October 21, 2022

Cub Football - Loyola falls to Cathedral, 21-3 - Will face St. Francis next Friday in final league contest

LOYOLA’S OFFENSE SHUT DOWN BY PHANTOMS, DEFENSE KEPT CUBS IN GAME
Before the largest home crowd of the season, Loyola could not muster any offense against Cathedral in an Angelus League bout at Smith Field on Friday night.

The lack of any offensive punch ended up being the story of the contest, as the Phantoms’ defensive dominance and control at the points of attack ultimately enabled Cathedral to pull out a 21-3 victory over the Cubs.

Loyola’s ‘Wolfpack’ defense played gallantly, holding Cathedral to its second lowest point total of the season, but the effort of the Cubs’ stop unit was not enough to pull off an upset.

Loyola went three and out on its first possession of the game, which was a portent of the dominant defensive performance by the Phantoms for the remainder of the contest. The Cub punt was downed at the Cathedral ten yard line.

The Phantoms fumbled the ball on their first play from scrimmage, with Loyola defensive lineman JACK REED recovering the ball at the visitors’ eight yard line. The Cubs were forced to settle for a 23-yard MARK HYAN field goal to go up 3-0 with 5:41 on the first quarter clock.

Unfortunately, those would be the only points scored by Loyola in the contest. Despite the success of Cathedral’s highly effective quick strike, snap-and-throw offense which featured a bevy of fast, sure-handed wide receivers, the Cub defense allowed the Big Blue to remain within striking distance until late in the final quarter, when a fourth-and-long play deep in Loyola territory failed.

The visitors tacked on a late four-yard rushing touchdown to make the final score, 21-3. To have a shot at a victory the Cubs had to run the ball successfully, but the fast, powerful Phantom front seven effectively filled the running lanes and pressured Loyola’s pass offense all night long.  Including sacks, the Cubs gained only 15 rushing yards in the first half and 17 yards on the ground after intermission. The Big Blue lost the turnover battle three to one.

Following the Cub field goal, the Loyola defense gave up 54 yards on the ensuing series, but Cathedral missed a field goal attempt of 33 yards.

At the 9:41 mark of the second quarter the Phantoms scored on a 23-yard TD pass to cap a six-play 50-yard drive to take the lead, 7-3.

Cathedral struck again with 2:51 remaining in the first half on a 66-yard bomb on the fifth play of a 91 yard drive. The halftime score was 14-3.

Unofficially, the Phantoms out gained the Cubs 213 yards to 44 yards in the first two quarters. The only offensive highlight of the game for Loyola came midway through the second quarter when quarterback XAVIER RICE connected with running back JON BAUTISTA for 29 yards, but the Cubs were ultimately forced to punt.

The second half was a repeat of the first as Loyola gained only 52 total yards. After a Big Blue turnover on downs on their own 17 yard line the Cub defense gave up a four-yard, fourth down scoring run with 2:30 left in the game to make the final score, 21-3.

Other than its lone field goal, Loyola’s other drives ended in four punts, two interceptions, a turnover on downs, time expiring at the end of the first half and a fumble.

Among the defensive stalwarts for the Cubs were defensive lineman ISAIAH SANDERS (two sacks), defensive lineman JACK REED, corner JORDAN HEWITT, inside linebacker ZACH BOWLES and outside linebacker SCOTT TAYLOR.

Loyola will host St. Francis in the Angelus League finale next Friday. A share of the conference title will be at stake. St. Francis routed St. Paul 49-20 on Friday. The Cubs will need to play much better on the offensive side of the ball to have any chance of upending the Golden Knights.

Loyola dropped to 4-5 overall and 3-1 in league competition. Cathedral improved to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play.