Cub Football - Loyola dominated by Sierra Canyon in one-sided rout
LOYOLA DESTROYED IN EVERY PHASE OF GAME BY SIERRA CANYON
Coming off its most impressive performance of the season on October 18, a 44-10 annihilation of Chaminade, the feeling was that Loyola would compete with Sierra Canyon.
That feeling was quickly dispelled in Chatsworth on Friday night as the Trailblazers went 80 yards in eight plays on their first possession of the Mission League contest, scoring on a 33-yard keeper by its Utah- bound quarterback.
For the Cubs that was the start of a scoring avalanche and defensive suffocation by Sierra Canyon in what can only be described as an ignominious, 45-0, breathtaking beat down.
It was the worst loss by a Loyola team-in terms of point differential-since game-by-game records were kept beginning in 1924, some 100 years ago. It was the Big Blue's first shut out loss since an 8-0 defeat at the hands of Vista Murrieta in 2018.
The Trailblazers didn't blaze a trail. They laid asphalt. Sierra Canyon was simply a bigger, faster, stronger and more athletic football team than Loyola, especially on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. They also were the more focused team.
The opening drive of the game portended the dam break which would ensue for the remainder of the contest.
The Trailblazers' offense amassed 328 yards of total offense in the first half to the Cubs' net of six yards. The Big Blue did not muster a single first down before intermission. Loyola's six first half possessions ended as follows: 2 yards, punt; 8 yards, punt; -9 yards, punt; -3 yards, punt; 8 yards, punt; 0 yards, punt.
Meanwhile, Sierra Canyon raced to a 24-0 halftime lead that could have been worse after a Trailblazer fumbled the ball into and ultimately out of the end zone after a long distance play to deny Sierra Canyon of another score just before intermission.
The third and fourth quarters were more of the same. The Trailblazers gained 465 yards in the contest to the Cubs' 79, 63 of which came against the home team's reserves. With the win. Sierra Canyon improved to 6-3. Its three losses were to JSerra, St. John Bosco and Orange Lutheran of the Trinity League.
The only thing Loyola (4-5) can do now after a loss which had no positive takeaways is to wipe the slate clean and get back to the drawing board and blocking sleds in a hurry.
The Cubs host Notre Dame (4-5) at Smith Field next Friday. The Knights were upset by Chaminade, 31-30, in overtime at the Eagles' home field in West Hills on Friday.
Third place in the Mission League and a CIF Southern Section playoff berth will be at stake on November 1. It is likely the team that wants it more will claim the victory and a ticket to the post season.
LOYOLA SOPH TEAM REMAINS UNDEFEATED WITH IMPRESSIVE 54-20 ROAD WIN OVER MILLIKAN
On Thursday night in Long Beach, Loyola's sophomore squad routed L.B. Millikan's JV team, 54-20.
KANE CASANI started things off for the Cubs with a brilliant tackle-breaking 80-plus yard kickoff return.
Quarterback MATT SMITH continued his season-long outstanding play. The future varsity star completed 12 of 16 passes (75%) for 228 yards and two TDS, a 63-yard strike to TOBY THUSS and a 22-yard toss to SAMMY FRIEND.
Linebacker MERRICK DOTTS made a huge play when he stripped a Rams' ball carrier and took the loose ball 25 yards for a score.
Running back MATT FINE scored on 38 and 12 yard runs. Safety GAVIN MILLER made a touchdown-saving interception in the end zone.
Loyola is 9-0 on the season.
CUB FRESHMEN LOSE TO SIERRA CANYON JV TEAM
For the third time this season, the Loyola freshman team was pitted against an older JV team at Smith Field on Thursday. The Cubs were no match for the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers who swamped them 44-0. The Frosh record dropped to 6-3, but they have beaten every freshman team they have played.
2024 LOYOLA VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
8-23 @ Cathedral (L, 16-13, 2OT)
8-30 Damien (L, 30-29)
9-13 @ Leuzinger (L, 40-30)
9-20 @ St. Francis (W, 35-7)
9-27 @ Mount Miguel (Spring Valley, San Diego) (W, 46-38)
10-4 Serra (Home)* (L, 42-35)
10-11 @ Bishop Amat* (W, 24-17)
10-18 Chaminade (Home)* (W, 44-10)
10-25 @ Sierra Canyon* (L, 45-0)
11-1 Notre Dame (Home)*
All games on Fridays @ 7:00 p.m. * Denotes Mission League game 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
SHAWN LIN '22, DL, Columbia
LEIGHTON LINE ‘23, DL, Cal Lutheran
CONNOR McDOWELL ‘21, DB, Angelo State
BLAKE NEITHART ‘20, DB, Carleton
TAHJ OWENS '22, DB, Princeton
JACK PARIS '23, DL, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
RYAN QUINTANAR '20, LB, USC
ISAIAH SANDERS, ‘24, LB, UC Davis
PATRICK SODL ‘22, LB, Columbia
HENRY STICKLER ‘22, 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
LOYOLA GRADS IN THE NFL
MYLES BRYANT '16, corner, Houston Texans
ALEX JOHNSON '19, corner, New York Giants (practice squad)
DAVID LONG, JR., corner, Indianapolis Colts (practice squad)
COLEMAN SHELTON '13, center, Chicago Bears