Cub Football - Loyola downs longtime rival St. Francis 6-3 in Angelus League thriller
CUBS SECURE SHARE OF ANGELUS LEAGUE TITLE WITH LAST SECOND FIELD GOAL AGAINST ST. FRANCIS
The final score looked like that of a soccer match or baseball game, but all that matters is Loyola pulled off its seventh victory of the season in a hard fought battle against longtime rival St. Francis before a raucous overflow crowd in La Canada on Friday night.
The dramatic defense-dominated skirmish was won by the Cubs when sophomore kicker MARK HYAN kicked a 20-yard field goal with seven seconds left in the game to secure a 6-3 Loyola win and no worse than a share of the Angelus League title.
For old timers, the battle was reminiscent of the close, fiercely contested contests between the Golden Knights and Cubs dating back to the 1970s and 1980s when the schools were members of the original Del Rey League.
The three point margin of victory marked the twelfth time in 28 contests between Loyola and St. Francis where the outcome was decided by eight points or less. Rivalry games often yield close scores, and that was indeed the case on Friday night.
Golden Knights’ head coach Dean Herrington’s game plan nearly worked to perfection in St. Francis’ upset bid, but head coach DREW CASANI’s Cubs found the resolve to march 77 yards before kicking the game winning field goal after being stymied for most of the night.
The key play on the decisive drive was made by Loyola senior co-captain PETER VANIS on a fourth down and-two yards to go at midfield with less than three minutes remaining in the contest. VANIS leaped for a high JOE TATUM pass which was put in the only place it could be thrown to keep the victory march alive.
St. Francis’ recipe of controlling the ball and shortening the game worked to near perfection as the Golden Knights pounded the ball behind an offensive line that averaged over 300 pounds from tackle to tackle.
St. Francis’ first time-consuming drive following a Loyola punt on its first possession culminated in a field goal at the 7:50 mark of the first quarter. The Golden Knights’ defense was able to hold the Cub offense scoreless in the first half. A 39-yard Loyola field goal attempt was blocked just before halftime to preserve St. Francis’ 3-0 lead.
Seemingly, every time Loyola made a big play a yellow flag was thrown. Suffice to say, the penalty yard differential was substantial in favor of the home team. A phantom pass interference call against Loyola late in the game kept a Golden Knights’ drive alive.
The second half was much the same as first two quarters. St. Francis ran the clock and played keep away, and the officiating crew continued to throw flags against the Cubs. With a 3-0 lead, the Golden Knights were successfully driving after the second half kickoff. And a sense of dread was building for the Big Blue.
Loyola needed a break and it got one on a ferocious hit by senior safety JACKSON SHEA that caused a fumble which was recovered by senior outside linebacker RAMAN ENIGBOKAN, setting the Big Blue offense up at their own 34 yard line. Following the pivotal turnover, the Cubs were hampered by a holding penalty, but they still managed to get the ball to the 19 yard line before HYAN kicked a 36-yard field goal with 2:26 left in the third quarter to tie the score, 3-3.
The ominous specter of defeat which loomed over Loyola from the opening kickoff remained notwithstanding the successful field goal, as St. Francis once again began patiently driving down the field as it bled the clock. The Golden Knights marched deep into Cub territory before the drive stalled, forcing a field goal attempt with the ball fortuitously clanging off the left upright with 5:33 left in the game.
it was do or die time for Loyola which would start only its second-and as it turned out, final- possession after intermission at its 20 yard line. The Cubs dug deep and mounted a 77-yard drive down to the St. Francis three yard line. With seven seconds left on the clock, HYAN booted the game winning field goal. Following the ensuing kickoff sophomore safety JAKE ARELLANO picked off a desperation pass with no time left to seal the victory.
Loyola senior quarterback JOE TATUM, displaying his usual poise, completed 17 of 21 passes for 126 yards, and senior All-CIF tailback TAHJ OWENS had another 100 yard rushing performance.
The leading tackler for the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense was senior inside linebacker PATRICK SODL. Senior safety ALEC SANCHEZ- NIGOLIAN made a number of key tackles, and ENIGBOKAN’s return to action from injury aided Loyola’s defensive effort.
The Cubs (7-2, 2-0) ran only 47 offensive plays and had just five offensive possessions with a mere two in the second half.
The most positive takeaway from the contest is the way Loyola used remarkable grit to finish in crunch time.
REGULAR SEASON FINALE NEXT FRIDAY AT HOME
The Cubs will play a dangerous, scrappy St. Paul team next Friday on Senior Night at Smith Field. The Swordsmen (7-1) fell to St. Francis, 26-20, in their Angelus League opener, but routed Crespi, 52-35, on Friday.
If Loyola (7-2, 1-0) wins its final regular season game, the Ciubs will be the undisputed Angelus League champions.
The final score looked like that of a soccer match or baseball game, but all that matters is Loyola pulled off its seventh victory of the season in a hard fought battle against longtime rival St. Francis before a raucous overflow crowd in La Canada on Friday night.
The dramatic defense-dominated skirmish was won by the Cubs when sophomore kicker MARK HYAN kicked a 20-yard field goal with seven seconds left in the game to secure a 6-3 Loyola win and no worse than a share of the Angelus League title.
For old timers, the battle was reminiscent of the close, fiercely contested contests between the Golden Knights and Cubs dating back to the 1970s and 1980s when the schools were members of the original Del Rey League.
The three point margin of victory marked the twelfth time in 28 contests between Loyola and St. Francis where the outcome was decided by eight points or less. Rivalry games often yield close scores, and that was indeed the case on Friday night.
Golden Knights’ head coach Dean Herrington’s game plan nearly worked to perfection in St. Francis’ upset bid, but head coach DREW CASANI’s Cubs found the resolve to march 77 yards before kicking the game winning field goal after being stymied for most of the night.
The key play on the decisive drive was made by Loyola senior co-captain PETER VANIS on a fourth down and-two yards to go at midfield with less than three minutes remaining in the contest. VANIS leaped for a high JOE TATUM pass which was put in the only place it could be thrown to keep the victory march alive.
St. Francis’ recipe of controlling the ball and shortening the game worked to near perfection as the Golden Knights pounded the ball behind an offensive line that averaged over 300 pounds from tackle to tackle.
St. Francis’ first time-consuming drive following a Loyola punt on its first possession culminated in a field goal at the 7:50 mark of the first quarter. The Golden Knights’ defense was able to hold the Cub offense scoreless in the first half. A 39-yard Loyola field goal attempt was blocked just before halftime to preserve St. Francis’ 3-0 lead.
Seemingly, every time Loyola made a big play a yellow flag was thrown. Suffice to say, the penalty yard differential was substantial in favor of the home team. A phantom pass interference call against Loyola late in the game kept a Golden Knights’ drive alive.
The second half was much the same as first two quarters. St. Francis ran the clock and played keep away, and the officiating crew continued to throw flags against the Cubs. With a 3-0 lead, the Golden Knights were successfully driving after the second half kickoff. And a sense of dread was building for the Big Blue.
Loyola needed a break and it got one on a ferocious hit by senior safety JACKSON SHEA that caused a fumble which was recovered by senior outside linebacker RAMAN ENIGBOKAN, setting the Big Blue offense up at their own 34 yard line. Following the pivotal turnover, the Cubs were hampered by a holding penalty, but they still managed to get the ball to the 19 yard line before HYAN kicked a 36-yard field goal with 2:26 left in the third quarter to tie the score, 3-3.
The ominous specter of defeat which loomed over Loyola from the opening kickoff remained notwithstanding the successful field goal, as St. Francis once again began patiently driving down the field as it bled the clock. The Golden Knights marched deep into Cub territory before the drive stalled, forcing a field goal attempt with the ball fortuitously clanging off the left upright with 5:33 left in the game.
it was do or die time for Loyola which would start only its second-and as it turned out, final- possession after intermission at its 20 yard line. The Cubs dug deep and mounted a 77-yard drive down to the St. Francis three yard line. With seven seconds left on the clock, HYAN booted the game winning field goal. Following the ensuing kickoff sophomore safety JAKE ARELLANO picked off a desperation pass with no time left to seal the victory.
Loyola senior quarterback JOE TATUM, displaying his usual poise, completed 17 of 21 passes for 126 yards, and senior All-CIF tailback TAHJ OWENS had another 100 yard rushing performance.
The leading tackler for the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense was senior inside linebacker PATRICK SODL. Senior safety ALEC SANCHEZ- NIGOLIAN made a number of key tackles, and ENIGBOKAN’s return to action from injury aided Loyola’s defensive effort.
The Cubs (7-2, 2-0) ran only 47 offensive plays and had just five offensive possessions with a mere two in the second half.
The most positive takeaway from the contest is the way Loyola used remarkable grit to finish in crunch time.
REGULAR SEASON FINALE NEXT FRIDAY AT HOME
The Cubs will play a dangerous, scrappy St. Paul team next Friday on Senior Night at Smith Field. The Swordsmen (7-1) fell to St. Francis, 26-20, in their Angelus League opener, but routed Crespi, 52-35, on Friday.
If Loyola (7-2, 1-0) wins its final regular season game, the Ciubs will be the undisputed Angelus League champions.
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