WHERE LOYOLA STANDS GOING INTO FINAL NON-LEAGUE GAME
Loyola completes its tough non-league schedule Friday night when it hosts the state's 13th-ranked team, Oaks Christian, at Smith Field.

The Lions are the prohibitive favorites. But Loyola's heartbreaking 42-35 loss to Chaminade in West Hills last Friday forecast one thing, the Big Blue will show up and play hard notwithstanding long odds.

The Cubs were considered underdogs last Friday before nearly pulling off an upset of the Eagles. So don't be surprised if the Big Blue makes a game of it against the highest ranked and best team they will play during the course of the regular season.

Loyola has shown incremental improvement since its season opening contest against Damien, but by no means have the Cubs reached their ceiling.

Friday's final tuneup before the Angelus League battles commence on September 29 provides an opportunity for Loyola to take another step toward reaching its considerable potential.

One phase of the Cubs' performance that continues to improve is the passing game. Junior QB T. K. KNYAL completed 20 of 27 passes (74%) for 228 yards and threw for one TD against Chaminade. He has completed 75 of 124 (60%) aerials for 834 yards (209 yards per game average) with seven touchdown throws and six interceptions.

KNYAL has been the beneficiary of a standout receiving corps, led by wideouts KHALIL CUEVA (24 receptions for 229 yards and three TDs) and DUKE GIARRAPUTO ( 23 catches for 306 yards, 13.3 average).

Last Friday, Loyola's rushing attack had its best performance of the year. That phase of the Cubs' offensive output must continue to improve for Loyola to be a factor in the looming Angelus League title race. A young offensive line appears to be making strides.

The Cub 'Wolfpack' defense needs to take a big step up after relinquishing 35 second-half points to Chaminade.  Loyola has the personnel to play at a more competitive level, and must do so to vie for a potential playoff spot at the conclusion of the regular season.

The leading tackler for the Big Blue stop unit is tough junior inside linebacker HENRY CASANI, who has 31 stops. Tied for second on the tackles list are safety JAKE ARELLANO (30, with a team leading 11 solos) and sophomore inside linebacker RONEN ZAMORANO (30). Six foot, four inch, 230 lb. junior outside linebacker SCOTT TAYLOR is the fourth leading tackler with 22. TAYLOR leads the team in tackles for loss and has seven hurries on his resume. Senior DL/Edge IKE SANDERS leads the defense with 18 hurries.

Two other areas which need to be tightened up are special teams and penalties. A blocked punt, muffed kickoff, and failure to recover an onside kick late in the contest last week proved costly. Eight penalties were assessed against the Cubs against Chaminade, including four illegal procedure infractions, a personal foul and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. That number must be reduced significantly going forward.

Loyola has the talent to play at a higher level. The expectation is that it will.

A LOOK AT THE OAKS CHRISTIAN LIONS
Coach Charlie Collins' Oaks Christian crew is loaded with major college prospects in each of its position groups, which is one reason why CalPreps has the Lions ranked as the 13th best team in the Golden State. 

Oaks Christian is 2-2 against an absolute killer non-league schedule: the Lions routed Chaminade 55-28; lost to state number three-ranked Sierra Canyon 30-14; handed Eastvale Roosevelt its lone loss of the season by a score of 50-14; and lost to Gardena Serra, the 12th ranked squad in California, 26-13.

Oaks' sophomore running back Deshonne Redeaux (6-0, 185) possesses high end sprinters' speed. He averages an eye-popping 9.1 yards per carry. Senior RB McKencie Parks (6-0, 175) also averages nine yards per tote. All Lion ball carriers average 8.3 yards per run. 

Senior QB Nate Bennett has been sidelined with an injury, but his replacements have performed very admirably. Senior Devin Tate (6-3, 205) has completed 64% of his passes for 354 yards, and junior Axel Eason (6-4, 210) has thrown for 327 yards at a 67% success rate. The Lions' best receiver is senior Chase Farrell (5-11, 175). The sure handed speedster is averaging 21.3 yards per reception.

Seven Oaks Christian linemen weigh in at 295 pounds or more. One is an Alabama commit. The offensive line in two words is big and strong. Same for the defensive front.

The Lions' defense is fast and stout. Outside linebacker Hayden Lowe (6-5, 240) is a beast. Junior linebacker Christian Knoos (6-0, 213) leads the squad with 48 tackles. Including 29 solos. He has three sacks and three hurries to his credit. Junior LB Evan Fanner has recorded 38 stops. A fast, athletic secondary has five interceptions against high end competition.

GAME OUTLOOK
Oaks Christian has a lineup and statistical ledger that heavily favor the Lions, who will be arriving at 1901 Venice Boulevard with an nasty mindset after their loss to Gardena Serra in which they scored only one TD and rushed for an uncharacteristic 43 yards on 21 carries.

The teams' only common opponent is Chaminade, whom Oaks beat by 27 points (55-28), and the Cubs lost to by seven.

Loyola will need to play flawlessly and create some turnovers to have a shot against the mammoth, fast and skill-laden Lions.

THE SERIES
The schools met for the first time in football in a non-league game in Westlake Village last season, with Oaks winning 34-7.

FRIDAY PRE-GAME
Loyola parents, alumni and supporters will meet at El Cholo on Western Avenue at 4:30 p.m. on Friday to gear up for the Cubs' monster brawl against Oaks Christian.
 

2023 LOYOLA 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
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)