanguard’s goal is to grow to over 1,000 members this fall.
https://www.loyolahs.edu/lgv/
Don't miss what's next. Subscribe to Cub Football and Loyola athletics news: