CUB FOOTBALL - Loyola slated to play first game on Friday
LOYOLA TRAVELS TO PLAYA DEL REY TO TAKE ON ST. BERNARD TOMORROW
A positive COVID-19 test caused the cancellation of the Cubs’ first scheduled non-league game against Upland last Friday. Consequently, it would be fair to say Loyola’s players are chomping at the bit to play their initial game against Playa Del Rey St. Bernard tomorrow night at 7:00 on the Vikings’ home field in Westchester.
The Cubs, ranked 10th this week in the Los Angeles Times’ Top 25 and 20th in the state by CalHi Sports, are looking to make another impressive showing against the Vikings following their decisive 28-7 victory over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in a scrimmage played at Smith Field on March 13.
There is good reason for optimism, as Notre Dame held Alemany, one of the best teams in the Southern Section, to just 14 offensive points in a 21-9 defeat at the hands of the Warriors last Friday.
A LOOK AT ST. BERNARD
First year coach Manuel Douglas left his longtime position as the head man at Narbonne of the Los Angeles City Section after the 2019 season under less than positive circumstances. He had been placed on administrative leave by the school district, filed litigation against LAUSD, entered a settlement, and headed up the road to take over the head job at St. Bernard.
Douglas had a reputation for attracting elite players at Narbonne, and word has it that he has more than a few highly regarded transfers at his new home. In the Vikings’ first contest last Friday against the Times’ number four ranked squad, Sierra Canyon, St. Bernard got boat raced to the tune of a 56-0 demolition. Not a particularly auspicious debut for the Vikes, but do not expect a similarly dismal performance on Friday. St. Bernard has sufficient talent to make it a game against a Loyola squad which would be well advised not to go into the contest taking the Vikings lightly.
Max Preps recently rated the top 25 players in the CIF Southern Section. Cub Senior All-American and All-CIF athlete, CEYAIR WRIGHT (WR/corner), was the number two player on the list. Ranked 13th on the all-star ledger was the Vikings’ Larry Turner, a junior wide receiver/safety who will be matched up with Wright on both sides of the ball. Wright is headed to USC and Turner is committed to Arizona State. Watching those two go at it should prove very entertaining. The number 22 rated player on the list is St. Bernard senior safety New Zealand Williams. Suffice to say the Vikings are not short on skill players.
Quarterback transfer, senior Jackson Dadich who led Lake Balboa Birmingham to the City Section title in 2019, is an able field general. He shares playing time with future star, freshman signal caller Darius Curry.
St. Bernard has a large number of massive linemen on its young roster. The big boys up front are hoping to win the trench battles with the Cubs.
THE LOYOLA - ST. BERNARD SERIES HISTORY
Loyola was pounded by St. Bernard, 33-7, in the schools’ first meeting at Inglewood’s Sentinel Field in 1972. The Cubs finished the campaign 0-9, the worst in program history.
Ironically, that loss to the Vikings played a role in Loyola’s rebirth as a state football powerhouse. The coaching staff at St. Bernard, headed by MARTY SHAUGNESSY and supported by defensive coordinator JON DAWSON and assistants BILL HERMAN and LYLE EGAN, was hired away from the Vikings’ program, and within three years those coaches led the Cubs to the 1975 CIF AAAA and National Championships. Shaugnessy left Loyola in 1976 to take the head job at Long Beach City College, but Dawson stayed at Loyola where he did a masterful job as the Cub D-coordinator for two decades under legendary head coach STEV GRADY ‘63 (269-77-6).
Loyola’s record from the time of Shaugnessy’s hiring in 1973 through Grady’s retirement in the spring of 2005 was 296-83-6 (77% winning percentage over a span of 32 seasons, which included three CIF Large School championships and four CIF Division I final appearances).
The Cubs hold a 4-1 advantage in the series. Loyola defeated the Vikings, 27-9, in 1979; 10-3, in 1980; 15-0, in 1981; and 38-0 in the fall of 2019.
GAME OVERVIEW
St. Bernard has a game under its belt, albeit one with a bad outcome. They say teams improve the most from their first to second games. So the Vikings have the advantage of having played last Friday, while Loyola had to sit. And the Norsemen played a very good Sierra Canyon squad which no doubt prepared them well for their contest with the Big Blue. They will play with a chip on their shoulders and something to prove.
The Cubs possess talent in every position group, and good team speed. It would not surprise if St. Bernard hangs with Loyola for awhile as it fields a very athletic group, but Loyola’s talent and veteran experience at multiple key positions should put it in good position to notch the Big Blue’s first victory.
HOW TO WATCH THE GAME
The game will be live-streamed by Fox Sports West Go. Download the app and follow the directions. In person attendance is limited to players’ parents and coaches’ families.
PRE-GAME FOR LOYOLA PARENTS
Loyola parents are meeting at Rock & Brews, 143 Main Street in El Segundo at 4:00 p.m. before the game.
LOYOLA HOME OPENER ON APRIL 2 TO BE PLAYED AT PIUS X
So Loyola parents can attend the Cuba’s first home game, the site of the league battle with St. Francis a week from Friday has been moved to Pius X-St. Mathias in Downey.
PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP/JOIN LOYOLA GRIDIRON VANGUARD
Loyola’s football program relies on the Loyola Gridiron Vanguard, it’s support group, for financial support of the program. Please renew your membership or join if you are not a member. Go to loyolagridironvanguard.com and click on membership.
A positive COVID-19 test caused the cancellation of the Cubs’ first scheduled non-league game against Upland last Friday. Consequently, it would be fair to say Loyola’s players are chomping at the bit to play their initial game against Playa Del Rey St. Bernard tomorrow night at 7:00 on the Vikings’ home field in Westchester.
The Cubs, ranked 10th this week in the Los Angeles Times’ Top 25 and 20th in the state by CalHi Sports, are looking to make another impressive showing against the Vikings following their decisive 28-7 victory over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in a scrimmage played at Smith Field on March 13.
There is good reason for optimism, as Notre Dame held Alemany, one of the best teams in the Southern Section, to just 14 offensive points in a 21-9 defeat at the hands of the Warriors last Friday.
A LOOK AT ST. BERNARD
First year coach Manuel Douglas left his longtime position as the head man at Narbonne of the Los Angeles City Section after the 2019 season under less than positive circumstances. He had been placed on administrative leave by the school district, filed litigation against LAUSD, entered a settlement, and headed up the road to take over the head job at St. Bernard.
Douglas had a reputation for attracting elite players at Narbonne, and word has it that he has more than a few highly regarded transfers at his new home. In the Vikings’ first contest last Friday against the Times’ number four ranked squad, Sierra Canyon, St. Bernard got boat raced to the tune of a 56-0 demolition. Not a particularly auspicious debut for the Vikes, but do not expect a similarly dismal performance on Friday. St. Bernard has sufficient talent to make it a game against a Loyola squad which would be well advised not to go into the contest taking the Vikings lightly.
Max Preps recently rated the top 25 players in the CIF Southern Section. Cub Senior All-American and All-CIF athlete, CEYAIR WRIGHT (WR/corner), was the number two player on the list. Ranked 13th on the all-star ledger was the Vikings’ Larry Turner, a junior wide receiver/safety who will be matched up with Wright on both sides of the ball. Wright is headed to USC and Turner is committed to Arizona State. Watching those two go at it should prove very entertaining. The number 22 rated player on the list is St. Bernard senior safety New Zealand Williams. Suffice to say the Vikings are not short on skill players.
Quarterback transfer, senior Jackson Dadich who led Lake Balboa Birmingham to the City Section title in 2019, is an able field general. He shares playing time with future star, freshman signal caller Darius Curry.
St. Bernard has a large number of massive linemen on its young roster. The big boys up front are hoping to win the trench battles with the Cubs.
THE LOYOLA - ST. BERNARD SERIES HISTORY
Loyola was pounded by St. Bernard, 33-7, in the schools’ first meeting at Inglewood’s Sentinel Field in 1972. The Cubs finished the campaign 0-9, the worst in program history.
Ironically, that loss to the Vikings played a role in Loyola’s rebirth as a state football powerhouse. The coaching staff at St. Bernard, headed by MARTY SHAUGNESSY and supported by defensive coordinator JON DAWSON and assistants BILL HERMAN and LYLE EGAN, was hired away from the Vikings’ program, and within three years those coaches led the Cubs to the 1975 CIF AAAA and National Championships. Shaugnessy left Loyola in 1976 to take the head job at Long Beach City College, but Dawson stayed at Loyola where he did a masterful job as the Cub D-coordinator for two decades under legendary head coach STEV GRADY ‘63 (269-77-6).
Loyola’s record from the time of Shaugnessy’s hiring in 1973 through Grady’s retirement in the spring of 2005 was 296-83-6 (77% winning percentage over a span of 32 seasons, which included three CIF Large School championships and four CIF Division I final appearances).
The Cubs hold a 4-1 advantage in the series. Loyola defeated the Vikings, 27-9, in 1979; 10-3, in 1980; 15-0, in 1981; and 38-0 in the fall of 2019.
GAME OVERVIEW
St. Bernard has a game under its belt, albeit one with a bad outcome. They say teams improve the most from their first to second games. So the Vikings have the advantage of having played last Friday, while Loyola had to sit. And the Norsemen played a very good Sierra Canyon squad which no doubt prepared them well for their contest with the Big Blue. They will play with a chip on their shoulders and something to prove.
The Cubs possess talent in every position group, and good team speed. It would not surprise if St. Bernard hangs with Loyola for awhile as it fields a very athletic group, but Loyola’s talent and veteran experience at multiple key positions should put it in good position to notch the Big Blue’s first victory.
HOW TO WATCH THE GAME
The game will be live-streamed by Fox Sports West Go. Download the app and follow the directions. In person attendance is limited to players’ parents and coaches’ families.
PRE-GAME FOR LOYOLA PARENTS
Loyola parents are meeting at Rock & Brews, 143 Main Street in El Segundo at 4:00 p.m. before the game.
LOYOLA HOME OPENER ON APRIL 2 TO BE PLAYED AT PIUS X
So Loyola parents can attend the Cuba’s first home game, the site of the league battle with St. Francis a week from Friday has been moved to Pius X-St. Mathias in Downey.
PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP/JOIN LOYOLA GRIDIRON VANGUARD
Loyola’s football program relies on the Loyola Gridiron Vanguard, it’s support group, for financial support of the program. Please renew your membership or join if you are not a member. Go to loyolagridironvanguard.com and click on membership.
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