Cub Football - Loyola looks to maintain momentum after dominant win in third non-league game
IMPROVING CUBS ARE ESTABLISHING THEMSELVES AS ONE OF STATE’S BEST TEAMS
While Loyola lost a nail biter to Inglewood, 29-26, in its first game, that setback was serendipitous in a curious way. Muir cancelled its scheduled opener with the Cubs, causing Loyola to scramble to find a replacement for the zero week contest. Instead of playing Muir, a team they probably would have trounced, the Cubs played one of the best squads in California.
Opening with a top level opponent allowed Loyola to get important experience, which benefitted first year players on the interior offensive line, defensive line and secondary. The tough competition in their first contest prepared the Cubs for their road battle against Damien, another state-ranked team, whom the Big Blue defeated, 16-14.
LOYOLA STAT LEADERS
Senior tailback TAHJ OWENS, the only sophomore (2019) running back to earn All-CIF accolades in Loyola football annals, has had a great campaign through the first three games of the 2021 season. Against Culver City on Friday, Owens tallied five touchdown runs of 15, 3, 4, 31 and 58 yards. He has racked up 429 rushing yards in three contests, boasting a 6.3 yards per carry average.
Senior inside linebacker PATRICK SODL is having a monster campaign. He leads the ‘Wolfpack’ defense with 46 total tackles, including three tackles for loss. The team captain has already established himself as one of the best linebackers to play for Loyola.
Sophomore inside linebacker Tye “ T.J.” SMITH is not far behind SODL in production. The young thumper has recorded 37 total tackles.
SODL and Smith were instrumental in holding Culver City to a paltry 67 rushing yards on 25 carries.
Other Cub defenders who are piling up tackles are senior safety ALEC SANCHEZ-NIGOLIAN (23), junior outside linebacker ZACHARY BOWLES (22), senior safety JACKSON SHEA (22) and senior outside linebacker RAMAN ENIGBOKAN (20).
Secondary coach JERRY PHILLIPS is doing a fantastic job with a young secondary that has three first-time starters and two top reserves who are seeing first-time varsity action. Junior corner JORDAN HEWITT has been sidelined with a minor injury which has given starting experience to sophomore ELIJAH BRADLEY. Junior corner KYLE SOMERVILLE made a tremendous hit against Culver City which caused a fumble which was recovered by the Cubs.
Junior wide receiver BAYLIN BROOKS has been brilliant. He leads a talented receiving corps with a 21.9 per catch average. The 6-2, 190 lb. speedster had a 72-yard kick return and a 59-yard TD reception against Culver City. Talented seniors PETER VANIS and JACOBY KELLY have amassed 184 and 128 receiving yards, respectively.
LINE PLAY PROGRESSING
Defensive line coach ELIC MAHONE has done a superb job in getting an inexperienced defensive line up to speed. The leader of the down line is senior SHAWN LIN. Junior KEENAN TARBET, one of the mostly highly regarded players in Oregon before his summer transfer to Loyola, is a fast, aggressive athlete, and senior nose guard COLIN GAINEY is looking good at nose guard.
Three players made their first varsity starts on the interior offensive line against Inglewood. Sophomore guards RYAN TURK and RASHAD WESTBROOKS and junior center MATTHEW POHL are progressing while bookend senior left tackle SAM YOON (6-5, 301) and junior right tackle JACK SUSNJAR (6-6, 313) are helping the younger players. Line coach JOE MURRAY ‘78 is bullish on his young line.
CUBS TIE SCORING RECORD
It was erroneously reported here that the 62 points scored against Culver City set a school record. It turns out it tied the record set in 1924 when the Cubs defeated Pacific Military Academy, 62-0. In 1975, Loyola beat Salesian, 61-7, and in 1998, the Cubs beat Bishop Alemany 60-20.
LOYOLA MOVES UP THE RANKINGS LADDER
Following its 41-point victory over Culver City on Friday, Loyola was ranked 17th in the state by CalPreps.com, 12th in California by Max Preps and 19th in the Southland by the Los Angeles Times.
A LOOK DOWN THE ROAD
The Cubs will host Cathedral this Friday at Smith Field. The Phantoms are 1-1 with a 45-0 win over El Camino Real of the Los Angeles City Section and a 36-6 loss to Downey on Friday.
Crenshaw is 0-1 with a 21-20 loss to L.A. City Section Roosevelt.
On paper San Clemente (3-0) may be Loyola’s toughest remaining non-league opponent. The Tritons defeated Oceanside, 34-0, San Jacinto, 15-13, and Carlsbad La Costa Canyon, 13-6.
Crespi is 0-1 with a 14-13 setback to Westlake Village Westlake.
St. Francis is 1-1 with a 44-35 win over Mira Costa and a 42-17 home loss to Damien.
St. Paul is 2-0, having downed Cerritos Valley Christian, 41-13, and Huntington Parkof the City Section, 62-0.
The Cubs are still looking for a game for the weekend of October 8/9.
While Loyola lost a nail biter to Inglewood, 29-26, in its first game, that setback was serendipitous in a curious way. Muir cancelled its scheduled opener with the Cubs, causing Loyola to scramble to find a replacement for the zero week contest. Instead of playing Muir, a team they probably would have trounced, the Cubs played one of the best squads in California.
Opening with a top level opponent allowed Loyola to get important experience, which benefitted first year players on the interior offensive line, defensive line and secondary. The tough competition in their first contest prepared the Cubs for their road battle against Damien, another state-ranked team, whom the Big Blue defeated, 16-14.
LOYOLA STAT LEADERS
Senior tailback TAHJ OWENS, the only sophomore (2019) running back to earn All-CIF accolades in Loyola football annals, has had a great campaign through the first three games of the 2021 season. Against Culver City on Friday, Owens tallied five touchdown runs of 15, 3, 4, 31 and 58 yards. He has racked up 429 rushing yards in three contests, boasting a 6.3 yards per carry average.
Senior inside linebacker PATRICK SODL is having a monster campaign. He leads the ‘Wolfpack’ defense with 46 total tackles, including three tackles for loss. The team captain has already established himself as one of the best linebackers to play for Loyola.
Sophomore inside linebacker Tye “ T.J.” SMITH is not far behind SODL in production. The young thumper has recorded 37 total tackles.
SODL and Smith were instrumental in holding Culver City to a paltry 67 rushing yards on 25 carries.
Other Cub defenders who are piling up tackles are senior safety ALEC SANCHEZ-NIGOLIAN (23), junior outside linebacker ZACHARY BOWLES (22), senior safety JACKSON SHEA (22) and senior outside linebacker RAMAN ENIGBOKAN (20).
Secondary coach JERRY PHILLIPS is doing a fantastic job with a young secondary that has three first-time starters and two top reserves who are seeing first-time varsity action. Junior corner JORDAN HEWITT has been sidelined with a minor injury which has given starting experience to sophomore ELIJAH BRADLEY. Junior corner KYLE SOMERVILLE made a tremendous hit against Culver City which caused a fumble which was recovered by the Cubs.
Junior wide receiver BAYLIN BROOKS has been brilliant. He leads a talented receiving corps with a 21.9 per catch average. The 6-2, 190 lb. speedster had a 72-yard kick return and a 59-yard TD reception against Culver City. Talented seniors PETER VANIS and JACOBY KELLY have amassed 184 and 128 receiving yards, respectively.
LINE PLAY PROGRESSING
Defensive line coach ELIC MAHONE has done a superb job in getting an inexperienced defensive line up to speed. The leader of the down line is senior SHAWN LIN. Junior KEENAN TARBET, one of the mostly highly regarded players in Oregon before his summer transfer to Loyola, is a fast, aggressive athlete, and senior nose guard COLIN GAINEY is looking good at nose guard.
Three players made their first varsity starts on the interior offensive line against Inglewood. Sophomore guards RYAN TURK and RASHAD WESTBROOKS and junior center MATTHEW POHL are progressing while bookend senior left tackle SAM YOON (6-5, 301) and junior right tackle JACK SUSNJAR (6-6, 313) are helping the younger players. Line coach JOE MURRAY ‘78 is bullish on his young line.
CUBS TIE SCORING RECORD
It was erroneously reported here that the 62 points scored against Culver City set a school record. It turns out it tied the record set in 1924 when the Cubs defeated Pacific Military Academy, 62-0. In 1975, Loyola beat Salesian, 61-7, and in 1998, the Cubs beat Bishop Alemany 60-20.
LOYOLA MOVES UP THE RANKINGS LADDER
Following its 41-point victory over Culver City on Friday, Loyola was ranked 17th in the state by CalPreps.com, 12th in California by Max Preps and 19th in the Southland by the Los Angeles Times.
A LOOK DOWN THE ROAD
The Cubs will host Cathedral this Friday at Smith Field. The Phantoms are 1-1 with a 45-0 win over El Camino Real of the Los Angeles City Section and a 36-6 loss to Downey on Friday.
Crenshaw is 0-1 with a 21-20 loss to L.A. City Section Roosevelt.
On paper San Clemente (3-0) may be Loyola’s toughest remaining non-league opponent. The Tritons defeated Oceanside, 34-0, San Jacinto, 15-13, and Carlsbad La Costa Canyon, 13-6.
Crespi is 0-1 with a 14-13 setback to Westlake Village Westlake.
St. Francis is 1-1 with a 44-35 win over Mira Costa and a 42-17 home loss to Damien.
St. Paul is 2-0, having downed Cerritos Valley Christian, 41-13, and Huntington Parkof the City Section, 62-0.
The Cubs are still looking for a game for the weekend of October 8/9.
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