September 23, 2022

Cub Football - Another tough loss ends non-league trek - Undefeated Loyola freshmen continue to impress

MULTIPLE PENALTIES, THREE TURNOVERS PLAGUE CUBS IN 34-7 LOSS TO OAKS CHRISTIAN
In its final non-league game at Westlake Village Oaks Christian Friday night Loyola was flagged with nine penalties, committed three turnovers, two of which were followed by Lion touchdown drives, and could muster little offense in a 34-7 loss. 

The good news is that it is unlikely the Cubs will face any team with the talent and speed possessed by their last two non-league opponents, Chaminade and Oaks Christian, during the upcoming five-game Angelus League stretch.

The reality is that Loyola will have to play much better in all phases if it hopes to vie for a top three conference finish.

Oaks Christian went on a six-play, 79-yard drive on its second possession of the game, scoring on a 28-yard pass. The Lions missed the PAT kick, but were in the lead, 6-0 at the 5:27 mark of the first quarter.

After an ensuing Cub punt, Oaks Christian marched 71 yards in eight plays to extend its lead to 13-0 on a two-yard TD run. The Big Blue were still within striking distance before disaster struck moments later.

Loyola fumbled at its own 23 yard line, and the Lions promptly upped their lead to 20-0 on a five-play drive, capped by a six-yard scoring toss with just 1:13 remaining before halftime. As it did a week earlier, the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense fought valiantly to keep Loyola in the game, but the turnover shortly before intermission and the home team capitalizing on it effectively put the contest out of reach.

On their first possession of the second half the Cubs fumbled the ball a second time at the Oaks’ 41 yard line. The Lions then covered 59 yards in ten plays, scoring a TD on a 16-yard draw to put the home squad ahead 27-0. Oaks scored on a 14-yard pass with 4:31 left in the third quarter to forge a commanding 34-0 lead.

Loyola finally got on the board on a 21-yard TD pass from senior quarterback XAVIER RICE to senior wide receiver WILKE WILES with 10:02 remaining in the game to make the final score 34-7.

Among the playmakers on defense for the Cubs were junior defensive back ELIJAH BRADLEY, who had a drive-killing interception late in the first half, and junior defensive lineman ISAIAH SANDERS, who as usual made big stops including a ten yard sack after intermission.

A “new” season commences next Friday as Loyola (1-4) travels to Santa Fe Springs to take on long time rival St. Paul (2-3) in both teams’ Angelus League opener.

The next five games are there for the taking in a conference that is not field any dominant teams. Each of the other Angelus League squads had a bye this week, except for Lancaster Paraclete (0-5), which lost to undefeated Eastvale Roosevelt on Friday, 56-7.

CUB FRESHMEN REMAIN UNDEFEATED AFTER IMPRESSIVE, GRITTY WIN OVER INGLEWOOD JV SQUAD
Loyola’s freshman team had checked the box labeled “talented” during the course of its first three one-sided triumphs, but some boxes which would define the ethos of the squad had not yet been checked heading into its showdown with a big, physical and talented Inglewood JV team at Smith Field on Thursday. 

The remaining boxes were checked emphatically in a hard fought battle in which the Cubs prevailed over a well coached Sentinel squad.

Dealing with adversity: Check.

Persevering under challenging circumstances: Check.

Mental toughness: Check.

Finishing: Check.

Those attributes were in ample supply, and each was needed, in Loyola’s gritty, hard fought 21-6 victory, its fourth of the 2022 campaign.

Inglewood featured a large group of impressive older players, including a 6-6, 290 lb. nose guard who looked liked and played like a senior. And that powerful player was just one of many mature individuals who got off the visitors’ bus.

The Cubs drove 65 yards in seven plays following the opening kickoff, scoring on a 30-yard pass from quarterback JACK THOMAS to wide receiver PETER SCIARRINO at the 8:14 mark of the first quarter. SCIARRINO followed his TD grab with an interception on Inglewood’s first possession of the contest, but thereafter the Sentinels’ defense began to assert itself.

A long snap over the Loyola punter’s head set Inglewood up at the Cubs’ three yard line. Adversity presented, but was quickly vanquished on Inglewood’s first play as a fumble was forced and recovered by inside linebacker LUCA MARRUCI on the Cubs’ seven yard line. 

Loyola was forced to punt on its ensuing series, and the Sentinels then drove inside the Cubs’ one yard line where the Loyola defense held ferociously on a fourth-and inches play.

Again, Inglewood drove deep into Cub territory, where again the Loyola defense forced an incomplete pass on a fourth down as the first half ended with the Cubs hanging on to a precarious 7-0 lead.

After intermission Inglewood drove to the Loyola 11-yard line, where yet again the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ held on fourth down.

Finally, after multiple drives deep into Big Blue territory, the Sentinels scored on a two-yard run following a long distance punt return down to the Loyola five yard line. Inglewood’s failed two-point conversion try was stuffed by the Cubs who remained in the lead, 7-6.

On Loyola’s next drive, quarterback MASYN HARVEY engineered a six-play, 59 scoring drive, capped by a fourth down, five-yard HARVEY pass to MARRUCI with 3:04 left in the third quarter. KIAN FAHID’s PAT kick stretched the Cubs lead to 14-6.

Following a fumble recovery by defensive back CHASE HELLIE at the Loyola 34 yard line, the Cubs marched 66 yards in eight plays, scoring on a nine-yard HARVEY run with 4:38 left in the final quarter, to increase Loyola’s lead to 21-6. The freshmen showed uncommon and relentless determination throughout the fiercely contested battle. It was an impressive, character-building triumph for the Cubs against talented older football players.

Loyola (4-0) will host St. Paul in its Angelus League opener at 4:00 p.m. next Thursday at Smith Field.