Cub Football - Loyola embarks on tough Angelus League slate with little margin for error
CUBS FACE MUCH IMPROVED LEAGUE SCHEDULE
The 2023 Angelus League is a much improved conference compared to its 2022 lineup.
Lancaster Paraclete finished last season with a 1-9 record. The Spirits (5-0) are the lone undefeated conference squad heading into the league's first week of competition. From a cellar dweller to contender, or at least a team that could vie for a playoff berth, Paraclete is a prime example of the league's improved status.
Loyola (1-4) has the worst non-league record of the loop's six teams. St. Francis (4-1), the 2022 CIF Division 5 runner-up last season, lost a large number of key players to graduation, and was expected by many to take a step back this fall, but the Golden Knights have served definitive notice that they have a high ceiling once again. Cathedral (2-3) is expected to have at least six transfers become eligible today according to the CIF Southern Section website after the five-week sit out period.
For the the Cubs a new-and most important-season kicks off on Friday night. For those who think the Angelus League slate will be easier than Loyola's tough non-league schedule, think again. The Cubs' mettle will be tested every Friday for the next five weeks.
The squad has shown improvement in some areas in the last two games, but if Loyola is to contend for a fourth consecutive league crown, greater improvement will need to be manifested starting this Friday.
OAKS CHRISTIAN REWIND
Last Friday the Cubs fell victim to a 90-yard fumble return for a TD, fumbled the ball on a first-and-goal play at the Oaks Christian one yard line and allowed an 88- yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Those three miscues added up to 21 lost points in an error-plagued 31-14 loss to the Lions. Miscues of that magnitude cannot continue if Loyola hopes to be a playoff contender, much less a league title aspirant. While the Big Blue out-gained the Lions 323 yards to 180 the only statistic that ultimately matters is the win-loss ledger.
It was just a matter of time before 5-10, 185 pound Cub sophomore running back SEAN MORRIS had a breakout game. The lpremier performance came last Friday against Oaks, the 14th-ranked team in the state according to CalPreps.
MORRIS ran for 217 yards on 39 carries, including a 35-yard sprint for a TD. He also had a 32-yard pass reception. The swift, powerful sophomore tailback served notice that he will be an important weapon in Loyola's offensive attack for the remainder of the campaign. In addition to his prowess as a running back, Morris is the Cubs' third leading receiver.
The Big Blue will travel to La Canada Friday to take on a very good St. Francis squad in the Angelus League opener.
A LOOK AT ST. FRANCIS
Coach Dean Herrington's Golden Knights put up big points (38 points per game average) on offense, and are stout and stingy on defense (16 points per game allowed).
St. Francis finished its non-league schedule 4-1: 58-13 win against West Ranch; 34-21 victory over Mira Costa; 17-10 loss to Long Beach Millikan; 45-14 win over St. Pius X-St. Mathias Academy; and a 42-13 romp over Sultana.
The Golden Knights' high scoring offense is led by athletic dual-threat junior quarterback John Sanders (5-11, 165), who has completed 71 of 120 passes (59%) for 994 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has carried the ball for 307 yards, averaging 8.1 yards per tote.
Tough senior running back John Calmette (5-9, 175) has gained 388 yards on 71 carries (5.5 ypc) and scored six TDs.
Senior tight end/ linebacker Preston Jernegan (6-3, 220) is St. Francis's best player. He is the team's leading receiver (22 receptions for 339 yards (15.4 avg.) and 11 TDs). Calmette is second on the receiving list. Sophomore wideout JT Martin (5-10, 170) is a home run threat who averages 23.3 yards per reception.
The Golden Knights' highly productive offense relies on a big, strong offensive line led by powerful senior Phillip Ocon (6-4, 290), a Colorado State commit.
Jernegan, a fast physical linebacker, leads an attacking, athletic defensive platoon with 33 tackles including 23 solos. Fast junior linebacker Julian Navarro (5-11, 180) has 30 stops including 25 solo tackles. Ocon stuffs running lanes with brutal ferocity, and defensive end Griffin Ulrich is a menace at 6-4, 225.
Freshman kicker Shawn Sanders has made four of five field goal attempts and was one of two St. Francis players (the other was Ocon) to be named as mid season top performing players in today's edition of the Los Angeles Times.
GAME OUTLOOK
The Golden Knights have had this game circled on their calendars since their one point loss to Loyola last season. It is safe to say they will play with their hair on fire.
The team that wins the battles at the line of scrimmage is likely to pull out the win. Loyola must run the ball effectively to have a chance, and the Cubs' 'Wolfpack' defense must find a way to neutralize John Sanders. It was unable to successfully corral the three dual threat signal callers it has faced thus far. If St. Francis scores at its season average (38 points) it will not conducive to a Loyola victory. The Cubs will probably need to score at least four touchdowns to have a shot at the win.
The Golden Knights have the advantage on special teams.
The CalPreps computer gives St. Francis a 72% chance to win with a predicted score of 22-14.
One thing is certain when these two teams meet, you can throw out the records and stats while buckling up for an old fashioned Donnybrook.
An overflow crowd is expected, so make plans to arrive early.
THE SERIES
In the 55 years since the teams' first game in the newly formed Del Rey League in 1968, Loyola owns a 20-8-1 series advantage. Last season's game came down to the wire with the Cubs thwarting a two-point conversion attempt with no time left on the clock at Smith Field to hold on for a dramatic 27-26 victory.
in 2021, Loyola downed St. Francis 6-3 in La Canada in a defensive slug fest.
An interesting historical note about the series: the arch rivals met in a preseason scrimmage in 1963. The Cubs went on to win a second consecutive CIF AAAA championship and the Golden Knights captured the CIF AAA title. Loyola finished the 1963 campaign as the number two-ranked team in the nation.
2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE/ RESULTS
August 25 @ Damien (L 35-14)
September 1 Culver City (W 24-6)
September 8 Leuzinger (L 35-14)
September 15 @ Chaminade (L 42-35)
September 22 Oaks Christian (L 31-14)
September 29 @ St. Francis*
October 6 St. Paul*
October 13 @ Crespi*
October 20 Paraclete*
October 29 @ Cathedral*
(* denotes Angelus League game)
Thirty-four Loyola grads are competing on college football teams this fall at schools from Storrs, Connecticut to Los Angeles; Northfield, Minnesota to New York City; Fort Worth, Texas to Princeton, New Jersey; Grinnel, Iowa to Berkeley; and Austin, Texas to Chicago.
Here is the current list of Cubs participating in college football (in alphabetical order):
NICK ANDERSON ‘20, OL (Denison)
SINJUN ASTANI ‘17, DL (USC)
CHAD BAILEY ‘20, DB (Tulane)
JP BAUTISTA (Pasadena College)
NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA ‘19, K (Mississippi State)
GEORGE CARATAN '18 , P (Connecticut)
JAC CASASANTE ‘18, LS (USC)
COLIN CRUCE ‘22, OL (Bowdoin)
JORDAN HEWITT '23 (UCLA)
ALEX JOHNSON '18, DB (UCLA)
JEFFREY JOHNSON '21, TE (Cal)
JACOBY KELLY ‘22, WR (Cerritos College)
ANDREW KOZHAYA ‘21, DL (Grinnel)
LEIGHTON LINE '23, DL (Cal Lutheran)
CARTER LINK ‘20, LB (SMU)
SHAWN LIN ‘22, DL (Columbia)
CONNOR McDOWELL ‘21, DB (Angelo State)
JUSTIN MURRAY '22, LB (Santa Monica College)
BLAKE NEITHART ‘20 DB (Carleton)
TAHJ OWENS ‘22, DB (Princeton)
JACK PARIS '23, OL (MIT)
RYAN QUINTANAR ‘20, LB (TCU)
XAVIER RICE '23, QB (Duquesne)
DAKOTA SMITH '18, LB (Minnesota State)
PATRICK SODL ‘22, LB (Columbia)
ZAKHARI SPEARS ‘21, DB (Connecticut)
HENRY STICKLER '21, WR (SMU)
JACK SUSNJAR '23, OL (USC)
JOE TATUM ‘22, QB (Texas)
EVAN THOMAS ‘20, DB (UCLA)
WILKE WILES '23, WR (University of Chicago)
HOLMES WORMALD '23, TE (Merchant Marine Academy)
CEYAIR WRIGHT ‘21, DB ( USC)
SAM YOON ‘22, OL ( UCLA)
The 2023 Angelus League is a much improved conference compared to its 2022 lineup.
Lancaster Paraclete finished last season with a 1-9 record. The Spirits (5-0) are the lone undefeated conference squad heading into the league's first week of competition. From a cellar dweller to contender, or at least a team that could vie for a playoff berth, Paraclete is a prime example of the league's improved status.
Loyola (1-4) has the worst non-league record of the loop's six teams. St. Francis (4-1), the 2022 CIF Division 5 runner-up last season, lost a large number of key players to graduation, and was expected by many to take a step back this fall, but the Golden Knights have served definitive notice that they have a high ceiling once again. Cathedral (2-3) is expected to have at least six transfers become eligible today according to the CIF Southern Section website after the five-week sit out period.
For the the Cubs a new-and most important-season kicks off on Friday night. For those who think the Angelus League slate will be easier than Loyola's tough non-league schedule, think again. The Cubs' mettle will be tested every Friday for the next five weeks.
The squad has shown improvement in some areas in the last two games, but if Loyola is to contend for a fourth consecutive league crown, greater improvement will need to be manifested starting this Friday.
OAKS CHRISTIAN REWIND
Last Friday the Cubs fell victim to a 90-yard fumble return for a TD, fumbled the ball on a first-and-goal play at the Oaks Christian one yard line and allowed an 88- yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Those three miscues added up to 21 lost points in an error-plagued 31-14 loss to the Lions. Miscues of that magnitude cannot continue if Loyola hopes to be a playoff contender, much less a league title aspirant. While the Big Blue out-gained the Lions 323 yards to 180 the only statistic that ultimately matters is the win-loss ledger.
It was just a matter of time before 5-10, 185 pound Cub sophomore running back SEAN MORRIS had a breakout game. The lpremier performance came last Friday against Oaks, the 14th-ranked team in the state according to CalPreps.
MORRIS ran for 217 yards on 39 carries, including a 35-yard sprint for a TD. He also had a 32-yard pass reception. The swift, powerful sophomore tailback served notice that he will be an important weapon in Loyola's offensive attack for the remainder of the campaign. In addition to his prowess as a running back, Morris is the Cubs' third leading receiver.
The Big Blue will travel to La Canada Friday to take on a very good St. Francis squad in the Angelus League opener.
A LOOK AT ST. FRANCIS
Coach Dean Herrington's Golden Knights put up big points (38 points per game average) on offense, and are stout and stingy on defense (16 points per game allowed).
St. Francis finished its non-league schedule 4-1: 58-13 win against West Ranch; 34-21 victory over Mira Costa; 17-10 loss to Long Beach Millikan; 45-14 win over St. Pius X-St. Mathias Academy; and a 42-13 romp over Sultana.
The Golden Knights' high scoring offense is led by athletic dual-threat junior quarterback John Sanders (5-11, 165), who has completed 71 of 120 passes (59%) for 994 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has carried the ball for 307 yards, averaging 8.1 yards per tote.
Tough senior running back John Calmette (5-9, 175) has gained 388 yards on 71 carries (5.5 ypc) and scored six TDs.
Senior tight end/ linebacker Preston Jernegan (6-3, 220) is St. Francis's best player. He is the team's leading receiver (22 receptions for 339 yards (15.4 avg.) and 11 TDs). Calmette is second on the receiving list. Sophomore wideout JT Martin (5-10, 170) is a home run threat who averages 23.3 yards per reception.
The Golden Knights' highly productive offense relies on a big, strong offensive line led by powerful senior Phillip Ocon (6-4, 290), a Colorado State commit.
Jernegan, a fast physical linebacker, leads an attacking, athletic defensive platoon with 33 tackles including 23 solos. Fast junior linebacker Julian Navarro (5-11, 180) has 30 stops including 25 solo tackles. Ocon stuffs running lanes with brutal ferocity, and defensive end Griffin Ulrich is a menace at 6-4, 225.
Freshman kicker Shawn Sanders has made four of five field goal attempts and was one of two St. Francis players (the other was Ocon) to be named as mid season top performing players in today's edition of the Los Angeles Times.
GAME OUTLOOK
The Golden Knights have had this game circled on their calendars since their one point loss to Loyola last season. It is safe to say they will play with their hair on fire.
The team that wins the battles at the line of scrimmage is likely to pull out the win. Loyola must run the ball effectively to have a chance, and the Cubs' 'Wolfpack' defense must find a way to neutralize John Sanders. It was unable to successfully corral the three dual threat signal callers it has faced thus far. If St. Francis scores at its season average (38 points) it will not conducive to a Loyola victory. The Cubs will probably need to score at least four touchdowns to have a shot at the win.
The Golden Knights have the advantage on special teams.
The CalPreps computer gives St. Francis a 72% chance to win with a predicted score of 22-14.
One thing is certain when these two teams meet, you can throw out the records and stats while buckling up for an old fashioned Donnybrook.
An overflow crowd is expected, so make plans to arrive early.
THE SERIES
In the 55 years since the teams' first game in the newly formed Del Rey League in 1968, Loyola owns a 20-8-1 series advantage. Last season's game came down to the wire with the Cubs thwarting a two-point conversion attempt with no time left on the clock at Smith Field to hold on for a dramatic 27-26 victory.
in 2021, Loyola downed St. Francis 6-3 in La Canada in a defensive slug fest.
An interesting historical note about the series: the arch rivals met in a preseason scrimmage in 1963. The Cubs went on to win a second consecutive CIF AAAA championship and the Golden Knights captured the CIF AAA title. Loyola finished the 1963 campaign as the number two-ranked team in the nation.
2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE/ RESULTS
August 25 @ Damien (L 35-14)
September 1 Culver City (W 24-6)
September 8 Leuzinger (L 35-14)
September 15 @ Chaminade (L 42-35)
September 22 Oaks Christian (L 31-14)
September 29 @ St. Francis*
October 6 St. Paul*
October 13 @ Crespi*
October 20 Paraclete*
October 29 @ Cathedral*
(* denotes Angelus League game)
Thirty-four Loyola grads are competing on college football teams this fall at schools from Storrs, Connecticut to Los Angeles; Northfield, Minnesota to New York City; Fort Worth, Texas to Princeton, New Jersey; Grinnel, Iowa to Berkeley; and Austin, Texas to Chicago.
Here is the current list of Cubs participating in college football (in alphabetical order):
NICK ANDERSON ‘20, OL (Denison)
SINJUN ASTANI ‘17, DL (USC)
CHAD BAILEY ‘20, DB (Tulane)
JP BAUTISTA (Pasadena College)
NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA ‘19, K (Mississippi State)
GEORGE CARATAN '18 , P (Connecticut)
JAC CASASANTE ‘18, LS (USC)
COLIN CRUCE ‘22, OL (Bowdoin)
JORDAN HEWITT '23 (UCLA)
ALEX JOHNSON '18, DB (UCLA)
JEFFREY JOHNSON '21, TE (Cal)
JACOBY KELLY ‘22, WR (Cerritos College)
ANDREW KOZHAYA ‘21, DL (Grinnel)
LEIGHTON LINE '23, DL (Cal Lutheran)
CARTER LINK ‘20, LB (SMU)
SHAWN LIN ‘22, DL (Columbia)
CONNOR McDOWELL ‘21, DB (Angelo State)
JUSTIN MURRAY '22, LB (Santa Monica College)
BLAKE NEITHART ‘20 DB (Carleton)
TAHJ OWENS ‘22, DB (Princeton)
JACK PARIS '23, OL (MIT)
RYAN QUINTANAR ‘20, LB (TCU)
XAVIER RICE '23, QB (Duquesne)
DAKOTA SMITH '18, LB (Minnesota State)
PATRICK SODL ‘22, LB (Columbia)
ZAKHARI SPEARS ‘21, DB (Connecticut)
HENRY STICKLER '21, WR (SMU)
JACK SUSNJAR '23, OL (USC)
JOE TATUM ‘22, QB (Texas)
EVAN THOMAS ‘20, DB (UCLA)
WILKE WILES '23, WR (University of Chicago)
HOLMES WORMALD '23, TE (Merchant Marine Academy)
CEYAIR WRIGHT ‘21, DB ( USC)
SAM YOON ‘22, OL ( UCLA)
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