LOYOLA TO FACE DOMINANT NATIONAL TOP TEN-RANKED SIERRA CANYON SQUAD IN MISSION LEAGUE FINALE ON FRIDAY

Loyola will play the most talented team on its 2025 slate Friday night at Smith Field to conclude a campaign in which it was forced to play seriously shorthanded after unprecedented massive player defections befell the squad before the season commenced, and while the chances of an upset are in reality infinitesimal against an ultra high scoring and defensively elite Sierra Canyon juggernaut ranked third in the state and seventh in the nation by MaxPreps, the Cubs undoubtedly can be counted upon to persevere in their season finale nonetheless.

To their credit, Loyola’s team members never allowed the adverse circumstances with which they were dealt diminish their efforts, and that will ultimately define their season.

Who has responsibility, and the reasons, for the departure of no less than twelve returning starters and projected starters is a subject for discussion which should be deferred, as the grit displayed by this Cub squad is something which absolutely deserves to be celebrated.

Questions have been raised as to whether Loyola (4-5, 1-3) has any chance to be considered for an at-large berth in the CIF Southern Section playoffs, and the answer is that only what would be an upset victory of utterly seismic proportion on Halloween would provide the Cubs a shot for a playoff invitation.

A SALUTE TO LOYOLA’S CAPTAINS

Meier, Pye & Turk is not a law firm or investment institution or engineering business, though it someday may be one of those, but rather a group of young men who eschewed the siren call of the transfer world that is now so sadly prevalent in high school football. Each is a three-year starter on Loyola's varsity football team.

And not only do Edge Max Meier, center Nelson Pye III and offensive tackle Nathan Turk stand as beacons of character, but also of high academic achievement and leadership traits which are beyond exemplary.

Meier (6-6, 255), who was an All-State selection last fall, is one of the best Edge rushers in California, stayed at Loyola when there were mass transfers from the Cub football program in the offseason, making the prospects for what once was anticipated to be a great season less favorable. He was approached by outsiders about transferring to some of the powerhouse schools in the CIF Southern Section. His answer to those overtures was an emphatic, "No".

Meier wanted to stay loyal to his school brothers no matter how tough the season might become. He could have transferred and played for programs ranked among the best in the state. It might have been easy for some to leave, but not for Meier, whose roots at the venerable Jesuit college preparatory were deeply planted, and the values he was continuing to develop in his high school journey would not allow him to give even a fleeting thought to leaving.

A fresh start at a new school might have been easy for less loyal individuals, especially given that Meier's family home in which he had lived his entire life was destroyed in the Palisades Fire. No, the decision was to finish the journey at Loyola which began when he enrolled as  a freshman four years ago.

Meier's mettle, as that of his fellow captains, has been displayed with brilliance. Meier had multiple Ivy League schools pursuing him, given his 4.3 GPA in Loyola's rigorous college preparatory curriculum, which includes seven AP classes to date. Among his 24 scholarship offers were those from Northwestern, UCLA, USC, Wisconsin and North Carolina, to name just a few. He chose Stanford.

One of Meier's closest friends since early childhood, Braun Levi, a nationally-rated tennis player and outstanding student in Loyola's Class of 2025, was tragically killed in an auto versus pedestrian accident in May. Meier made it his mission to "Live Like Braun", who was a beloved individual at Loyola and beyond. And living like Braun mandated that Meier stayed loyal to Loyola.

Among the many impressive activities on Meier's resume are being a member of Loyola's Monogram Club, which requires a student-athlete to maintain a minimum 3.8 GPA; the Big Brothers Club; and Level Up LA (mentoring students at and serving underprivileged inner city schools).  

In addition to to his service in concert with Loyola's "Men for Others" motto, Meier interned with the GM of the Los Angeles Chargers this summer, as he is interested in sports management/investment as a career after his days at Stanford and football playing career conclude.

Nelson Pye III has been the starting center for the Cubs for three years. Another highly driven and  intelligent student-athlete, Pye is charged with the responsibility of making blocking adjustments in the heat of battle. Given his academic prowess it is no wonder he is so adept at his job. The All-League lineman is a leader not only on the field but also in the school community. He is forever loyal to his school and teammates.

After being honored as the Co-Most Outstanding Sophomore student in 2023 and Co-Most Outstanding Junior student in 2024, and serving as the Junior Class President, Pye was elected Student Body President this school year.

A member of the Monogram Club, where among many other service activities he acts as an altar server at Mass, Pye is also a leader in the African American Students Association and Filipino Club. He is also active in liturgy and choir.

Pye serves as a tutor in the Designated Affiliated Student Space, where he tutors students in affinity groups such as the African American Students Association. He volunteered to participate for the New Orleans 2023 Summer Service Immersion Program in which he repaired and assisted in rebuilding damaged and destroyed homes following Hurricane Katrina.

His physical strength as the point man on the offensive line is enhanced by participating as a shot putter on Loyola's track & field squad.

Pye will have many impressive collegiate options when his collegiate application process is complete.

All-CIF offensive tackle, and three year varsity starter, Nathan Turk (6-4. 279), is headed to Harvard University, and it is easy to see why.

His resume is so long it reads like a book. Turk maintains a 4.5 GPA, with multiple Honors and AP classes to his credit. A member of the Student Council as a junior, after serving as the sophomore class President, he participated on a student panel involved in recommending Loyola's new school Principal. He was awarded the Loyola Outstanding Freshman. Sophomore, and Junior Awards.

Turk serves as a cabinet member of the Monogram Club and was selected to participate in the Global Scholar Tour. He serves as a tutor in the Ignatian Scholar Program.

In May of 2024 he participated in Loyola High School’s Mexico Service Trip in which he helped rebuild an orphanage for children rescued from human trafficking. As a sophomore, Turk volunteered as a tutor of underprivileged students for 22 weeks in the Pico-Union district. He has as a Football Camp coach for an organization which donated its proceeds to the YMCA to benefit underprivileged children.

When those three Loyola captains take the field for the coin toss this Friday they will stand as pillars of leadership, loyalty and commitment. In these times of a pervasive "me first" culture, Meier, Pye and Turk are beacons of all that is still good not only in high school sports but also in the prospects for our future leaders.

A LOOK AT THE SIERRA CANYON TRAILBLAZERS

Sierra Canyon is reputed to have the best defensive platoon in the state of California. In nine games the Trailblazers have relinquished an average of just 4.4 points per game. In their four Mission League clashes Sierra Canyon has held its opponents to an average of a meager six points per contest.

The Trailblazers’ impenetrable stop unit is not their only strength. Their offense is also one of the most productive scoring units in the state. Sierra Canyon scores an average of 44 points per outing.

The Trailblazers have blown out each of their nine opponents. Their off-the-charts game scores are as follows: JSerra, 35-0; Oaks Christian, 63-0; Punahou, 45-0; Downey, 49-7; Orange Lutheran, 41-9; Serra, 30-0; Chaminade 45-14; Notre Dame, 45-10; Bishop Amat, 40-0.

Senior Santa Barbara High transfer quarterback Laird Finkel (6-0, 190) has completed 64% of his passes for 2,018 yards (16.4 yards per reception), and thrown 18 TD passes.

Junior running back Jerod Terry, Jr. (5-9, 185) has rushed for 604 yards and five scores with an impressive 8.1 yards per carry average. Junior ball carrier Jaxsen Stokes (5-10, 175) has gained 591 yards (7.3 ypc) and tallied 12 touchdowns.

Sierra Canyon’s receivers’ room is loaded. The top two pass catchers are senior De’Markus Barnes (5-11, 185, 35 receptions, 657 yards, 18.8 yards per reception, 5 TDs) and physical senior Tron Baker (6-1, 190, 32 catches, 500 yards, 15.6 yards per catch, 6 TDs).

Senior linebacker Patrick Hill (5-10, 197) leads the Trailblazers in tackles with 54, including 35 solo stops.

Loyola transfer, senior LB Ronen Zamorano (6-2, 220), is a physical enforcer with 51 tackles, including 33 solo takedowns and three sacks.

Junior safety Faruq Muhammad (5-10, 180) is third on the squad with 47 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss.

Senior defensive end Mikhal Johnson (6-2, 255) is unstoppable with 8 sacks and 9 hurries to his credit, while his bookend, senior Jonah Nadley (6-1, 235) has 6 sacks and 8 hurries.

All-American senior Loyola transfer Brandon Lockhart (6-3, 171) leads the secondary with 12 passes broken up. Senior DB Madden Riordan (5-11, 155) leads the squad with two interceptions.

GAME OUTLOOK

The Trailblazers posses overwhelming speed and athleticism across the board.

By any realistic assessment, if Loyola can get on the scoreboard and stem Sierra Canyon’s tidal wave of an offense to any degree that would have to be considered an achievement.

Comparative scores portend a long night for the Cubs. Chaminade defeated Loyola 52-0, and the Trailblazers throttled the Eagles 45-14. Those scores project an 83 point differential. The most favorable combative scores were the Cubs’ 13-10 victory over Serra. Sierra Canyon beat Serra 30-0. Loyola lost to Notre Dame 36-14. The Trailblazers defeated the Knights 45-10. The Cubs fell to Bishop Amat 30-14, while Sierra Canyon routed the Lancers 40-0. The average comparative score projects in the Trailblazers’ favor by 56 points.

Despite the bleak outlook, Loyola is expected to play hard.

THE LOYOLA - SIERRA CANYON SERIES

The schools’ first meeting on the gridiron was last season. Sierra Canyon handed the Cubs their then worst loss in school history, 45-0, in Chatsworth.

LOYOLA ALUMNI AWARDS DINNER HONORS TWO FORMER CUB FOOTBALL STARS

On November 15, Loyola will hold its annual Alumni Dinner. Two of the three honorees are former Cub football stars, ANTHONY BARR ‘10 and KEVIN BENDER ‘91.

After a sterling career at Loyola, BARR was an All-American linebacker at UCLA and won the Lott Impact Award as the best defensive player in collegiate football as a senior. He went on to an outstanding career in the NFL, where he was a four-time All-Pro linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings.

BENDER was an All-CIF Division I and All-Southern Section defensive end for the Cubs’ 1990 CIF Southern Section Division I championship squad.

Make plans to attend what promises to be a great celebratory evening at Loyola on November 15th. Reserve your reservation at the link below.

CUBS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Below is the list of Loyola graduates on college football teams in 2025 according to published collegiate rosters:

JAKE ARELLANO '24, DB, Bentley University

CHAD BAILEY ‘20, DB, Bentley University

BROCK BOJORQUEZ ‘25, DB, Johns Hopkins

COLIN CRUCE ‘22, OL, Bowdoin

KHALIL CUEVA ‘24, WR, University of San Diego

JEFFREY JOHNSON ‘21, TE, Cal

LUKE HARRISON ‘24, OL, University of San Diego

CONNOR KLEIN ‘25, LB, Cornell

SHAWN LIN '22, DL, Columbia

LEIGHTON LINE ‘23, DL, Cal Lutheran

JOSHUA LONG ‘21, TE, Eastern Michigan

TAHJ OWENS '22, DB, Princeton

JACK PARIS '23, DL, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

RYAN QUINTANAR '20, LB, USC

XAVIER RICE ‘23, QB, Duquesne

ISAIAH SANDERS, ‘24, LB, UC Davis

PATRICK SODL ‘22, LB, Columbia

ZAKHARI SPEARS ‘21, DB, Idaho

HENRY STICKLER ‘22, WR, SMU

JACK SUSNJAR ‘23, OL, USC

JOE TATUM ‘22, QB, Texas

SCOTT TAYLOR '25, LB, UCLA

RYAN TURK ‘24, OL, Dartmouth

DESI VALDES ‘25, DB, Pasadena City College

CHAMP WESTBROOKS ‘24, OL, Arizona State

ALEX WHITMAN ‘22, WR, Notre Dame

CEYAIR WRIGHT ‘21, DB, Nebraska

SAM YOON ‘22, OL, UCLA

2025 LOYOLA VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

8-22 Cathedral (L 36-14)

8-29 @ Millikan (Long Beach) (W 35-25)

9-5 Mount Miguel (L 21-0)

9-12 @ Hamilton (Los Angeles) (W 42-21)

9-19 St. Francis (W 9-3)

10-3 @ Notre Dame* (L 35-10)

10-9 @Serra* at SoFi Stadium (W 13-10)

10-17 Bishop Amat* (L, 30-14)

10-24 @ Chaminade* (L, 52-0)

10-31 Sierra Canyon*

*Denotes Mission League game