August 27, 2024

Cub Football - Going gets tougher this Friday as Cubs host 22nd ranked team in state

LOYOLA TAKES ON TALENTED DAMIEN AT SMITH FIELD ON FRIDAY

Following its disappointing zero week double overtime loss to Cathedral on the road in its inaugural game of the season, the competition gets a lot tougher in Loyola’s second contest of the 2023 campaign as the Cubs will host Damien, the 22nd-ranked team in California according to CalPreps, at Smith on Friday at 7:00 p.m.

The Cubs will need to play at a significantly higher and much more productive level than they did against the Phantoms to have any chance of upsetting the Spartans.

A LOOK AT DAMIEN

Shortly before the season began, five-year head coach Matt Bechtel stepped away from the program for reasons that were not particularly clear. A short time before Bechtel’s departure, the Spartans were involved in a brawl with Baseline League rival Upland after a 7-on-7 competition. Whatever the reason for the head coach’s separation was, he left the program in very good shape, including adding a slew of high end transfers.

Interim head coach James Stewart was tabbed to take over the reins, and in his squad’s first outing Damien rolled over defending State Division 2-AA and CIF Southern Section Division 4 champion La Serna, 42-21, in Whittier last Friday.

The Spartans’ high octane offense is led by All-CIF junior quarterback Isaiah Arriaza (5-11, 175), a prolific passer who threw for 2,891 yards and 29 TDs in 2023. Last Friday he scorched La Serna for 217 aerial yards and three scores. He also ran for a TD.

Arriaza has a wealth of talent at the wide receiver positions. The trio of junior Raymond Ahumada, junior Gavin Lannon, and sophomore Travon Garrison averaged over 23 yards per reception against La Serna.

Diminutive, but tough, running back James Taylor (5-7, 160) is the Spartans’ rushing workhorse. He rolled up 111 yards (5.6 ypc) on Friday. St. John Bosco transfer, junior Malachi McFarland is another weapon in the backfield, and wide receiver Eric Osorio, a transfer from Bishop Amat, is also a threat in the passing game.

Damien is a very strong, physical team. It’s weight room work ethic is impressive, and shows up on the field. The Spartans’ offensive line is led by two All-Baseline League returnees, RJ San Jose and Ryan Alba.

Damien’s attacking defense is headlined by returning All-Baseline League middle linebacker Caden Arellano (6-0,215), junior defensive end Austin Coronado (6-3, 230) and sophomore strong safety Gavin Williams (6-0, 160). Junior defensive lineman Kingston Schirmer (6-2, 280) is an anchor of the line corps.

GAME OUTLOOK

Loyola will need to get its passing attack untracked to have a shot at notching a win. The Cubs aerial attack was out of synch in its opener. La Serna rolled up 347 yards of total offense against the Spartans, and the Cubs will likely need similar offensive productivity to stay in the hunt.

Loyola’s secondary will be put to the test against Damien’s high powered passing attack. If the Cubs can’t slow down the Spartans’ aerial assault a chance for victory will be unlikely.

One of the few bright spots in Loyola’s loss to Cathedral was it kicking and punting game. If special teams ends up being a decider, the edge is likely in the Cubs’ favor.

THE SERIES

Damien and Loyola have met on the gridiron four times, and the Spartans hold a 3-1 advantage in the series. The first game between the schools was in 1971, with Damien defeating the Cubs 27-7 in one of the few down seasons for Loyola between 1960 and 2005.

In 2021 the Cubs won a nail biter in La Verne, 16-14. The Spartans dominated Loyola at Smith Field in 2022, 34-7. Last season in La Verne, the Cubs played well through three quarters, but the dam broke in the final stanza of a 35-14 loss.

CUBS IN THE NFL

Former Cub All-State DB MYLES BRYANT led the Houston Texans in tackles during the NFL preseason with 19, including 14 solo stops. He is Houston’s nickel back.

For the first time in history two Loyola grads played in an NFL secondary together. ALEX JOHNSON ‘18 (UCLA) and DAVID LONG, Jr. (Michigan) were on the field together for the New York Giants in their final preseason game against the New York Jets, Johnson was the second leading tackler (17 total, 11 solo) for the Giants in the preseason.

Former All-League tackle COLEMAN SHELTON ‘13 (Washington) is listed as a co-starter on the Chicago Bears’ depth chart. He and LONG were starters on the Rams recent Super Bowl Champion team.

CUBS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL Below is the list of Loyola graduates playing college football in 2024 according to published collegiate rosters: CHAD BAILEY ‘20, DB, Bentley University NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA ‘19, K, Mississippi State COLIN CRUCE ‘22, OL, Bowdoin JEFFREY JOHNSON ‘21, TE, Cal LUKE HARRISON ‘24, OL, University of San Diego ANDREW KOZHAYA ‘21, OL, Grinnel LEIGHTON LINE ‘23, DL, Cal Lutheran CONNOR McDOWELL ‘21, DB, Angelo State TAHJ OWENS ‘22, DB, Princeton BLAKE NEITHART ‘20, DB, Carleton ISAIAH SANDERS, ‘24, LB, UC Davis PATRICK SODL ‘22, LB, Columbia HENRY STICKLER ‘21, WR, SMU JACK SUSNJAR ‘23, OL, USC JOE TATUM ‘22, QB, Texas EVAN THOMAS ‘20, DB, UCLA RYAN TURK ‘24, OL, Dartmouth ALEX WHITMAN ‘22, WR, Notre Dame CHAMP WESTBROOKS ‘24, OL, Arizona State CEYAIR WRIGHT ‘21, DB, Nebraska SAM YOON ‘22, OL, UCLA 2024 LOYOLA VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 8-15 @ Carson (scrimmage) 8-23 @ Cathedral (L 16-13, 2OT) 8-30 Damien (Home) 9-13 @ Leuzinger 9-20 @ St. Francis 9-27 @ Mount Miguel (Spring Valley 10-4 Serra (Home) 10-11 @ Bishop Amat 10-18 Chaminade (Home) 10-25 @ Sierra Canyon 11-1 Notre Dame (Home) All games on Fridays @ 7:00 p.m.

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