DETERMINED CUBS HOST REDONDO UNION AT SMITH FIELD THIS FRIDAY IN CIF SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION 5 PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS

Loyola is looking more and more as though it may be on a course with destiny as the Cubs have reached the final four of the CIF Southern Section Division 5 playoffs, an outcome that appeared to be no more than a pipe dream scenario when they kicked off the 2025 campaign back in August following the unprecedented transfer of multiple key starters.

Through sheer determination and sharp focus Loyola has made an improbable journey which has placed it on the doorstep of playing for a CIF title for the fourteenth time in its storied grid history.

Following their 21-14 defeat of Bonita on a rain soaked night in the quarterfinals on the road in La Verne last Friday, the Cubs will host Redondo Union (8-4) at Smith Field on Friday, with the winner punching its ticket to the championship contest scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend.

The stakes could not be any higher for a Loyola squad that is playing with fire in its eyes. Don’t be surprised if the perseverance that has carried the Cubs through a challenging campaign propels them to another playoff triumph against the Sea Hawks.

A LOOK AT THE REDONDO UNION SEA HAWKS

Head Coach Keith Ellison’s Redondo Union Sea Hawks (8-4) finished second to conference champion Torrance in the Pioneer League, but avenged their loop loss to the Tartars in the first round of the CIF Division 5 playoffs in an upset road victory, 21-14.

Last Friday in the quarterfinals, the Sea Hawks squeaked by upset-minded St. Paul, 14-13, in Redondo Beach. They were fortunate to pull off a win as the Swordsmen fumbled the ball away twice, missed an extra point attempt, mishandled a punt snap and fell victim to a long distance kickoff return for a TD.

Redondo Union’s season results to date are as follows: the Sea Hawks lost to El Dorado, 31-6; were trounced by rival Mira Costa, 31-0; were nipped by Huntington Beach in a nail biter, 19-17; notched a close win over Orange, 14-12; demolished Banning of the L. A. City Section, 35-6; fell to Torrance in their first League game, 34-24; pummeled North Torrance, 34-7; demolished Santa Monica, 47-7; routed Peninsula, 40-21; turned the tables on number one seeded Torrance, 21-14, in the first round of the CIF playoffs; and survived a taut battle with St. Paul in the quarterfinals with a 14-13 victory.

SMU-commit Cole Leinart (6-4, 204) runs Redondo’s offense behind center. The son of Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, the senior quarterback began his prep career at his father’s alma mater, Mater Dei, transferred to Newport Harbor for his sophomore season and has been the Sea Hawks’ signal caller for the last two seasons.

Leinart has completed 94 of his 165 passes (57%) for 1,437 yards and has thrown for 12 touchdowns with five interceptions. His average completion is an impressive 15.3 yards.

The best player on the Redondo squad is two-way starter, and special teams standout Bo Ausmus (6-0, 200). In his running back role the senior athlete has carried the ball 39 times for 422 yards, with an eye-popping 10.8 yards per carry average, and eight TDs in his stat ledger.

Sophomore running back Rocky Martinez (5-10, 181, 74/444, 6.0 ypc, 1 TD) and senior Christian Zeno (5-10, 172, 83/443, 5.9 ypc, 6 TDs) are the other top ball carriers who churn out the yards behind a big offensive line.

Junior wide receiver Tyler Harper (6-2, 172), one of the many players who transferred out of Loyola, is the Sea Hawks’ top receiver. He has gained 484 yards on 19 receptions, scored six touchdowns and averages a staggering 25.5 yards per catch. Ausmus averages an off-the-charts 33 yards per reception and has six receiving TDs. Senior tight end Adrian Ortiz (6-4, 235) has caught 28 balls for 424 yards (15.1 yards per reception) and scored one TD.

Redondo’s offense is very balanced. It has amassed 1,624 yards through the air and gained 1,756 yards on the ground. The Sea Hawks’ scoring average is 28 points per game.

Redondo’s defense has rounded into shape after some early season struggles. Senior linebacker Lincoln Esparza (6-2, 183) leads the stop squad with 61 tackles, including 42 solos and has 10.5 tackles for loss.

Bruising senior linebacker Brock Herrera (6-3, 220, 61 tackles/34 solos) leads the team with 18.5 tackles for loss and is the sack leader with five.

Junior linebacker Tyler Celia (6-0, 171) has 61 tackles, including 35 solo stops and four TFLs.

Junior DB Santi De La Torre (5-10, 170) is Redondo’s interception leader with three picks. Ausmus has two interceptions, and junior corner Kyle Westbrook (5-10, 160) leads the defense with six passes defended.

REDONDO UNION VS.LOYOLA SEMIFINAL GAME OUTLOOK

This semifinal contest will likely be a close battle. The Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense will need to continue its stellar play exhibited in the first two playoff contests. Making the Sea Hawks’ balanced offense one dimensional will be a priority, and accounting for the ultra talented Ausmus on every play is a must.

Loyola’s offense must gain traction early and sustain it for four quarters. It is imperative that the Cub offensive line win the battles up front.

Despite the adverse weather conditions in which it played last Friday, Loyola’s offense played one of its better games against Bonita. It needs to continue to improve Friday night.

Against St. Paul, Redondo scored only one offensive touchdown and gained just 159 total yards. Ausmus made an 86-yard kickoff return for a TD, and the Sea Hawks’ defense recovered a fumble late deep in their own red zone territory which allowed Redondo to secure the precarious win.

If the Cubs can keep it a low scoring contest, win the turnover battle, and excel on special teams they will have an excellent shot at advancing.

To purchase tickets for Friday’s game go to GoFan.co.

THE LOYOLA VS. REDONDO UNION SERIES

Loyola and Redondo have played twice on the gridiron, and each team won one game, so Friday’s battle will serve as the rubber match.

The Cubs and Seahawks first met in a football contest 100 years ago, with Redondo coming away with a 6-0 victory in the first non-league battle of the 1925 season. Coach MARTIN MARONY led Loyola to a 3-3 season record in a year when the Model-T Ford was a popular automobile and Calvin Coolidge became the first American President to have his inauguration broadcast on the radio.

The next time the Cubs and Seahawks met was in 1942 during the midst of World War II. Again, the teams competed in a non-league game, with Loyola pulling out a 7-6 victory. Under head coach Tony DeLellis, the Cubs completed an undefeated season (7-0). Redondo went on to win the 1942 CIF Southern Section Large Schools championship. Catholic schools were not yet invited to participate in the CIF playoffs.

Redondo Union was founded in 1905. Loyola, the oldest secondary school in Southern California, was founded in 1865. It is amazing that the schools’ first meeting on the football field was 100 years ago and their second matchup was 93 years ago.

FRIDAY’S CIF SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION 5 SEMIFINALS MATCHUPS

Redondo (8-4) at LOYOLA (6-6)

La Serna (9-3) @ Rio Hondo Prep (12-0)

CUBS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Below is the list of Loyola graduates on college football teams in 2025 according to published collegiate rosters:

JAKE ARELLANO '24, DB, Bentley University

CHAD BAILEY ‘20, DB, Bentley University

BROCK BOJORQUEZ ‘25, DB, Johns Hopkins

COLIN CRUCE ‘22, OL, Bowdoin

KHALIL CUEVA ‘24, WR, University of San Diego

JEFFREY JOHNSON ‘21, TE, Cal

LUKE HARRISON ‘24, OL, University of San Diego

CONNOR KLEIN ‘25, LB, Cornell

SHAWN LIN '22, DL, Columbia

LEIGHTON LINE ‘23, DL, Cal Lutheran

JOSHUA LONG ‘21, TE, Eastern Michigan

CONNOR McDOWELL ‘21, LS, Sacramento State

TAHJ OWENS '22, DB, Princeton

JACK PARIS '23, DL, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

RYAN QUINTANAR '20, LB, USC

XAVIER RICE ‘23, QB, Duquesne

ISAIAH SANDERS, ‘24, LB, UC Davis

PATRICK SODL ‘22, LB, Columbia

ZAKHARI SPEARS ‘21, DB, Idaho

HENRY STICKLER ‘22, WR, SMU

JACK SUSNJAR ‘23, OL, USC

JOE TATUM ‘22, QB, Texas

SCOTT TAYLOR '25, LB, UCLA

RYAN TURK ‘24, OL, Dartmouth

DESI VALDES ‘25, DB, Pasadena City College

CHAMP WESTBROOKS ‘24, OL, Arizona State

ALEX WHITMAN ‘22, WR, Notre Dame

CEYAIR WRIGHT ‘21, DB, Nebraska

SAM YOON ‘22, OL, UCLA

2025 LOYOLA VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE AND RESULTS (6-6)

8-22 Cathedral (L 36-14)

8-29 @ Millikan (Long Beach) (W 35-25)

9-5 Mount Miguel (L 21-0)

9-12 @ Hamilton (Los Angeles) (W 42-21)

9-19 St. Francis (W 9-3)

10-3 @ Notre Dame* (L 35-10)

10-9 @Serra* at SoFi Stadium (W 13-10)

10-17 Bishop Amat* (L, 30-14)

10-24 @ Chaminade* (L, 52-0)

10-31 Sierra Canyon* (L, 52-3)

CIF SOUTHERN SECTION DIV. 5 PLAYOFFS

11-7 Newbury Park (W, 17-14)

11-14 @ Bonita ( W, 21-14)

11-21 Redondo Union

*Denotes Mission League

CUBS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

Former Loyola DB DESI VALDES was named All-Conference for Pasadena City College.

If there are any grads who should be added to the Cubs in College Football list please email updates.

CUBS IN NFL

COLEMAN SHELTON ‘13 continues to have an outstanding campaign as the starting center for the Los Angeles Rams . . . MYLES BRYANT ‘16, Loyola’s 2015 MVP, is seeing playing time at nickel back for the Houston Texans . . . Former Loyola All-League DB ALEX JOHNSON ‘19, a corner, was with the Tennessee Titans practice squad and is looking for a new NFL home . . . Former Loyola All-American defensive back DAVID LONG, Jr. was recently signed to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad after recovering from injury.

Loyola grad GEORGE PATON ‘87, the Cubs’ 1986 team MVP, is the general manager of the Denver Broncos, and his ball club sits atop the AFC’s Western Division standings.