CUB FOOTBALL - Loyola runs away from St. Francis impressivel in first league game
LOYOLA ROUTS ST. FRANCIS, 41-14, IN ANGELUS LEAGUE OPENER
Led by its fast, swarming defense, which scored two TDs early in its first Angelus League contest against old rival La Canada St, Francis, the Cubs routed the Golden Knights, 41-14, at Pius X-St. Matthias in Downey on Saturday night. Loyola’s team speed and ample athleticism on both sides of the ball were simply too much for St. Francis.
The Cubs ‘Wolfpack’ defense kept constant pressure on the Golden Knights throughout the contest, forcing four turnovers, two of which were turned directly into Loyola touchdowns. Up front the Cub defense was spearheaded by All-CIF senior defensive down lineman JOSH LONG, senior nose guard TAVO CASADO, senior down lineman JEFF JOHNSON, who tipped several passes, and junior down lineman SHAWN LIN.
Junior inside linebacker PATRICK SODL, and his battery mates, sophomore ZACHARY BOWLES and freshman TYE SMITH, continually made big hits and stuff plays. Senior outside linebacker FINN POWELL flashed all night long, showing great pursuit, recording several sacks and scoring on a pick-six. Junior outside linebacker RAMAN ENIGBOKAN proved that his move from the secondary is reaping big dividends. Junior outside linebacker JUSTIN MURRAY also had some jarring hits, and senior outside linebacker CARTER ESPARZA saw quality time.
Senior All-American corner CEYAIR WRIGHT picked off a St. Francis aerial and had multiple passes defended. Senior All-CIF safety ZAKHARI SPEARS returned from injury to break up Golden Knight aerials and make some violent hits. Junior JACKSON SHEA continued his efficient efforts at safety, and sophomore corner JORDAN HEWITT also had a solid outing.
The fast, smothering defensive play of the ‘Wolfpack’ was not the only highlight of the contest. Junior All-CIF tailback TAHJ OWENS scored three touchdowns to pace Loyola’s offensive attack, junior running back HARRISON ALLEN ran hard, and senior QB BRAYDEN ZERMENO had a good night passing.
At the 3:05 mark of the first quarter, the Cub front pinned their ears back, breaking through the Golden Knights’ offensive line, with outside linebacker JUSTIN MURRAY forcing a fumble on a big hit, which was picked up by fleet-footed JOSH LONG for a 35-yard scoop and score touchdown. JACKSON SHEA’s PAT kick gave Loyola a 7-0 lead.
Less than two minutes later, a St. Francis long snap sailed over its punter’s head and was recovered by the Cubs at the Golden Knights’ nine-yard line. OWENS bolted into the end zone from three yards out with 1:11 left in the first quarter. And just like that, Loyola had a 14-0 lead.
Shortly thereafter, POWELL intercepted a St. Francis pass at the Cubs’ 27-yard line, and took it to the house, racing 73 yards down the visitors’ sideline to make the score, 21-0, at the 9:00 mark of the second quarter. With that TD, for all intents and purposes the game was over for the Golden Knights.
St. Francis put together its best offensive drive of the night, traversing 72 yards on 14 plays to score just before halftime on a two-yard quarterback run. Loyola stopped the Golden Knights cold on a fourth-and 12 play, but was called for defensive holding to keep the visitors’ drive alive.
The teams entered halftime with the Big Blue holding a 21-7 lead.
Less than two minutes into the second half, after the Cubs forced another St. Francis punt, which travelled only a few yards, OWENS raced into the end zone from 26 yards out on Loyola’s first offensive play to up the Big Blue’s lead to 28-7.
OWENS reprised his last TD romp with an impressive 51-yard run through traffic to increase the Cubs’ lead to 35-7 with 3:21 left in the third quarter. He finished an outstanding rushing effort with 120 yards on 10 carries behind an improving offensive line.
Loyola senior quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO found wide-open junior receiver JACOBY KELLY, who caught a 28-yard pass in stride to increase the Cub lead to 41-7 with 5:32 left on the game clock.
The Golden Knights capped a late 31-yard TD drive with a 30-yard pass against the Loyola reserves to make the final score, Loyola 41, St. Francis 14.
The Cubs’ second win of the season was impressive, but it is likely Loyola has not yet played its best game. The Big Blue will travel to Santa Fe Springs St. Paul this Friday for its second Angelus League battle.
TWO NFL CUB ALUMNI ATTEND SATURDAY’S GAME
Former Loyola All-American corner DAVID LONG ‘16, (All-Big-10 Michigan) now with the Los Angeles Rams, and his high school teammate, Cub MVP and All-State athlete MYLES BRYANT ‘16 (All-PAC-12 Washington), who is a nickel back with the New England Patriots, were on the Loyola sidelines at Saturday’s game. Cubs For Life. Below is a photo taken after game. From left, DAVID LONG, CEYAIR WRIGHT, MYLES BRYANT.![]()
Led by its fast, swarming defense, which scored two TDs early in its first Angelus League contest against old rival La Canada St, Francis, the Cubs routed the Golden Knights, 41-14, at Pius X-St. Matthias in Downey on Saturday night. Loyola’s team speed and ample athleticism on both sides of the ball were simply too much for St. Francis.
The Cubs ‘Wolfpack’ defense kept constant pressure on the Golden Knights throughout the contest, forcing four turnovers, two of which were turned directly into Loyola touchdowns. Up front the Cub defense was spearheaded by All-CIF senior defensive down lineman JOSH LONG, senior nose guard TAVO CASADO, senior down lineman JEFF JOHNSON, who tipped several passes, and junior down lineman SHAWN LIN.
Junior inside linebacker PATRICK SODL, and his battery mates, sophomore ZACHARY BOWLES and freshman TYE SMITH, continually made big hits and stuff plays. Senior outside linebacker FINN POWELL flashed all night long, showing great pursuit, recording several sacks and scoring on a pick-six. Junior outside linebacker RAMAN ENIGBOKAN proved that his move from the secondary is reaping big dividends. Junior outside linebacker JUSTIN MURRAY also had some jarring hits, and senior outside linebacker CARTER ESPARZA saw quality time.
Senior All-American corner CEYAIR WRIGHT picked off a St. Francis aerial and had multiple passes defended. Senior All-CIF safety ZAKHARI SPEARS returned from injury to break up Golden Knight aerials and make some violent hits. Junior JACKSON SHEA continued his efficient efforts at safety, and sophomore corner JORDAN HEWITT also had a solid outing.
The fast, smothering defensive play of the ‘Wolfpack’ was not the only highlight of the contest. Junior All-CIF tailback TAHJ OWENS scored three touchdowns to pace Loyola’s offensive attack, junior running back HARRISON ALLEN ran hard, and senior QB BRAYDEN ZERMENO had a good night passing.
At the 3:05 mark of the first quarter, the Cub front pinned their ears back, breaking through the Golden Knights’ offensive line, with outside linebacker JUSTIN MURRAY forcing a fumble on a big hit, which was picked up by fleet-footed JOSH LONG for a 35-yard scoop and score touchdown. JACKSON SHEA’s PAT kick gave Loyola a 7-0 lead.
Less than two minutes later, a St. Francis long snap sailed over its punter’s head and was recovered by the Cubs at the Golden Knights’ nine-yard line. OWENS bolted into the end zone from three yards out with 1:11 left in the first quarter. And just like that, Loyola had a 14-0 lead.
Shortly thereafter, POWELL intercepted a St. Francis pass at the Cubs’ 27-yard line, and took it to the house, racing 73 yards down the visitors’ sideline to make the score, 21-0, at the 9:00 mark of the second quarter. With that TD, for all intents and purposes the game was over for the Golden Knights.
St. Francis put together its best offensive drive of the night, traversing 72 yards on 14 plays to score just before halftime on a two-yard quarterback run. Loyola stopped the Golden Knights cold on a fourth-and 12 play, but was called for defensive holding to keep the visitors’ drive alive.
The teams entered halftime with the Big Blue holding a 21-7 lead.
Less than two minutes into the second half, after the Cubs forced another St. Francis punt, which travelled only a few yards, OWENS raced into the end zone from 26 yards out on Loyola’s first offensive play to up the Big Blue’s lead to 28-7.
OWENS reprised his last TD romp with an impressive 51-yard run through traffic to increase the Cubs’ lead to 35-7 with 3:21 left in the third quarter. He finished an outstanding rushing effort with 120 yards on 10 carries behind an improving offensive line.
Loyola senior quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO found wide-open junior receiver JACOBY KELLY, who caught a 28-yard pass in stride to increase the Cub lead to 41-7 with 5:32 left on the game clock.
The Golden Knights capped a late 31-yard TD drive with a 30-yard pass against the Loyola reserves to make the final score, Loyola 41, St. Francis 14.
The Cubs’ second win of the season was impressive, but it is likely Loyola has not yet played its best game. The Big Blue will travel to Santa Fe Springs St. Paul this Friday for its second Angelus League battle.
TWO NFL CUB ALUMNI ATTEND SATURDAY’S GAME
Former Loyola All-American corner DAVID LONG ‘16, (All-Big-10 Michigan) now with the Los Angeles Rams, and his high school teammate, Cub MVP and All-State athlete MYLES BRYANT ‘16 (All-PAC-12 Washington), who is a nickel back with the New England Patriots, were on the Loyola sidelines at Saturday’s game. Cubs For Life. Below is a photo taken after game. From left, DAVID LONG, CEYAIR WRIGHT, MYLES BRYANT.
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