November 12, 2022

Cub Football - Loyola rises up in second half to defeat Culver City in come-from-behind thriller

LOYOLA PULLS OUT 14-10 CIF PLAYOFF QUARTERFINAL VICTORY OVER CULVER CITY AFTER DISMAL FIRST HALF
To say that things looked bleak for the Cubs as they left the field at Jerry Chabola Stadium at halftime, down, 14-3, to an inspired, emotion-charged and athletic Culver City team on Friday night in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoff playoff quarterfinals, might be an understatement.

The Centaurs thoroughly outplayed Loyola for the first 24 minutes, and it felt as though more of the same was coming in the second half.

The Cubs came out of intermission with determination and fire in their eyes, and went on to notch one of the best come-from-behind triumphs in the school’s storied football annals.

Culver City was so confident going into its rematch with Loyola, to whom they lost, 24-19, in a non-league contest on September 2 at the same venue, that fireworks were shot into the cold night sky just before the game’s opening kickoff. Comments could be heard among Cub partisans that the pyrotechnic show might be a tad premature.

Loyola senior quarterback and team captain XAVIER RICE hooked up with junior wide receiver KHALIL CUEVA for two second half touchdowns, the Cubs’ ‘Wolfpack’ defense battened down the hatches, and the high energy that propelled the Centaurs’ first half effort seemingly was stolen by Loyola in the final 24 minutes as the Big Blue stunned the home team by a score of 17-14.

The victory assured the Cubs a road trip to the semifinals next Friday against Orange, an impressive 34-18 winner over number one seed San Juan Hills in another quarterfinal battle.

The only highlight of an otherwise dismal first half for Loyola came on a 26-yard MARK HYAN field goal with 36 seconds remaining in the first quarter which capped a 67-yard, 13-play Cub drive.

Loyola had only 57 yards of total offense in the first two quarters, whereas the Centaurs amassed 184 total yards before intermission, and scored on a 41-yard pass and five-yard run.

The Cubs executed what appeared to be a successful on-side kick to start the second half, but were flagged on the play, which gave Culver City the ball at the Loyola 35 yard line. A questionable personal foul called against the Cubs and a pass interference infraction assessed against Loyola aided what was looking like a put-the-game-out- reach drive by the Centaurs, but a holding call against the home squad forced Culver City to attempt a short field goal.

Cub junior defensive lineman ISAIAH “IKE” SANDERS raced off the edge to block the kick, and it was that play which ignited Loyola.

After another big-play sack by SANDERS which turned the ball over on downs, Loyola mounted a seven-play, 73-yard yard drive culminated by a 24-yard TD pass from RICE to CUEVA to make the score 14-10 eight seconds into the fourth quarter. CUEVA made a sensational catch after the ball was tipped by a safety.

Following another Centaur turnover on downs forced by the ‘Wolfpack’, the Cubs had the ball and a chance to win the game at their 39-yard line. RICE found a wide open CUEVA streaking down the visitors’ side line for a 34-yard game-winning TD with 5:12 left in the contest.

Thereafter, the Centaurs could muster a total of only seven yards on their final two possessions.

It was a great comeback win for Loyola, which will take the road to play the formidable, high-scoring Orange Panthers (10-2) in the semifinals next Friday. The quarterfinal  victory improved the Cubs’ overall record to 7-5.

Loyola will need to play four quarters of nearly flawless football next Friday to have a chance of advancing to a CIF championship game for the fourteenth time in Cub Football history.