August 21, 2023

Cub Football - Loyola faces tough challenge in road opener against Damien - A look at Damien - How future opponents fared last week - Join the Vanguard - Pregame meeting place

LOYOLA TAKES ON PHYSICAL DAMIEN IN LA VERNE IN SEASON OPENER ON FRIDAY
In preparation for its season opener against La Verne Damien (1-0) of the Baseline League on Friday, Loyola competed in a scrimmage against Mira Costa last Thursday in Manhattan Beach.

The Cubs started out slowly against the fired-up Mustangs, but after intermission they played with a lot more energy and focus in a two-touchdown to one touchdown effort that demonstrated the promise of how the season just may go. Several key starters sat out the scrimmage to recover from minor injuries.

Meanwhile, Loyola's opening game opponent played a zero week contest on Friday, and came away with an impressive 31-21 victory over well regarded Yorba Linda, a squad which compiled an 11-1 record last fall.

Talented transfer tailback SEAN MORRIS did not play in the Mira Costa scrimmage, but it is hoped he will be ready to take the field on Friday. The 5-10, 185 pound power runner has been very impressive in practice. Junior running back DESI VALDES and sophomore tailback SONNY VILLEGAS ran hard and senior JUSTIN SMITH had several long runs for the Big Blue.

The debut of junior quarterback T.K. KNYAL was impressive, as he showed fantastic accuracy and excellent field presence. Senior wide out and team captain KHALIL CUEVA was clutch with two TD catches on the night. Transfer junior wide receiver DUKE GIARRAPUTO made an impressive showing, breaking multiple tackles for a long gain on one of his receptions.

Without the services of 2022 freshman All-American corner BRANDON LOCKHART, who was just named the number one ranked California player in the Class of 2026 by 247 Sports, the secondary did not have its best outing against Mira Costa's prolific passing attack. The biggest hits by the Cub 'Wolfpack' defenders came from  6-4, 230 lb. All-League junior outside linebacker SCOTT TAYLOR and transfer junior corner BROCK BOJORQUEZ.

CUB CAPTAINS NAMED
Senior All-League offensive tackle RYAN TURK, star senior receiver KHALIL CUEVA, and senior All-League safety JAKE ARELLANO were named as Loyola's 2023 team captains.

A LOOK AT DAMIEN
Coach Matt Bechtel's Spartans were ranked as the third best team in the San Gabriel Valley in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune's preseason rankings, and Damien lived up to its lofty prognostications in its zero week 31-21 victory over Yorba Linda on the road last Friday.

Sophomore quarterback Isaiah Arriaza's premiere as the Spartans' new signal caller was nothing short of spectacular. The athletic 5-11, 170 lb. QB completed an unheard of 91% of his passes (19 of 21) for 277 yards and threw for three touchdowns. The passing prodigy completed tosses to eight different receivers, the leader of whom was electric senior Ayden Guttierez (5-11, 160). He had six catches for 108 yards (18 yd. avg.).

Damien's best running back from last season, Steve Chavez, transferred to Orange Lutheran for which he scored three TDs on Friday. Filling the void left by Chavez's departure, senior Jordan Young averaged 4.8 yards per carry. A strong offensive line showed the quality of the Spartans' outstanding strength and conditioning program in protecting Arriaza and opening holes for Young.

On the defensive side of the ball, Damien packs a mean punch.

GAME OUTLOOK
If Loyola's defense cannot corral the Spartans' high flying passing attack, it will be a long night for the Cubs. Arriaza is not only an excellent thrower but also possesses dangerous running skills. The 'Wolfpack' must create havoc all night long.

The contest could be high scoring. Loyola's offense needs to put points early and often with its group of outstanding skill players. The Cubs cannot afford to start slowly. Damien's home field advantage must be overcome.

THE SERIES
The schools first met on the gridiron in 1971, a down year for Loyola. Damien won that game 27-7. In 2021, the Spartans and Cubs met for a second time with Loyola eking out a 16-14 victory in La Verne. Last fall the Cubs were physically manhandled in a forgettable 34-7 defeat at Smith Field.

HOW LOYOLA'S FUTURE FOES FARED IN ZERO WEEK

DAMIEN 31, Yorba LINDA 21
The Spartans are for real.

CULVER CITY did not play in zero week.

LEUZINGER 33, Norco 7
The Olympians served notice that they will be a tough out for the Cubs in two weeks.

OAKS CHRISTIAN 55, CHAMINADE 28
Oaks is loaded and deserving of its high state ranking. Chaminade may not be as good as last season, but the Eagles are still a quality football team.

ST. FRANCIS 58, West Ranch 13
With only two returning offensive starters, few expected the Golden Knights to be as explosive on offense as last season. They appear to be. And the defense is much improved.

ST. PAUL 24, Newport Harbor 22
Highly regarded new Swordsmen HC Mike Moschetti is quickly steering St. Paul back on track. The win against a highly regarded opponent was noteworthy.

CRESPI 55, Grace Brethren 49 (2OT)
Crespi went 0-10 last season. Under its new head coach, the Celts are aiming for a successful rebuild.

PARACLETE 35, Heritage Christian  6
The veteran Spirits look like they might be a factor in the Angelus League.

CATHEDRAL 43, Garfield 40
The defending Angelus League tri-champs can score points.

Loyola's future opponents went an impressive 8-1 in zero week battles.

SUPPORT CUB FOOTBALL - JOIN THE LOYOLA GRIDIRON VANGUARD
The Vanguard provides much needed financial assistance and volunteer support to Loyola’s football program.

The link below provides sign-up information. The Vanguard’s goal is to grow to over 1,500 members this fall.

https://www.loyolahs.edu/lgv/

PREGAME MEETING PLACE FOR DAMIEN 
Loyola parents, alumni and supporters will be meeting at 4:30 on Friday before the opener against Damien at The Stubborn Mule, 661 W. Arrow Highway, San Dimas, CA 91773.

2023 LOYOLA VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
August 25          @ Damien
September 1      Culver City
September 8      Leuzinger
September 15    @ Chaminade
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)

LOYOLA PLAYERS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2023
Thirty-four Loyola grads will be 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, DB (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)
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)
PETER VANIS '23, WR (TCU)
WILKE WILES '23, WR (University of Chicago)
HOLMES WORMALD '23, TE (Merchant Marine Academy)
CEYAIR WRIGHT ‘21, DB ( USC)