LOYOLA GETS OUT TO FAST START, DEFENSE RELINQUISHES 35 POINTS IN SECOND HALF IN DISAPPOINTING NON-LEAGUE ROAD LOSS TO CHAMINADE
The Cubs had a lot on their to do list heading into their non-league battle with a good Chaminade team on Friday night in Mission Hills.

They checked off many of the necessary items on the itinerary. But the most important task they had to accomplish-containing the Eagles' electric quarterback-they failed to do. The result was a disappointing 42-35 loss.

Chaminade's junior signal caller accounted for ninety per cent of the home team's offensive yardage, completing 16 of 22 passes for 209 yards and rushing for 142 yards and three touchdowns. It was the latter of those stat lines which ultimately proved the difference in a game that went down to the wire. 

The Cubs began their final possession of the game at their own 20-yard line just after the Eagles scored to take a 42-35 lead. A beautifully executed 29-yard pass from T. K. KNYAL to KHALIL CUEVA gave Loyola a first down at the Chaminade five yard line with under two minutes left on the game clock. An unsportsmanlike conduct infraction assessed against the Cubs following the big gain moved the ball back 15 yards, and Loyola was thereafter held out of the end zone. 

The game was all Loyola in the first quarter as the Cubs forged a 14-0 lead. Loyola opened the contest with a well executed 80-yard touchdown drive capped by a three-yard KNYAL pass to wide receiver JOSH GALLAGHER. A 32-yard pass reception by DUKE GIARRAPUTO was the most impressive play on the scoring march.

Linebacker HENRY CASANI caused a fumble, recovered by safety PETER SCIARRINO, on the ensuing kickoff, putting the Cubs in business at the Eagles' 36 yard line. Ten plays later running back JUSTIN SMITH carried the ball into the end zone from one yard out. A. J. SCHULTZ's PAT kick gave Loyola a 14-0 lead with four seconds left in the first quarter. Chaminade did not run a single offensive play in the first 12 minutes.

With 9:03 left in the first half the Eagles' QB scored on a 16-yard run-his first of three-capping a 67-yard, nine play drive to close the gap to 14-7. The Cubs went into intermission holding on to their 14-7 lead as they blocked a 51-yard field goal attempt as the half ended.

A three-play, 43-second Chaminade scoring drive to open the second half tied the score, 14-14. It turned into a high scoring battle from that point forward. For the most part, the Big Blue defense had a less than effective outing after intermission.

The Eagles' ensuing on side kick attempt failed, and Loyola recovered the ball at the Chaminade 38 yard line. JUSTIN SMITH sprinted into the end zone from the three yard line shortly thereafter, and just like that the Cubs were up 21-14.

A failed Loyola onside kick set up the Eagles at the Cubs' 42 yard line. Five plays later Chaminade's QB showed his state-class speed on an 18-yard sprint to pay dirt to tie the score, 21-21, at the 8:44 mark of the third quarter. 

The Eagles blocked a Loyola punt and were driving for a potential score when Loyola's All-American sophomore corner BRANDON LOCKHART picked off a Chaminade pass and returned it 90 yards for a pick six to put the Cubs up 28-21 with 1:34 left in the third quarter.

A minute and 31 seconds later the Eagles answered with a five-yard TD run after going 65 yards on just five plays to even the score at 28-28.

Loyola responded with an 80-yard scoring drive finished off by a 12-yard run by SEAN MORRIS with 9:24 left in the fourth quarter to put the Big Blue in the lead, 35-28. Highlights of the drive included a 35-yard catch and run by MORRIS and an 18-yard reception by tight end CARSON REAL.

The Cub 'Wolfpack' defense gave up another TD on a two-yard run to cap a 63-yard drive with 7:48 left on the game clock.

Chaminade recovered its on side kick at the Cub 49-yard line. That calculated gambit played a huge role in the outcome of the contest. Seven plays later the Eagles flew high on a 38-yard sprint to the end zone to give the home team a 42-35 advantage it would not relinquish.

Loyola's offensive line had its best outing of the season thus far, as the group is gelling. The Cubs had over 150 yards on the ground, and unofficially KNYAL completed 20 of 26 passes for 240 yards

Loyola's defense will need to batten down the hatches with fast, physical force, special teams need to clean things up, and elimination of penalties is necessary as the grueling schedule continues against Oaks Christian at Smith Field next Friday.

The Cubs (1-3) must be at their best from here on out if they hope to be a factor in the Angelus League title race which commences at St. Francis on September 29.

There are no guaranteed wins on the remaining slate. Time to put the pedal to the metal. Six big games left in the regular season. 

HOW LOYOLA'S FUTURE OPPONENTS FARED THIS WEEK
(In order)
Gardena Serra 26, OAKS CHRISTIAN 13
The Lions (2-2) were stunned by the Cavaliers, and will be hungry against the Cubs in an effort to reestablish their  reputation as a state powerhouse. 

ST. FRANCIS 42 , Sultana 13
The Golden Knights (4-1) have a much improved defense this season which combines with their prolific offense to make them a major contender in the Angelus League.


Downey 17, ST. PAUL 7
The Swordsmen (2-2) were tripped up by solid cross-town rival Downey, but they ware expected to rebound as Angelus League battles are just around the corner.

CRESPI 38, Venice 7
The Celts (2-3) won their second game of the season as their rebuilding project progresses with an impressive victory over the Gondoliers.

PARACLETE 40, North Torrance 13
The Spirits from the high desert continue their impressive winning ways. Paraclete is determined to be a major player in the Angelus League title race. And they are likely to be.

CATHEDRAL 54, Alemany 28
The Phantoms' (2-3) tough schedule is starting to pay high dividends as demonstrated in their rout of the Warriors.

 

2023 LOYOLA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE/RESULTS

August 25          @ Damien (L 35-14)
September 1      Culver City (W 24-6)
September 8      Leuzinger (L 35-14)
September 15    @ Chaminade (L 42-35)
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)

Thirty-four Loyola grads are 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; and 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 (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)
JUSTIN MURRAY '22, LB (Santa Monica College)
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)
WILKE WILES '23, WR (University of Chicago) 
HOLMES WORMALD '23, TE (Merchant Marine Academy)
CEYAIR WRIGHT ‘21, DB ( USC)
SAM YOON ‘22, OL ( UCLA)