Cub Football - Loyola comeback bid falls short in CIF playoff quarterfinals against Etiwanda
LOYOLA’S SEASON COMES TO END IN 28-21 LOSS TO ETIWANDA
With 24.6 seconds remaining in a CIF Southern Section Division 3 quarterfinal at Smith Field on Friday night, Loyola, down by seven points to undefeated Baseline League champion Etiwanda, had the ball after a fourth down stop by the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense just short of midfield.
The Cubs had scored two unanswered touchdowns and had a shot at a miracle finish. The odds were long, but following a frantic comeback bid after being down 28-7, belief was alive on the Big Blue sideline. Alas, a miracle finish was thwarted by an Eagle interception, and Etiwanda held on for a 28-21 victory that brought an end to the Cubs’ season and allowed the Eagles to advance to the semifinals next Friday against Garden Serra.
In a showdown with a quality opponent, Loyola had to play its best game of the season to have a chance to advance. Unfortunately, it did not, and as a consequence, a talented Cub squad saw its 2021 campaign come to a conclusion.
Two big turnovers by the Cubs played a pivotal role in the outcome. The score was tied, 7-7, and Loyola was driving for what could have been a go ahead score when disaster first struck. An Eagle defender broke underneath a swing pass at the Etiwanda 30 yard line, intercepted the ball and raced 70 yards for a pick six on the first play of the second quarter to give the Eagles a 14-7 lead and a huge injection of critical momentum.
The other costly miscue came late in the second quarter when the ball was ripped away from Cub receiver JACOBY KELLY after a big catch and run and recovered by Etiwanda at its 20 yard line to end a Loyola drive that began on the Cub 36 yard line.
The quarterfinal bout started positively for Loyola. After taking the opening kickoff to the visitors’ 40 yard line, on the second play from scrimmage, running back TAHJ OWENS broke for a 38-yard TD, to put the Big Blue up 7-0 at the 10:44 mark of the first quarter.
Etiwanda quickly showed why it was ranked 22nd in the sate, driving 63 yards in eleven plays, scoring on a one-yard run to tie the score.
After their interception return for a touchdown, the Eagles extended their lead to 21-7 midway through the second quarter with a 30-yard TD pass that capped an eight play. 70 yard drive.
Etiwanda took the second half kickoff, and drove to the Cub 20 yard line before the’Wolfpack’ held on fourth down. An offensive pass interference penalty and unsportsmanlike conduct infraction were called against the Cubs on their first play. The lost yardage ultimately forced a Loyola punt.
Etiwanda then drove 75 yards on six plays, with the dagger score coming on a 34-yard pass to give the Eagles a commanding 28-7 lead late in the third quarter. It felt like the fat lady had sung, but the Cubs refused to throw in the towel, showing impressive grit and determination.
JORDAN HEWITT intercepted an Eagle pass early in the final stanza, and thereafter Loyola drove 73 yards in ten plays with OWENS scoring on a three-yard run to reduce Etiwanda’s lead to 28-14.
A monster sack by the Cubs forced the Eagles to punt on the ensuing Eagle possession. An 11-yard TD pass from JOE TATUM to PETER VANIS, capping an 83 yard drive, with 2:44 left in the game made the score 28-21. Loyola’s on-side kick failed, but the ‘Wolfpack’ defense caused a fumble on fourth down, giving the Cubs the ball at their 42 yard line with just under a half minute left. Unfortunately, the errant pass marked the end for Loyola.
The “what ifs“ are plentiful, but in the end, it was a loss for Loyola on whose sideline tears were flowing.
An outstanding senior class led the Cubs to an Angelus League title and another coveted trip to the CIF Southern Section playoffs. Loyola (8-4) lost four games by a combined total of just 14 points.
The pain will remain for awhile, but Loyola’s players can hold their heads high. There was no quit in the Cubs as they made a gallant comeback bid.
With 24.6 seconds remaining in a CIF Southern Section Division 3 quarterfinal at Smith Field on Friday night, Loyola, down by seven points to undefeated Baseline League champion Etiwanda, had the ball after a fourth down stop by the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense just short of midfield.
The Cubs had scored two unanswered touchdowns and had a shot at a miracle finish. The odds were long, but following a frantic comeback bid after being down 28-7, belief was alive on the Big Blue sideline. Alas, a miracle finish was thwarted by an Eagle interception, and Etiwanda held on for a 28-21 victory that brought an end to the Cubs’ season and allowed the Eagles to advance to the semifinals next Friday against Garden Serra.
In a showdown with a quality opponent, Loyola had to play its best game of the season to have a chance to advance. Unfortunately, it did not, and as a consequence, a talented Cub squad saw its 2021 campaign come to a conclusion.
Two big turnovers by the Cubs played a pivotal role in the outcome. The score was tied, 7-7, and Loyola was driving for what could have been a go ahead score when disaster first struck. An Eagle defender broke underneath a swing pass at the Etiwanda 30 yard line, intercepted the ball and raced 70 yards for a pick six on the first play of the second quarter to give the Eagles a 14-7 lead and a huge injection of critical momentum.
The other costly miscue came late in the second quarter when the ball was ripped away from Cub receiver JACOBY KELLY after a big catch and run and recovered by Etiwanda at its 20 yard line to end a Loyola drive that began on the Cub 36 yard line.
The quarterfinal bout started positively for Loyola. After taking the opening kickoff to the visitors’ 40 yard line, on the second play from scrimmage, running back TAHJ OWENS broke for a 38-yard TD, to put the Big Blue up 7-0 at the 10:44 mark of the first quarter.
Etiwanda quickly showed why it was ranked 22nd in the sate, driving 63 yards in eleven plays, scoring on a one-yard run to tie the score.
After their interception return for a touchdown, the Eagles extended their lead to 21-7 midway through the second quarter with a 30-yard TD pass that capped an eight play. 70 yard drive.
Etiwanda took the second half kickoff, and drove to the Cub 20 yard line before the’Wolfpack’ held on fourth down. An offensive pass interference penalty and unsportsmanlike conduct infraction were called against the Cubs on their first play. The lost yardage ultimately forced a Loyola punt.
Etiwanda then drove 75 yards on six plays, with the dagger score coming on a 34-yard pass to give the Eagles a commanding 28-7 lead late in the third quarter. It felt like the fat lady had sung, but the Cubs refused to throw in the towel, showing impressive grit and determination.
JORDAN HEWITT intercepted an Eagle pass early in the final stanza, and thereafter Loyola drove 73 yards in ten plays with OWENS scoring on a three-yard run to reduce Etiwanda’s lead to 28-14.
A monster sack by the Cubs forced the Eagles to punt on the ensuing Eagle possession. An 11-yard TD pass from JOE TATUM to PETER VANIS, capping an 83 yard drive, with 2:44 left in the game made the score 28-21. Loyola’s on-side kick failed, but the ‘Wolfpack’ defense caused a fumble on fourth down, giving the Cubs the ball at their 42 yard line with just under a half minute left. Unfortunately, the errant pass marked the end for Loyola.
The “what ifs“ are plentiful, but in the end, it was a loss for Loyola on whose sideline tears were flowing.
An outstanding senior class led the Cubs to an Angelus League title and another coveted trip to the CIF Southern Section playoffs. Loyola (8-4) lost four games by a combined total of just 14 points.
The pain will remain for awhile, but Loyola’s players can hold their heads high. There was no quit in the Cubs as they made a gallant comeback bid.
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