Cub Football - Loyola falls to Damien in a fight to the finish
LOYOLA COMES UP JUST SHORT AGAINST DAMIEN IN NON-LEAGUE THRILLER
In a taut, hard hitting contest before a large crowd at Smith Field on Friday night in its home opener, Loyola gave La Verne Damien everything it had-and then some-for a full 48 minutes before a 56-yard field goal attempt came up just short as time expired, allowing the Spartans, ranked 19th in the state by CalPreps, to escape the thrilling back-and-forth battle with a 30-29 victory.
While the loss was heartbreaking, the positive takeaway from the second game of the still young season was how hard the Cubs competed against a quality opponent after a disappointing effort in their season opener against Cathedral, to whom they lost in double overtime on the road, a week ago.
By any account, the game was captivating from the opening kickoff until the fateful final second ticked off the clock.
Neither offense got untracked in the early going. On Loyola’s third possession, Damien recovered a Cub fumble at the Loyola 23 yard line. The Spartans scored on the next play, a 23-yard pass with 5:03 remaining in the first quarter, but their extra point kick attempt was no good.
The Cubs drove 66 yards on the ensuing possession, but a 31-yard field goal try was wide left.
After forcing a Damien punt Loyola took over at its own 23 yard line and promptly drove 77 yards in four plays with junior running back SEAN MORRIS II racing 13 yards for a TD with 2:43 left in the first half. Junior kicker JACOB KREINBRING’s extra point kick gave the Cubs a 7-6 lead.
Big sacks by Loyola junior defensive ends SILAS NUR and MAX MEIER allowed the Cubs to enter the locker room at intermission up by one point.
A failed Cub quarterback sneak on a fourth-and-one play on Loyola’s first possession of the third quarter set the Spartans up at the home team’s 49 yard line. Five plays later Damien scored on a 38-yard pass, followed by a two point conversion to give the Spartans a 14-7 lead at the 9:10 mark of the third quarter.
On the following series a Cub punt by KREINBRING pinned Damien on its three yard line. On the Spartans’ third play Loyola junior defensive lineman ZION SCRIVENS sacked Damien’s quarterback in the end zone for a safety, making the score 14-9.
Following a long distance return of the Spartans’ kick following the safety by senior DESI VALDES, the Cubs marched 56 yards in six plays, scoring on a well executed 29-yard pass from ASHTON PANNELL to junior wide receiver MARKUS KIER with 2:13 remaining in the third quarter. Loyola’s two point conversion attempt was stopped short. As it turned out, that failed play would play a huge role in the contest’s ultimate outcome.
The Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense then forced a Spartan punt. Clinging to a one point, 15-14, lead, Loyola drove 74 yards in nine plays, capped by an 18-yard TD pass from PANNELL to MORRIS with 9:54 left in the fourth quarter. KREIBRING’s PAT kick upped the Cubs’ lead to 22-14.
Assisted by two controversial pass interference penalties, Damien took the ball 80 yards on six plays, scoring on a 51-yard pass, followed by a successful two point conversion pass to knot the score at 22-22.
DESI VALDES had another explosive kick return to set the Cubs up at their 47 yard line. Eight plays later MORRIS scored his third touchdown of the night on a 15-yard sprint to pay dirt with 4:25 left in the fourth quarter. A successful PAT kick gave Loyola a 29-22 lead.
Momentum seemed to break through the roof for the Cubs when sophomore safety GAGE SANTOS intercepted a Spartan pass deep in Loyola territory with just over two minutes to play. A late thrown flag against the Cubs for pass interference took the air out of the raucous home crowd, and what would have been SANTOS’s second pick of the night was nullified. A nine-yard Damien scoring aerial four plays later with less than a minute remaining on the game clock made the score 29-28. The game was on the line as the Spartans set up to attempt a two-point conversion. The pass play was successful, giving the Spartans a 30-29 lead.
Loyola quickly moved the ball to the Damien 39 yard line. With less than one second remaining on the game clock, KREINBRING’s 56-yard field goal attempt came up just short, and jubilation erupted on the visitors’ sideline.
If the Cubs had stopped just one of the Spartans’ three successful two-point conversion attempts, or if they had converted on their own two-point try, Loyola would have won the game. That’s how close the contest was.
SEAN MORRIS II had another brilliant performance for the Cubs, finishing with 164 rushing yards and 54 yards receiving.
ASHTON PANNELL’s passing game got untracked in his second start. He finished 21 of 36 for 245 yards and two TDs.
The Cubs have a bye next week, and will travel to play a talented, very physical Leuzinger squad on September 13.
LOYOLA SOPHS IMPROVE TO 2-0 WITH ROUT OF DAMIEN
Loyola’s sophomore team trounced Damien, 41-18, in La Verne on Thursday.
Leading the way in a dominating first half which saw the Cubs romp to a 41-6 lead was quarterback MATT SMITH (9/13, 147 yards, 2 TDs). The leading receivers were TOBY THUSS, TYLER HARPER and LONDON GRAY.
Speedy running back MATT FINE continued to impress with 91 yards and three touchdowns on just five first half carries (18 ypc).
Head coach ANTHONY HOLLY extolled the effort of his offensive linemen, tackles BEN TORRES and NICHOLAUS LAU, guards ANDREI LOPEZ and ANTHONY RIOS, and center MICHAEL VOLMERT.
Loyola’s defense held the Spartans to less than 100 yards of total offense. Defensive two-way lineman ANDREI LOPEZ had an interception and defensive end BRENDAN VANIS returned a pick 80 yards for a TD.
Other defensive stalwarts included linebackers KANE CASANI and MERRICK DOTTS, and defensive backs JAYCE DAWSON, XAVIER WIMBLEY, DASHEL VALDES, CONOR SULLIVAN and GAVIN MILLER.
Kicker/punter EVAN CORBETT has been outstanding in all phases of the kicking game.
The Cub reserves played the entire second half.
With the win Loyola improved its record to 2-0. It has a bye this week before taking on Sonora in La Habra on September 12.
CUB FRESHMEN DEFEAT DAMIEN 19-6
Loyola’s freshman team improved to 2-0 with another outstanding defensive performance in a 19-6 victory over a solid Damien squad at Smith Field on Thursday.
Quarterback JOHN-CARL RISING threw two touchdown passes, one covering 53 yards to EJ SMITH and another of 83 yards to CADEN BRACKETT.
Quarterback JOEY BOSKOVICH scored on a one-yard run.
The Cub defensive unit held the Spartans on fourth down plays six times. Linebacker OLIVER URBON made some impact tackles.
The Freshmen will host Leuzinger on September 12 after a bye week.
HOW FUTURE CUB OPPONENTS FARED THIS WEEK
In order, here is how Loyola’s future varsity opponents (all caps) fared this week:
LEUZINGER 52, Paraclete 13
Mira Costa 35, ST. FRANCIS 6
MOUNT MIGUEL (CIF San Diego Section) 54, Rancho Buena Vista (CIF San Diego Section) 12
SERRA 36, Warren 0
St. Paul 21, BISHOP AMAT 12
Cathedral Catholic (CIF San Diego Section) 34, CHAMINADE 13
SIERRA CANYON 35, OAKS CHRISTIAN 10
NOTRE DAME 35, Bishop Diego 34
2024 LOYOLA VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
8-23 @ Cathedral (L 16-13)
8-30 Damien (L 30-29)
9-13 @ Leuzinger
9-20 @ St. Francis
9-27 @ Mount Miguel (Spring Valley)
10-4 Serra (Home)*
10-11 @ Bishop Amat*
10-18 Chaminade (Home)*
10-25 @ Sierra Canyon*
11-1 Notre Dame (Home)*
All games on Fridays @ 7:00 p.m.
*Denotes Mission League game
Click here to unsubscribe.