Cub Football - Loyola looks impressive in scrimmage against Notre Dame
LOYOLA OPENS DELAYED FOOTBALL SEASON WITH 28-7 ROMP OVER NOTRE DAME IN SCRIMMAGE
A season that was supposed to start six months ago finally got underway for the Loyola Cubs varsity football team on a clear, cool afternoon yesterday at Smith Field on campus.
There no fans. There were no stands because the track season is in full swing and stands could not be erected over the running surface. Even if there were stands it is unclear whether even parents would have been allowed to watch their sons engage in their first interscholastic football competition in more than a year and three months. The scourge of the pandemic may have delayed the “2020” campaign, but it did not affect the enthusiasm, execution, discipline and intensity displayed by the Big Blue in its scrimmage against long time rival Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
Loyola played in a manner deserving of its number nine preseason ranking by the Los Angeles Times, and the Cubs’ dominant effort against the Times’ number 10-ranked Knights provided a glimpse into the promise of a team that potentially could make a big mark in Southland high school football in its truncated five game slate which begins on the road at Upland on Friday. The reality is that Notre Dame was probably significantly overrated, so any ebullience on Loyola’s part should be tempered with the certainty that it will face far stronger foes over the next five weeks. The Knights lost several top performers by way of transfers. In the off-season.
Six foot, four inch, 224 pound, University of Arizona-bound senior quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO was poised and effective in leading Loyola on its opening drive of the scrimmage. The team captain’s perfectly placed deep ball to junior wide receiver standout PETE VANIS set up a five yard burst for a TD by electric junior running back HARRISON ALLEN.
Entering the season it was not known how the offensive line, with four first-time starters from tight end to tackle would fare. That question mark was answered with promising performances by junior tight end JOE TAYLOR, 6’ 5”, senior tight end JALEN PRIESTLEY, 303 lb. sophomore right tackle JACK SUSNJAR, senior right guard JOSH MORALES, senior center CIARAN O’LIONAIN, senior left guard ANDRES PEREZ and junior left tackle SAM YOON (6-6, 285). Yoon was the only returning OL starter, and his impressive size and strength gains were on full display in his flawless performance in anchoring the left side. The group as a whole will need to display improved physicality to compete with the better opponents on the slate., but it was nonetheless a good first outing for the players up front.
With two of its top returning All-CIF starting players sidelined with minor injuries, it was uncertain how Loyola’s ‘Wolfpack’ defense would fare against what is usually a very stout, physical squad from Sherman Oaks. That speculation was quickly put to rest as the Cub defense put on a suffocating, dominant performance in shutting down Notre Dame’s offense. The Loyola starters did not allow a point. Senior outside linebacker FINNEGAN POWELL displayed great quickness in ball pursuit. Junior inside linebacker PATRICK SODL put on the hits in the middle of the field. Freshman inside linebacker TYE SMITH (6-1, 230) and sophomore inside LB ZACHARY BOWLES demonstrated their burgeoning aptitude.
Senior returnee JEFFREY JOHNSON (6-5, 231) continued his havoc-wreaking play on the defensive line. Senior nose guard OCTAVIO CASADO consistently clogged Knight running lanes, and junior newcomer SHAWN LIN (6-4, 252) showed power at the other tackle position.
While the starting Cub defense shut down every ND offensive foray, Loyola’s offense continued to impress throughout the first half against the visitors’ outmanned defense. Zermeno hooked up again with Vanis, who made a great catch and run for the Big Blue’s second touchdown. All-American senior CEYAIR WRIGHT blew past his defender and scored the Big Blue’s third TD of the afternoon on a perfectly placed 30-yard pass from Zermeno. The PAT kick made the score 21-0 at halftime.
Sophomore wide receiver WILKE WILES scored Loyola’s final TD after he made a beautiful catch and run on a swing pass from junior quarterback JOE TATUM, who looked just like he did in 2018 when he quarterbacked the freshman team to a league championship and 9-1 record.
The Cub reserves gave up a late Knight touchdown to make the final score, 28-7. It was the best interscholastic scrimmage performance by Loyola in a long, long time.
Outstanding junior wide receiver JACOBY KELLY had a 20-yard reception, and some big time downfield blocks which aided the Big Blue rushing attack. The latter is a big reason the gifted receiver has nine scholarship offers.
Among the other players who made their marks for the Cubs were All-CIF junior running back TAHJ OWENS, who also played safety, senior linebacker CARTER ESPARZA, junior DB RAMAN ENIGBOKAN, junior safety/kicker JACKSON SHEA and 205 lb. junior running back JUSTIN MURRAY.
In this unprecedented day-to-day football season, Loyola looks like a team that could vie for a banner outcome. There is no question that this Cub team has some serious talent.
It is not yet known if Upland will allow visiting fans to attend Friday’s game. Updates will be provided.
A season that was supposed to start six months ago finally got underway for the Loyola Cubs varsity football team on a clear, cool afternoon yesterday at Smith Field on campus.
There no fans. There were no stands because the track season is in full swing and stands could not be erected over the running surface. Even if there were stands it is unclear whether even parents would have been allowed to watch their sons engage in their first interscholastic football competition in more than a year and three months. The scourge of the pandemic may have delayed the “2020” campaign, but it did not affect the enthusiasm, execution, discipline and intensity displayed by the Big Blue in its scrimmage against long time rival Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
Loyola played in a manner deserving of its number nine preseason ranking by the Los Angeles Times, and the Cubs’ dominant effort against the Times’ number 10-ranked Knights provided a glimpse into the promise of a team that potentially could make a big mark in Southland high school football in its truncated five game slate which begins on the road at Upland on Friday. The reality is that Notre Dame was probably significantly overrated, so any ebullience on Loyola’s part should be tempered with the certainty that it will face far stronger foes over the next five weeks. The Knights lost several top performers by way of transfers. In the off-season.
Six foot, four inch, 224 pound, University of Arizona-bound senior quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO was poised and effective in leading Loyola on its opening drive of the scrimmage. The team captain’s perfectly placed deep ball to junior wide receiver standout PETE VANIS set up a five yard burst for a TD by electric junior running back HARRISON ALLEN.
Entering the season it was not known how the offensive line, with four first-time starters from tight end to tackle would fare. That question mark was answered with promising performances by junior tight end JOE TAYLOR, 6’ 5”, senior tight end JALEN PRIESTLEY, 303 lb. sophomore right tackle JACK SUSNJAR, senior right guard JOSH MORALES, senior center CIARAN O’LIONAIN, senior left guard ANDRES PEREZ and junior left tackle SAM YOON (6-6, 285). Yoon was the only returning OL starter, and his impressive size and strength gains were on full display in his flawless performance in anchoring the left side. The group as a whole will need to display improved physicality to compete with the better opponents on the slate., but it was nonetheless a good first outing for the players up front.
With two of its top returning All-CIF starting players sidelined with minor injuries, it was uncertain how Loyola’s ‘Wolfpack’ defense would fare against what is usually a very stout, physical squad from Sherman Oaks. That speculation was quickly put to rest as the Cub defense put on a suffocating, dominant performance in shutting down Notre Dame’s offense. The Loyola starters did not allow a point. Senior outside linebacker FINNEGAN POWELL displayed great quickness in ball pursuit. Junior inside linebacker PATRICK SODL put on the hits in the middle of the field. Freshman inside linebacker TYE SMITH (6-1, 230) and sophomore inside LB ZACHARY BOWLES demonstrated their burgeoning aptitude.
Senior returnee JEFFREY JOHNSON (6-5, 231) continued his havoc-wreaking play on the defensive line. Senior nose guard OCTAVIO CASADO consistently clogged Knight running lanes, and junior newcomer SHAWN LIN (6-4, 252) showed power at the other tackle position.
While the starting Cub defense shut down every ND offensive foray, Loyola’s offense continued to impress throughout the first half against the visitors’ outmanned defense. Zermeno hooked up again with Vanis, who made a great catch and run for the Big Blue’s second touchdown. All-American senior CEYAIR WRIGHT blew past his defender and scored the Big Blue’s third TD of the afternoon on a perfectly placed 30-yard pass from Zermeno. The PAT kick made the score 21-0 at halftime.
Sophomore wide receiver WILKE WILES scored Loyola’s final TD after he made a beautiful catch and run on a swing pass from junior quarterback JOE TATUM, who looked just like he did in 2018 when he quarterbacked the freshman team to a league championship and 9-1 record.
The Cub reserves gave up a late Knight touchdown to make the final score, 28-7. It was the best interscholastic scrimmage performance by Loyola in a long, long time.
Outstanding junior wide receiver JACOBY KELLY had a 20-yard reception, and some big time downfield blocks which aided the Big Blue rushing attack. The latter is a big reason the gifted receiver has nine scholarship offers.
Among the other players who made their marks for the Cubs were All-CIF junior running back TAHJ OWENS, who also played safety, senior linebacker CARTER ESPARZA, junior DB RAMAN ENIGBOKAN, junior safety/kicker JACKSON SHEA and 205 lb. junior running back JUSTIN MURRAY.
In this unprecedented day-to-day football season, Loyola looks like a team that could vie for a banner outcome. There is no question that this Cub team has some serious talent.
It is not yet known if Upland will allow visiting fans to attend Friday’s game. Updates will be provided.
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