Cub Football - Loyola races to 28-0 first quarter lead, cruises to 44-20 win over Crespi in league opener
CUBS CRUISE IN FIRST ANGELUS LEAGUE CONTEST AGAINST OUTMANNED CRESPI CARMELITE
The talent differential between Loyola and Crespi Carmelite was on full display in Encino on Friday night, as the Celts were victimized by a Cub offensive avalanche which saw the Big Blue score four touchdowns before the conclusion of the first quarter. It looked like Loyola might be on its way to setting a scoring record after its 12-minute offensive tidal wave, but Crespi, to its credit, fought back rather than folding. A late Celts score against the Cub reserves made the final tally, 44-20 in favor of Loyola, but the game was not as close as the final score might indicate.
All-CIF running back TAHJ OWENS bolted into the end zone from three yards out to cap a 77-yard drive less than three minutes following the opening kick off. The explosive senior had a 58-yard run on the five-play excursion. Junior MARK HYAN’s PAT kick made the score 7-0 in favor of the Cubs, and the race was on.
Junior wide receiver WILKE WILES turned on the jets after catching a short pass from senior quarterback JOE TATUM and raced 68 yards for Loyola’s second TD at the 5:47 mark of the first quarter. Crespi mounted a solid offensive drive on its ensuing possession before coughing up a fumble on the Cubs’ six yard line. On Loyola’s second play following its recovery of the loose ball, OWENS showed once again why he is among the top ball carriers in the state as he sprinted 89 yards to pay dirt with 1:25 left in the first stanza.
Junior outside linebacker ZACHARY BOWLES intercepted a Celt pass on Crespi’s next offensive possession and returned it to the Crespi three yard line. TATUM quickly completed a scoring toss to junior receiver BAYLIN BROOKS with 33 seconds remaining in the first quarter, and just like that the Cubs had an insurmountable 28-0 lead.
The Celts drove 34 yards in seven plays, scoring on a two yard run with 2:47 left in the first half to make the score, 28-7.
Crespi refused to go quietly into the night as it drove 68 yards in ten plays, scoring on a 14-yard run to start the second half. Loyola answered with a 28-yard HYAN field goal at the 3:01 mark of the third quarter to extend its lead to 31–14. A beautifully executed scoring pass from TATUM to BROOKS upped the Cubs’ lead to 38-14 with 10:33 left in the fourth quarter.
Shortly thereafter, defensive lineman SHAWN LIN returned a Crespi fumble to the Celts’ 15-yard line, and Tatum then threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior co-captain PETER VANIS to increase Loyola’s lead to 44-14.
Unofficially, OWENS rushed for 234 yards on 14 carries (16.7 yards per carry) and scored three touchdowns, and TATUM completed 13 of 19 passes (68%) for 206 yards (15.8 yards per completion), including three scoring throws. OWENS has eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing milestone with two games remaining in the regular season.
The return from injury of senior strong man PATRICK SODL to his middle linebacker post helped the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense to regain its footing following the three-point setback to San Clemente two weeks ago. And junior corner JORDAN HEWITT’s recent activation following an early season injury has upgraded the play of the secondary.
Loyola’s win against the Celts improved its all-time record in the series to 29-9-1.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR LOYOLA
The Cubs will travel to La Canada next Friday to take on longtime arch rival St. Francis (6-1, 1-0), which defeated St. Paul (6-1, 0-1), 26-21, in Santa Fe Springs on Thursday. The Golden Knights pose a big challenge in Loyola’s quest for a second consecutive Angelus League championship.
The talent differential between Loyola and Crespi Carmelite was on full display in Encino on Friday night, as the Celts were victimized by a Cub offensive avalanche which saw the Big Blue score four touchdowns before the conclusion of the first quarter. It looked like Loyola might be on its way to setting a scoring record after its 12-minute offensive tidal wave, but Crespi, to its credit, fought back rather than folding. A late Celts score against the Cub reserves made the final tally, 44-20 in favor of Loyola, but the game was not as close as the final score might indicate.
All-CIF running back TAHJ OWENS bolted into the end zone from three yards out to cap a 77-yard drive less than three minutes following the opening kick off. The explosive senior had a 58-yard run on the five-play excursion. Junior MARK HYAN’s PAT kick made the score 7-0 in favor of the Cubs, and the race was on.
Junior wide receiver WILKE WILES turned on the jets after catching a short pass from senior quarterback JOE TATUM and raced 68 yards for Loyola’s second TD at the 5:47 mark of the first quarter. Crespi mounted a solid offensive drive on its ensuing possession before coughing up a fumble on the Cubs’ six yard line. On Loyola’s second play following its recovery of the loose ball, OWENS showed once again why he is among the top ball carriers in the state as he sprinted 89 yards to pay dirt with 1:25 left in the first stanza.
Junior outside linebacker ZACHARY BOWLES intercepted a Celt pass on Crespi’s next offensive possession and returned it to the Crespi three yard line. TATUM quickly completed a scoring toss to junior receiver BAYLIN BROOKS with 33 seconds remaining in the first quarter, and just like that the Cubs had an insurmountable 28-0 lead.
The Celts drove 34 yards in seven plays, scoring on a two yard run with 2:47 left in the first half to make the score, 28-7.
Crespi refused to go quietly into the night as it drove 68 yards in ten plays, scoring on a 14-yard run to start the second half. Loyola answered with a 28-yard HYAN field goal at the 3:01 mark of the third quarter to extend its lead to 31–14. A beautifully executed scoring pass from TATUM to BROOKS upped the Cubs’ lead to 38-14 with 10:33 left in the fourth quarter.
Shortly thereafter, defensive lineman SHAWN LIN returned a Crespi fumble to the Celts’ 15-yard line, and Tatum then threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior co-captain PETER VANIS to increase Loyola’s lead to 44-14.
Unofficially, OWENS rushed for 234 yards on 14 carries (16.7 yards per carry) and scored three touchdowns, and TATUM completed 13 of 19 passes (68%) for 206 yards (15.8 yards per completion), including three scoring throws. OWENS has eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing milestone with two games remaining in the regular season.
The return from injury of senior strong man PATRICK SODL to his middle linebacker post helped the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense to regain its footing following the three-point setback to San Clemente two weeks ago. And junior corner JORDAN HEWITT’s recent activation following an early season injury has upgraded the play of the secondary.
Loyola’s win against the Celts improved its all-time record in the series to 29-9-1.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR LOYOLA
The Cubs will travel to La Canada next Friday to take on longtime arch rival St. Francis (6-1, 1-0), which defeated St. Paul (6-1, 0-1), 26-21, in Santa Fe Springs on Thursday. The Golden Knights pose a big challenge in Loyola’s quest for a second consecutive Angelus League championship.
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