Cub Football - Loyola hangs on to post must win versus Bishop Amat
CUBS STAY ALIVE IN HUNT FOR PLAYOFF BERTH, BUT VICTORY OVER BISHOP AMAT WAS FLAWED
In a Mission League contest that was likely a playoff elimination game for the losing team, Loyola (3-4) hung on for a 24-17 win against longtime arch rival Bishop Amat (2-5) in what was for the most part a far from stellar Cub performance at Kiefer Stadium in La Puente on Friday night.
After the Cubs rolled to what appeared to be a dominating 24-0 lead in the waning seconds of the first half with an impressive offensive attack and shutdown defensive effort, lightning struck for the Lancers as they quickly drove 80 yards on five plays in the final 34 seconds before intermission, scoring on a 2-yard quarterback keeper with 5.6 seconds left in the second quarter to draw within 17 points to make the score 24-7.
That stunning drive was a portent of what was to come for Loyola in the second half.
The Big Blue was outscored 10-0 after the break, as the Cub offense was held to a paltry 37 total yards in what may have been its most anemic two quarters of offensive football this season. The two turnovers certainly did not help.
Adding insult to injury for Loyola, a fumbled punt and an onside kick recovered by the Lancers led to the 10 points put on the scoreboard by Bishop Amat after intermission. Fortunately for the Cubs, the Lancers' top receiver did not suit up for the game and their starting quarterback did not play in the second half because of injury.
Perhaps the most dismal aspect of Loyola's performance was the 16 penalties called against it for a staggering 140 yards. In one series alone it was assessed with four illegal procedure penalties.
As they say, a win is a win. And the Cubs notched one to keep themselves alive in the race for a playoff berth, but it was far from a momentum builder.
Yes, Bishop Amat always plays the Cubs tough in a series dating back 56 years to 1968, but there were few positive takeaways from what turned out to be an overall disappointing showing by Loyola.
The contest started out well for the Big Blue. Following an interception by BRANDON LOCKHART at the Lancers' 27 yard line, junior kicker JACOB KREINBRING converted on a 28-yard field goal with 5:03 left in the first quarter to put the Cubs up 3-0.
A 3-yard ASHTON PANNEL pass to MARKUS KIER at the 7:24 mark of the second quarter following a long drive increased Loyola's lead to 10-0.
The Cubs drove 60 yards on five plays, capped by a 4-yard PANNEL run to pay dirt to put Loyola ahead 17-0 with 4:17 remaining in the second quarter.
With 46 seconds left on the first half clock, PANNELL hooked up with KIER on a 17-yard pass for a TD, capping an impressive 78 yard drive to increase Loyola's lead to 24-0. It seemed as though Loyola was en route to a rout of their longtime arch rivals.
But, unfortunately, it was all downhill for the Cubs thereafter until the final seconds of the contest when Loyola knocked down a fourth down Lancer pass to seal the victory.
Bishop Amat (2-5) out gained the Cubs in the second half 241 yards to 37. In the first half, the Big Blue amassed 240 yards of total offense.
Loyola's SEAN MORRIS II rushed for 123 yards on 26 carries. MORRIS is a talented workhorse running back who gives supreme effort every week.
Suffice to say, the Cubs will need to play at a much higher level to earn a playoff berth.
Chaminade (1-6), Loyola's next opponent, gave Serra a scare on in West Hills on Friday before bowing, 33-21.
HOW LOYOLA'S FUTURE LEAGUE FOES FARED ON FRIDAY
Chaminade (1-6), who played tough at home against Serra, lost a hard fought game to the Cavaliers, 33-21.
Sierra Canyon (4-3) blew out Notre Dame (4-3), 50-17, at the Knights' home field. Last week Notre Dame beat Bishop Amat, 28-21 in Sherman Oaks.
The Cubs travel to Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth on October 25 and host Notre Dame in their final Mission League battle on November 1.
The going gets a lot tougher for the Cubs from here on out.
2024 LOYOLA VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
8-23 @ Cathedral (L, 16-13, 2OT)
8-30 Damien (L, 30-29)
9-13 @ Leuzinger (L, 40-30)
9-20 @ St. Francis (W, 35-7)
9-27 @ Mount Miguel (Spring Valley, San Diego) (W, 46-38)
10-4 Serra (Home)* (L, 42-35)
10-11 @ Bishop Amat* (W, 24-17)
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
CUBS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Below is the list of Loyola graduates playing college football in 2024 according to published collegiate rosters:
CHAD BAILEY ‘20, DB, Bentley University
NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA ‘19, K, Mississippi State
COLIN CRUCE ‘22, OL, Bowdoin
JEFFREY JOHNSON ‘21, TE, Cal
LUKE HARRISON ‘24, OL, University of San Diego
ANDREW KOZHAYA ‘21, OL, Grinnel
SHAWN LIN '22, DL, Columbia
LEIGHTON LINE ‘23, DL, Cal Lutheran
CONNOR McDOWELL ‘21, DB, Angelo State
BLAKE NEITHART ‘20, DB, Carleton
TAHJ OWENS '22, DB, Princeton
JACK PARIS '23, DL, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
RYAN QUINTANAR '20, LB, USC
ISAIAH SANDERS, ‘24, LB, UC Davis
PATRICK SODL ‘22, LB, Columbia
HENRY STICKLER ‘22, WR, SMU
JACK SUSNJAR ‘23, OL, USC
JOE TATUM ‘22, QB, Texas
EVAN THOMAS ‘20, DB, UCLA
RYAN TURK ‘24, OL, Dartmouth
ALEX WHITMAN ‘22, WR, Notre Dame
CHAMP WESTBROOKS ‘24, OL, Arizona State
CEYAIR WRIGHT ‘21, DB, Nebraska
SAM YOON ‘22, OL, UCLA