Cub Football - Loyola on fire as Cubs head to championship game after dominant 31-14 win over number two seed Camarillo
LOYOLA WILL PLAY FOR SEVENTH CIF TITLE FOLLOWING EMPHATIC 31-14 SEMIFINAL VICTORY OVER NUMBER-TWO SEED CAMARILLO
Loyola rolled to a decisive 31-14 victory over number-two seed Camarillo in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 semifinals at Moorpark College on Friday night to earn a berth in the Section championship game for the thirteenth time in its storied gridiron history.
The score does not reflect the level of domination the Cubs exerted against the Scorpions, but it does illustrate the undeniable evolution of a program heading to a place in the pantheon of Loyola teams which have unequivocally demonstrated the will and heart of champions.
One thing is absolutely certain heading into the CIF championship final, this Cub team is flat out on fire.
Loyola raced to a 21-0 lead in the early seconds of the second quarter, and kept Camarillo at bay for the remainder of the contest to ensure an opportunity to bring home the school’s seventh CIF title trophy next Saturday. The 17-point margin of victory was the largest by any Cub team in 20 semifinal tilts, dating back to 1946.
Loyola’s ‘Wolfpack’ defense forced a three-and-out on the home team’s first possession, and the Cub offense quickly went to work, putting together a 66 yard scoring drive, highlighted by a 32-yard BRAYDEN ZERMENO pass to running back HARRISON ALLEN, and capped by an 11-yard touchdown run by TAHJ OWENS at the 6:03 mark of the first quarter. Early on, it was apparent that the Cubs were superior at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
A five yard punt from deep in Scorpion territory set Loyola up at the Camarillo 15 yard line after a ferocious series by the ‘Wolfpack’. A 14-yard pass to tight end BRENDAN PERNECKY set up a one-yard TD jaunt by Allen with 2:46 left in the first quarter.
After the Cub defense forced a third consecutive Camarillo punt, Loyola mounted an 80 yard scoring drive with receiver MICHAEL JONES catching a 10-yard Zermeno aerial just seventeen seconds into the second quarter to put the Big Blue up 21-0. A 50-yard run by GIBSON PLUMB on a jet sweep was the big play on the Cubs’ third consecutive scoring march.
Camarillo finally got on the board with 6:19 remaining in the first half, capping a 79 yard drive with a 12-yard scoring toss to close the gap to 21-7. Loyola missed an opportunity to add a dagger touchdown with no time remaining in the first half when a pass to a wide open receiver fell short on a fake field goal play.
The second half did not open auspiciously for the Cubs as they were forced to punt on their first possession and allowed Camarillo to go 65 yards for a score on a three-yard run at the 7:19 mark of the third quarter to close the gap to 21-14. After a fumble recovery by Loyola at the Scorpion 22 yard line, DIEGO BURGOS split the uprights on a 31-yard field goal try to put the Cubs ahead, 24-14 with a minute and sixteen seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The ‘Wolfpack’ forced a three-and-out on Camarillo’s ensuing possession, and as the Scorpion punter took the low long snap his knee hit the ground, giving Loyola possession at the Camarillo ten yard line. Allen took a 10-yard Zermeno pass into the end zone to increase the Big Blue’s lead to 31-14 with 55 seconds left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Cubs thwarted every Scorpion attempt to find the end zone. Junior corner CEYAIR WRIGHT intercepted two Camarillo passes, one of which was in Loyola’s end zone, allowing the Cubs to line up in the victory formation to end the contest.
It has been an incredible turnaround season for Loyola. The tough Mission League slate prepared the Cubs well for the rigors of the D-4 playoffs, in which they have dominated. The incredible playoff run is a testament to the desire and grit of the players, and the tireless work of the coaching staff under first year head coach DREW CASANI’ 91.
One more step remains, as the Big Blue will host Sea View League champion San Juan Hills of San Juan Capistrano (10-3), the division’s number four seed. The Stallions defeated number one seeded Paramount, 29-28, in overtime on Friday.
The CIF championship game will be played on Saturday, November 30. It is expected that the title contest will be at Loyola’s Smith Field. You can bet there will be a full house for yet another historic chapter in the illustrious annals of Cub Football.
Loyola rolled to a decisive 31-14 victory over number-two seed Camarillo in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 semifinals at Moorpark College on Friday night to earn a berth in the Section championship game for the thirteenth time in its storied gridiron history.
The score does not reflect the level of domination the Cubs exerted against the Scorpions, but it does illustrate the undeniable evolution of a program heading to a place in the pantheon of Loyola teams which have unequivocally demonstrated the will and heart of champions.
One thing is absolutely certain heading into the CIF championship final, this Cub team is flat out on fire.
Loyola raced to a 21-0 lead in the early seconds of the second quarter, and kept Camarillo at bay for the remainder of the contest to ensure an opportunity to bring home the school’s seventh CIF title trophy next Saturday. The 17-point margin of victory was the largest by any Cub team in 20 semifinal tilts, dating back to 1946.
Loyola’s ‘Wolfpack’ defense forced a three-and-out on the home team’s first possession, and the Cub offense quickly went to work, putting together a 66 yard scoring drive, highlighted by a 32-yard BRAYDEN ZERMENO pass to running back HARRISON ALLEN, and capped by an 11-yard touchdown run by TAHJ OWENS at the 6:03 mark of the first quarter. Early on, it was apparent that the Cubs were superior at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
A five yard punt from deep in Scorpion territory set Loyola up at the Camarillo 15 yard line after a ferocious series by the ‘Wolfpack’. A 14-yard pass to tight end BRENDAN PERNECKY set up a one-yard TD jaunt by Allen with 2:46 left in the first quarter.
After the Cub defense forced a third consecutive Camarillo punt, Loyola mounted an 80 yard scoring drive with receiver MICHAEL JONES catching a 10-yard Zermeno aerial just seventeen seconds into the second quarter to put the Big Blue up 21-0. A 50-yard run by GIBSON PLUMB on a jet sweep was the big play on the Cubs’ third consecutive scoring march.
Camarillo finally got on the board with 6:19 remaining in the first half, capping a 79 yard drive with a 12-yard scoring toss to close the gap to 21-7. Loyola missed an opportunity to add a dagger touchdown with no time remaining in the first half when a pass to a wide open receiver fell short on a fake field goal play.
The second half did not open auspiciously for the Cubs as they were forced to punt on their first possession and allowed Camarillo to go 65 yards for a score on a three-yard run at the 7:19 mark of the third quarter to close the gap to 21-14. After a fumble recovery by Loyola at the Scorpion 22 yard line, DIEGO BURGOS split the uprights on a 31-yard field goal try to put the Cubs ahead, 24-14 with a minute and sixteen seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The ‘Wolfpack’ forced a three-and-out on Camarillo’s ensuing possession, and as the Scorpion punter took the low long snap his knee hit the ground, giving Loyola possession at the Camarillo ten yard line. Allen took a 10-yard Zermeno pass into the end zone to increase the Big Blue’s lead to 31-14 with 55 seconds left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Cubs thwarted every Scorpion attempt to find the end zone. Junior corner CEYAIR WRIGHT intercepted two Camarillo passes, one of which was in Loyola’s end zone, allowing the Cubs to line up in the victory formation to end the contest.
It has been an incredible turnaround season for Loyola. The tough Mission League slate prepared the Cubs well for the rigors of the D-4 playoffs, in which they have dominated. The incredible playoff run is a testament to the desire and grit of the players, and the tireless work of the coaching staff under first year head coach DREW CASANI’ 91.
One more step remains, as the Big Blue will host Sea View League champion San Juan Hills of San Juan Capistrano (10-3), the division’s number four seed. The Stallions defeated number one seeded Paramount, 29-28, in overtime on Friday.
The CIF championship game will be played on Saturday, November 30. It is expected that the title contest will be at Loyola’s Smith Field. You can bet there will be a full house for yet another historic chapter in the illustrious annals of Cub Football.
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