Cub Football - Cubs make statement in emphatic 29-14 win over Valencia
LOYOLA TURNS CORNER IN 29-14 WIN OVER 19th RANKED TEAM IN SOUTHLAND
All at once demons were exorcised and a program took an evolutionary turn on Friday night in the Santa Clarita Valley as the Loyola Cubs posted an emphatic 29-14 victory over Valencia, the Los Angeles Times’ 19th-ranked team.
When first year head coach DREW CASANI ‘91 took over the reins of a program that was a shell of what it was-and had long been-when he helped lead the Big Blue to its fourth of six CIF Southern Section Division I championships in 1990.
Casani’s first order of business was to raise the expectations of his players and to reestablish the culture of toughness which defined Cub Football for decades. On Friday night Casani’s troops served notice that the demons of mediocrity and lack of high expectations which afflicted the program for most of the past 13 campaigns were no longer welcome and that Loyola will not enter any contest henceforth with any mindset other than to compete AND win.
A tipped Vikings pass was intercepted by EVAN THOMAS at the Cubs’ own four yard line early in the first quarter, quashing the home team’s early momentum on its first possession. Immediately thereafter Loyola embarked on an impressive 96-yard drive, the highlight of which was sophomore running back HARRISON ALLEN’s 56 yard tackle-breaking touchdown sprint at the 6:06 mark of the first quarter. A successful two-point conversion pass put the Cubs up 8-0.
After Loyola’s Wolfpack’ defense forced a second Vikings punt, junior quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO hooked up with sophomore receiver PETE VANIS, who made a great run after catch for a 40-yard gain. The 59-yard drive was capped by a two-yard Allen run off tackle. DIEGO BURGOS’s extra point kick upped the Cubs’ lead to 15-0 with no time left in the first quarter.
Valencia got on the board with 2:11 remaining in the first half as a two-yard run capped a 60-yard drive. The TD jaunt closed the gap to 15-7.
Loyola scored on its first possession of the third quarter. Sophomore receiver JACOBY KELLY made a spectacular one-handed catch on a perfect throw by Zermeno in the back corner of the end zone. Burgos’s PAT kick made the score 22-7 in favor of the Cubs with 3:26 left in the third quarter.
At the 9:57 mark of the final quarter, the Vikings scored on a 10-yard run to finish a 70-yard drive to narrow the gap to 22-14. Following a 46-yard Loyola punt, Valencia took over at its 12 yard line. Cub junior corner CEYAIR WRIGHT picked off a heavily pressured Vikings pass, sprinted across field and returned the interception to the Valencia 17 yard line.
Allen scored his third TD of the evening with 2:06 left in the game on a seven-yard sprint around the left side. The PAT kick made the score Loyola 29, Valencia 14. The fat lady was in full song.
There were many standouts for the Cubs in the statement-making win. Perhaps the most improved-and still improving-unit on the squad is the offensive line, led by the starting quintet of senior tackle SHANE STROYKE, sophomore guard SAM YOON, senior center NICK ANDERSON, senior guard HUNTER SAMUELSON and senior tackle SAM DOMINGUEZ. The men up front helped pave the way for Allen’s huge outing (22 carries for 163 yards and three TDs) and provided solid protection for Zermeno who completed 14 of 21 passes for 148yards and a TD.
The Cubs recorded five sacks of Valencia’s quarterback, Among those getting to the Vikes’ signal caller and applying pressure were 6-4 junior defensive lineman JOSHUA LONG, senior outside linebacker CARTER LINK, senior nose guard MARIANO UY, senior defensive lineman JOSEPH UPPERMAN and junior D-lineman JEFFREY JOHNSON.
Loyola senior punter HAYDEN EAVES played a big role in the outcome. Among his soaring punts were boots of 43, 46 and 50 yards.
Cub junior corner ZAKHARI SPEARS’ bone jarring hit on the game’s final play put an exclamation point on the statement made by the Big Blue.
It was a great team win. There was a lot of pep in the steps of the confident Loyola players as they ran off the field to board the buses for a jubilant ride back home.
To be sure, expectations have changed within the Loyola program.