Cub Football - Loyola stuns Serra with smothering defensive performance at SoFi Stadium
LOYOLA SECURES RESONANT, 13-10, VICTORY OVER SERRA AT SoFi STADIUM
It may have been revelatory, or even redemptive, but whatever words can best describe Loyola’s 13-10 victory in its Mission League battle with Serra at SoFi Stadium on Thursday evening, the win set the Cubs on a course that seemed improbable following a mass exodus of players from the program over the spring and early summer.
A superb defensive performance reminiscent of days of yore and a flawless kicking game combined to propel Loyola to a triumph that few outside the program anticipated.
The win against the Los Angeles Times’ 18th-ranked team improved the Cubs’ overall record to 4-3 and evened their Mission League ledger at 1-1. But most importantly, it made a potential CIF playoff berth a real possibility with three league contests remaining in the regular season.
Three fourth down stops by Loyola’s determined ‘Wolfpack’ defense in the fourth quarter displayed the grit and physicality with which the Cubs competed from the opening kickoff until the game clock hit triple zeroes.
Loyola’s offense was able to muster just over 100 yards against the Cavaliers’ quality defensive unit, but Cub All-CIF senior kicker JACOB KREINBRING drilled two field goals through the narrower NFL uprights which proved pivotal in the outcome.
Loyola gained just 44 total offensive yards in the first half, and six of its seven possessions ended with three punts, a fumble, a tackle in the end zone for a Serra safety and time expiring to end the second quarter.
KREINBRING drilled a 44-yard field goal with 6:40 left in the second quarter to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead. Following a Serra punt, a Loyola fumble was returned to the Cubs’ seven yard line.
After a ferocious sack by senior Edge MAX MEIER, the Cavaliers lined up for a 30-yard field goal attempt. Junior linebacker KANE CASANI came crashing through Serra’s line and blocked the kick, which was scooped up and returned for a long distance touchdown by athletic sophomore corner MALIQUE POLLARD to give Loyola a 10-0 lead with 27 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
A Serra punt pinned the Cubs back at their six yard line. On the Big Blue’s first offensive play its running back was tackled in the end zone for a Cavalier safety to make the score 10-2 with 5:30 left in the second quarter.
A 30-yard pass completion on Serra’s ensuing possession highlighted a three-play touchdown drive culminated by a one-yard TD run and a successful two-point conversion jaunt to knot the score, 10-10, at the 4:11 mark of the second quarter.
After forcing the Cavaliers to punt on their first possession of the second half, the Cub offense drove from its 34 yard line to Serra’s 18 yard line from which KREINBRING nailed a 35-yard field goal to give Loyola a 13-10 lead at the 4:14 mark of the third quarter. A 15-yard pass completion from Junior QB GAVIN GRABE to junior receiver TOBY THUSS, and a 15- yard run by CASANI were key plays on the Big Blue’s first offensive drive of the third quarter.
The Cubs ‘Wolfpack’ defense stopped a 4th-and-two Serra run at the Loyola 37 yard line shortly thereafter.
Three plays later a Big Blue pass was intercepted at the Cubs’ 43 yard line, but once again Loyola’s defensive platoon rose up to force an incomplete fourth down pass.
The Cub defense once again held Serra a yard short on a fourth down play with 1:40 left in the contest, and that was the ball game.
Loyola sophomore running back JAYDEN ROGERS sprinted 16 yards for a first down on the following series, and thereafter three victory formation kneel downs ended the competition with the Cubs emerging victorious, 13-10.
As Los Angeles Times prep sports editor Eric Sondheimer wrote in his game story there were numerous players who deserved game balls.
KREINBRING’s field goals and towering punts, one of which was downed on the Cavaliers’ one yard line, were invaluable contributions.
Sophomore corner MALIQUE POLLARD’s scoop and score was not his only standout play as he patrolled the secondary with brilliance.
Edge MAX MEIER finished with 1.5 sacks (9.5 for the season), 9 tackles, and one tackle for loss.
KANE CASANI, in addition to his blocked field goal kick, was outstanding on both sides of the ball.
Three hundred pound sophomore nose guard LONDON DIVENS clogged the middle all night and had a tackle for loss, as did sophomore defensive lineman WILL MACK.
Senior Edge WES McMULLIN was in on a sack, and senior linebacker HOLDEN SMYSER made plays all night long.
TOBY THUSS made some critical catches on offense.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR LOYOLA
The Cubs (4-3, 1-1) will host long time arch rival Bishop Amat (3-3, 0-1) next Friday at Smith Field in a showdown that will could have huge playoff implications. Tonight Bishop Amat hosts Notre Dame (4-2, 1-0) in La Puente.
The key going forward for Loyola will be to get more offensive production, but if the Cubs play with the urgency and physicality they displayed at the home of the Chargers and Rams on Thursday night, there are enticing possibilities on the horizon.
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
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
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*
10-24 @ Chaminade*
10-31 Sierra Canyon*
*Denotes Mission League game