October 10, 2022

Cub Football - Loyola begins stretch drive as three league games remain - A look at Paraclete

DO IMPROVING CUBS HAVE THE WILL TO MAKE A RUN?  Loyola is undefeated in Angelus League play after its dominant 49-0 win over woeful, winless Crespi Carmelite.

The Cubs will be making a 150-mile round trip this Friday to the Antelope Valley to take on new Angelus League member Lancaster Paraclete.

The Spirits have not won a game this season, but should not be taken lightly. They put up a fight last Friday against St. Paul, and are hoping to haunt Loyola.

If the Cubs notch a win, they will have all but guaranteed themselves a trip to the CIF Southern Section playoffs, regardless of the outcome of their final two league tilts against Cathedral and St. Francis.

Loyola played hard and showed marked improvement in its win against Crespi and must continue to take strong steps forward. The final three conference contests will test the will of the Cubs. The goal is to be 1-0 each week.
The arrow is pointing up for Loyola as it controls its own destiny.

The official stats for the Crespi game were tallied and reported by MaxPreps. The publication named senior quarterback XAVIER RICE as the Player of the Game. RICE passed for 279 yards, completing 18 of 24 of his aerials. In addition to his impressive 75% completion rate, Rice tossed two TD passes and averaged 11.6 yards per attempt and a stellar 15.5 yards per completion. It was the second consecutive game in which Rice completed over 70 per cent of his passes.

MaxPreps named RICE, senior wide receiver WILKE WILES and sophomore running back DESI VALDES as Offensive Players of the Game. WILES caught six passes for 110 yards (18.3 yards per reception) and scored a touchdown. VALDES ran for two TDs and averaged 10.7 yards per carry. The Big Blue offense amassed 464 total yards in its best effort of the season. 

Junior safety JAKE ARELLANO, and senior defensive backs DARON ELAM and JORDAN HEWITT were hailed as Defensive Players of the Game. Each had an interception and played important roles in holding the Celts to just 182 total yards.

ARELLANO had a very productive night with 12 total tackles, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble. He also caught two passes for 47 yards. If the Cubs can replicate the effort put forth against Crespi, the next three weeks could be very exciting.

A LOOK AT PARACLETE
Loyola will take on new Angelus League member Paraclete at Antelope Valley College on Friday at 7:00 p.m. The Spirits are 0-7 with losses to Highland (20-7), Garces Memorial (41-7), Serrano (48-24), North Torrance (31-19), Eastvale Roosevelt (56-7), St. Francis (45-14) and St. Paul (17-6).

Paraclete has averaged 12 points per game on offense, and its opponents have scored an average of 37 points per contest. Going into their game against St. Paul last Friday, the Spirits averaged 122 yards rushing and 149 yards passing per game.

Junior quarterback Tyler Soles had completed 54% of his passes for 835 yards and threw three TD aerials. Junior Tyler Neal rushed for 427 yards at a 6.3 yards per carry clip. Sophomore wide receiver Ilijah Solis is Paraclete’s leading receiver (13.2 yds. per reception, 2 TDs).

Junior middle linebacker Deshaun Malone leads the Spirits with 60 tackles, including 24 solo stops. Junior defensive linemen Chas Milner and James Cunningham each had 37 tackles going into the St. Paul contest.

OUTLOOK
If Loyola (3-4, 2-2) plays it’s “A” game it should exorcise the Spirits. The Cubs will need to be keenly focused to avoid a road upset.

THE SERIES
Friday’s game marks the first meeting between the two schools. Paraclete’s best recent season was 2017 when the Spirits won the CIF Division 5 title.