Cub Football - Loyola takes next step in 45-28 quarterfinal win - Cubs will play Camarillo in semifinals
LOYOLA TAKES DOWN VILLA PARK, 45-28, TO ADVANCE TO CIF PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS FOR FIRST TIME IN 14 YEARS
Loyola’s run game was dominant in an exciting quarterfinal CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoff contest against Villa Park before a large crowd on Friday night at Smith Field.
The Cubs downed the Spartans decisively, 45-28, as Villa Park could not halt Loyola’s rushing onslaught, which saw its sophomore running back duo of TAHJ OWENS and HARRISON ALLEN combine for five touchdowns in the impressive victory over the Spartans.
The Cubs will advance to the semifinal round of the playoffs for the first time since 2005 to face number two seed Camarillo (11-1), which squeaked by Downey, 28-27, in another quarterfinal, on the road next Friday at Moorpark College.
Villa Park (6-6) received the opening kickoff and quickly drove 73 yards, scoring at the 8:47 mark of the first quarter on a two-yard run which was set up by a 59-yard sprint shortly before the TD. The ease with which the Spartans moved the ball to start the game was a cause for concern along the Loyola sidelines, but the Cubs allayed the angst when Owens returned the ensuing kickoff to the Villa Park 47 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage Allen burst through a massive hole and raced 47 yards for a touchdown. Just like that the score was knotted at 7-7.
The Spartans answered with a 67-yard TD drive which culminated on a five yard burst into the end zone to move ahead, 14-7. Loyola came right back in short order with a 65-yard drive capped by Owens’ 12-yard scoring jaunt.
The Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense finally settled down and forced a punt on Villa Park’s next possession. On Loyola’s ensuing possession junior quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO ran for a first down on a fourth-and-one play and completed a beautifully executed pass to senior tight end BRENDAN PERNECKY over the middle, highlighting a 78-yard scoring drive with Allen taking the ball into the end zone with 3:20 left in the first half. The Cubs took a 21-14 lead into the locker room at intermission.
A personal foul call against Loyola on the visitors’ first drive of the second half aided Villa Park’s scoring effort which ended on an eight-yard fourth down TD toss to tie the score at 21-21 with 5:57 remaining in the third quarter.
It was looking like what up to that point was a see saw battle would go down to the wire, but junior sprinter CEYAIR WRIGHT took the Spartans’ kickoff 98 yards to pay dirt, blazing down the Loyola sideline to give the Cubs a 28-21 lead they would never relinquish with 5:42 left in the third quarter.
After Loyola forced another Villa Park punt, Wright had another impressive long distance return to set the Cubs up deep in Spartan territory. Owens powered in for a touchdown from the 9 yard line to up Loyola’s lead to 35-21 at the 4:22 mark of the third quarter.
Junior defensive lineman JOSHUA LONG recovered a Villa Park fumble inside the Spartan 20-yard line, but a holding penalty against the Cubs forced Loyola to settle for a DIEGO BURGOS 33-yard field goal to increase the Big Blue’s lead to 38-21 with 45 seconds left on the clock in the third quarter.
Villa Park scored on a one-yard run to cap an 86-yard drive with 5:50 remaining in the fourth quarter to narrow the gap to 35-28, but after a failed on side kick by the Spartans, Owens turned on the after burners as he scored on a 32-yard run with 1:39 left in the contest to make the final score, Loyola 45, Villa Park 28.
Loyola’s run game was dominant in an exciting quarterfinal CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoff contest against Villa Park before a large crowd on Friday night at Smith Field.
The Cubs downed the Spartans decisively, 45-28, as Villa Park could not halt Loyola’s rushing onslaught, which saw its sophomore running back duo of TAHJ OWENS and HARRISON ALLEN combine for five touchdowns in the impressive victory over the Spartans.
The Cubs will advance to the semifinal round of the playoffs for the first time since 2005 to face number two seed Camarillo (11-1), which squeaked by Downey, 28-27, in another quarterfinal, on the road next Friday at Moorpark College.
Villa Park (6-6) received the opening kickoff and quickly drove 73 yards, scoring at the 8:47 mark of the first quarter on a two-yard run which was set up by a 59-yard sprint shortly before the TD. The ease with which the Spartans moved the ball to start the game was a cause for concern along the Loyola sidelines, but the Cubs allayed the angst when Owens returned the ensuing kickoff to the Villa Park 47 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage Allen burst through a massive hole and raced 47 yards for a touchdown. Just like that the score was knotted at 7-7.
The Spartans answered with a 67-yard TD drive which culminated on a five yard burst into the end zone to move ahead, 14-7. Loyola came right back in short order with a 65-yard drive capped by Owens’ 12-yard scoring jaunt.
The Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense finally settled down and forced a punt on Villa Park’s next possession. On Loyola’s ensuing possession junior quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO ran for a first down on a fourth-and-one play and completed a beautifully executed pass to senior tight end BRENDAN PERNECKY over the middle, highlighting a 78-yard scoring drive with Allen taking the ball into the end zone with 3:20 left in the first half. The Cubs took a 21-14 lead into the locker room at intermission.
A personal foul call against Loyola on the visitors’ first drive of the second half aided Villa Park’s scoring effort which ended on an eight-yard fourth down TD toss to tie the score at 21-21 with 5:57 remaining in the third quarter.
It was looking like what up to that point was a see saw battle would go down to the wire, but junior sprinter CEYAIR WRIGHT took the Spartans’ kickoff 98 yards to pay dirt, blazing down the Loyola sideline to give the Cubs a 28-21 lead they would never relinquish with 5:42 left in the third quarter.
After Loyola forced another Villa Park punt, Wright had another impressive long distance return to set the Cubs up deep in Spartan territory. Owens powered in for a touchdown from the 9 yard line to up Loyola’s lead to 35-21 at the 4:22 mark of the third quarter.
Junior defensive lineman JOSHUA LONG recovered a Villa Park fumble inside the Spartan 20-yard line, but a holding penalty against the Cubs forced Loyola to settle for a DIEGO BURGOS 33-yard field goal to increase the Big Blue’s lead to 38-21 with 45 seconds left on the clock in the third quarter.
Villa Park scored on a one-yard run to cap an 86-yard drive with 5:50 remaining in the fourth quarter to narrow the gap to 35-28, but after a failed on side kick by the Spartans, Owens turned on the after burners as he scored on a 32-yard run with 1:39 left in the contest to make the final score, Loyola 45, Villa Park 28.
It was a huge win for the Cubs (5-6) who have shown great mettle in earning a trip to the semifinal round of the CIF Division 4 playoffs. Loyola is just one win away from making its 13th trip to a CIF Southern Section championship game.
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