Cub Football - Loyola dominant in All-CIF selections - 2020 schedule challenging - New Vanguard President brings energy to Cub Football support group - Loyola well represented by National Football Foundation Scholar athletes
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT ONCE AGAIN TOPS CUB FOOTBALL STORYLINE
Loyola senior inside linebacker STEVEN ARELLANO was named Loyola’s 2019 MVP for his superlative play in helping lead the Cubs to their thirteenth appearance in a CIF Southern Section football championship game to cap a epic turnaround season under first year head coach DREW CASANI ‘91.
For his stellar efforts as a ferocious inside linebacker, Arellano was chosen as the 2019 CIF Division 4 Co-Defensive Player-of-the-Year, the eleventh Cub player to earn Southern Section Player-of-the-Year honors. Ironically, Casani won the same acclaim 29 years earlier as the CIF Southern Section D-I Co-Defensive Player as an inside linebacker for Loyola’s 1990 CIF Southern Section Division I title squad, the fourth of six Southern Section Cub championship teams.
Eclipsing Arellano’s achievement on the gridiron was his success in the classroom. He will continue his academic and football careers at one of the nation’s most prestigious schools of higher learning, the University of Chicago, which is tied for sixth place with Stanford and the University of Pennsylvania in US News’ National University rankings. Arellano is part of large fraternity of Loyola football players who have matriculated to the best universities in America.
NINE LOYOLA PLAYERS EARN ALL-CIF SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION 4 HONORS
A record nine Loyola players, including an unprecedented four underclassmen, weire named to the 2019 All-CIF Southern Section Div. 4 honor squad for their stellar exploits in leading the Cubs to a Division 4 runner-up finish last season.
The nine Loyola All-CIF selections were (in alphabetical order) as follows:
NICK ANDERSON (center), Sr.
STEVEN ARELLANO (inside linebacker), Sr.
CARTER LINK (outside linebacker), Sr.
SAM DOMINGUEZ (offensive line)
JOSH LONG (defensive lineman), Jr.
TAHJ OWENS (running back), Soph.
BRENDAN PERNECKY (tight end), Sr.
ZAKHARI SPEARS (corner), Jr.
CEYAIR WRIGHT (corner), Jr.
FIVE CUBS HONORED BY NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME AS SCHOLAR ATHLETES
Joining a long and illustrious list of Loyola scholar athletes, five Cub seniors were honored by the Los Angeles chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame for their outstanding efforts in the classroom, on the field and in serving their communities. The five 2019 Loyola student athletes (in alphabetical order) were as follows:
STEVEN ARELLANO (linebacker)
SAM DOMINGUEZ (offensive lineman)
CARTER LINK (outside linebacker)
BRENDAN PERNECKY (tight end)
EVAN THOMAS (safety)
TOUGH 2020 SCHEDULE AWAITS CIF RUNNER-UP LOYOLA
Loyola’s 2020 football schedule has just been finalized. It is a challenging slate as the Cubs will be looking to make another CIF Southern Section title run this fall.
August 21 @ SERRA (Gardena)
August 28 @ ST. BERNARD
September 4 @ CULVER CITY
September 11 CATHEDRAL @ Smith Field
September 18 CRENSHAW @ Smith Field
September 25 LA HABRA @ Smith Field
October 2 @ San Clemente
October 16 ST. FRANCIS @ Smith Field
October 23 @ ST. PAUL
October 30 CRESPI @ Smith Field
November 6 CIF playoffs - first round TBA
November 13 CIF playoffs - quarterfinals
November 20 CIF playoffs - semifinals
November 27 CIF playoffs - championship
JOHN ESTRADA ‘86 NEW HEAD OF LOYOLA GRIDIRON VANGUARD
Former Loyola wide receiver JOHN ESTRADA ‘86 was elected by the Loyola Gridiron Vanguard board on February 27 to take over as President of the Cub Football support group. John currently works as an accomplished director for Universal Studios, but his job demands and family commitment still leave room for his passionate support of Loyola’s tradition-rich football program.
John is a charismatic, enthusiastic leader who will bring great energy to his role as the leader of the Vanguard. His first order of business is to do everything possible to double the number of current Vanguard members. John encourages all friends and supporters of Cub Football to join or renew their membership. The Vanguard plays a critical role in providing needed financial assistance to the program.
To join or renew your membership please go to loyolagridironvanguard.com and click on membership.
GO CUBS!