Cub Football - Bye week musings, Cubs in college football, what is still on the table, Loyola tradition lives on Freshman team
LOYOLA HAS A LOT LEFT ON THE TABLE
The Cubs completed their non-league schedule with a 5-2 record which was just two frustrating three-point losses from being a perfect 7-0.
A come-from-ahead 29-26 defeat at the hands of an athletic Inglewood squad in game one, and a close 24-21 road defeat to sneaky good San Clemente last Friday book ended a five game stretch in which Loyola defeated its opponents by an average score of 38-18. The two set backs contributed to the Big Blue’s drop to Number 27 in the CalPreps.com Southern Section rankings, which are used for CIF playoff divisional placement and playoff seeding.
The Cubs have yet to play their best game when an assessment of the talent on hand is considered. A bye probably could not have come at a better time as Loyola has been short handed due to injuries suffered by some key starters, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The players who have been out of the lineup are expected back for the commencement of Angelus League competition which starts in Encino at Crespi Carmelite on October 15. The Celts started slowly, but are coming on strong just in time for league play. They scored 69 and 54 points, respectively, in their final non-league bouts with Calabasas and Newbury Park. Suffice to say, for those who think the Angelus League contests will be the walk in the park they were in the spring when the Big Blue pummeled their three conference foes by the combined score of 126-20, think again. The conference foes are much improved.
All-CIF running back TAHJ OWENS is on the cusp of eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards after his sixth 100-plus yard performance of the season against San Clemente last Friday. The senior workhorse is the mainstay of the offense, and is getting a well deserved rest this week before the three-game slate of Angelus League battles.
Senior quarterback JOE TATUM has passed for 1,068 yards after taking over at quarterback in the third quarter of the second game of the campaign at La Verne Damien. The adroit field general averages 10.7 yards per attempt and 16 yards per completion. Senior All-Angelus League receiver PETER VANIS is the Cubs’ leading receiver. He has 32 catches for 548 yards and averages an impressive 17 yards per reception.
PATRICK SODL, the leader of Loyola’s ‘Wolfpack’ defense before he suffered a late game injury three weeks ago against San Diego Mira Mesa is expected to return to the lineup soon. The senior All Angelus League inside linebacker was one of the state’s leading tacklers before he was sidelined. Junior corner JORDAN HEWITT, who had been out of action due to injury since the opener, finally returned to the starting lineup against San Clemente.
The sky remains the limit for this Cub team. Indeed, there are some position groups that are not as strong as others, but if the team plays to its impressive talent level Loyola has a chance for a special season. It is just about how bad the players want it.
LOYOLA COULD HAVE NINE GAMES LEFT
Loyola has three regular season games remaining, and could play as many as four CIF Southern Section playoff contests, a state regional and state divisional title game. If such a promising scenario played out, the Cubs could play as many as nine more times. There are three seasons, the non-league slate, league and the playoffs. Going forward, the goal is to finish 1-0 each week.
LOYOLA FRESHMAN TEAM HAS GREAT FAMILY TRADITION
Loyola’s freshman team is showing promise. The Cubs’ latest win was a 34-14 victory over L. B. Poly. Head coach LAMONT FREEMAN’s troops are well stocked with players who have Loyola family and Cub Football connections. A Loyola alumnus researched the number of players on the 90-man squad who have fathers, grandfathers, uncles and/or other close relatives who attended, and in many cases played football for, Loyola.
Here are the names of freshmen known to have Loyola roots, according to a valued alumnus:
John Francis, William Hoshek, Tripp Netter (Grandfather-Eastman), Jackson Gascou, Carter County, Cole Dennis, Charles Rehder, William Redher, Henry Casani, Kai Detterich (Grandfather), Owen McDonald, Franklin Lichtman (Grandfather-Ben Salvaty), Clayton Smith (Grandfather-Will Smith), James Dell’Amico, Kai Klein, James Widhelm (Grandfather - Tim Collins), Mario Vega, Will Majcher, Theodore Gocke (Grandfather/Father), Mathew Sasso, Nathan Guerrero (Uncle), Scott Taylor (Bill Thomason grandson), Davis Bender, Ethan Gallardo, Andrew Van Tuyle and Desi Valdes (Grandfather).
There are a number of players who have brothers and cousins who attended/are attending Loyola as well. The above list may not be inclusive, but it was put together as a best effort to illustrate the large number of families who appreciate and are loyal the Mission of Jesuit education.
CUBS IN COLLEGE UPDATE
Here is a list of former Cub Football players who are currently on collegiate football rosters:
SINJUN ASTANI (San Jose State)
JACK CASANTE (USC)
COLLIN FLINTOFT (UCLA)
ALEX JOHNSON (UCLA)
TY MAHAR (Colby College)
DAKOTA SMITH (South Dakota)
BRAYDEN UTLEY (Baylor)
NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA ( UCLA)
NATHAN PRIESTLEY (Georgia)
CARTER LINK (SMU)
RYAN QUINTANAR (TCU)
STEVEN AREALLANO (University of Chicago)
MICHAEL GRAVES (University of Notre Dame)
EVAN THOMAS (UCLA)
NICHOLAS ANDERSON (Denison)
JEFFREY JOHNSON ( California)
ANDREW KOZHAYA (Grinnell College))
ZAHARI SPEARS ( Washington)
CEYAIR WRIGHT ( USC)
BRAYDEN ZERMENO (Arizona)