Cub Football - Loyola to host Culver City in first ever grid battle between schools
LOYOLA WILL TAKE ON A CULVER CITY SQUAD THAT HAS WON 85% OF ITS GAMES OVER THE LAST FOUR SEASONS
For those who thought Culver City would be an easy out when viewing Loyola’s non-league schedule, you may want to think again.
The Centaurs have won 85% of their games over the last four seasons, including last spring’s shortened campaign. Culver City has amassed an overall record of 40-7 from 2018 through last Friday’s opener. In 2018 the Centaurs won their CIF Southern Section playoff division before advancing to the state regional playoffs, where they fell in a close contest to San Diego Lincoln. Culver City finished 12-1 in 2019 after making it to the CIF playoff semifinals. The Centaurs were 4-1 in the spring.
Culver City is reminiscent of the talented Santa Monica teams of the late 1970s through the mid-1980s, which gave Loyola fits in non-league contests. The Centaurs are loaded with speed and athleticism in every unit and are well coached.
Make no mistake, the Cubs will have their hands full this Friday.
A LOOK AT CULVER CITY
Veteran head coach Jahmal Wright has an impressive track record since taking over the reins of his prep alma mater in 2009. While the Centaurs suffered some big graduation losses, Wright is reloading-not rebuilding-this fall. Culver City opened the season on Friday with a 31-0 shutout of West Torrance.
The Centaurs return several All-Bay League players, including massive 6-5, 320 lb. junior offensive lineman/nose guard Mason Merriweather and senior offensive tackle/defensive lineman Bryce Williams (6-6, 315). All-League linebacker Aaron Salas (6-1, 205) is a hitter who also packs a punch at fullback.
in a scrimmage against Bishop Amat a week ago, Culver City showcased its game breaking speed against the Lancers. One of the big Centaur weapons is junior wide receiver/strong safety Malik Lewis (6-3, 220).
Culver City is led on offense by Alonzo Esparza (6-0, 170), a precocious freshman quarterback with a great arm and quick feet. Esparza already has landed scholarship offers from the likes of Texas A&M, Florida State, Minnesota and Kentucky. Against West Torrance, the freshman phenom completed 26 of 36 passes for 362 yards and two TDs.
Culver City is a similar squad to Inglewood, to whom Loyola lost, 29-26, in a down to the wire heartbreaker in its opener.
OUTLOOK
Loyola was has been hit hard by the injury bug and probably will need to improvise against the Centaurs. Culver City is a big play team which scores at a high rate on offense and plays fast on the defensive side of the ball. To notch a victory, the Cubs will need to play mistake-free football, something they have not done in their first two outings. If the Big Blue cannot slow down Esparza, the road to a win will be challenging.
Loyola probably will need to score at least four touchdowns to record its second win.
This one stacks up as a possible third consecutive nail biter. The Big Blue will need to take a step up this week, following its up and down performance against Damien.
THE SERIES
Friday’s contest is the first ever meeting between the Cubs and Centaurs on the gridiron.
LOYOLA EXTRA POINTS
Loyola’s future opponents are currently 7-1 on the season, which says a lot about the Cubs’ strength of schedule.
NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA ‘20 started as UCLA’s kicker in the Bruins’ season opening 44-10 win over Hawaii in the Rose Bowl on Saturday. He split the uprights on his sole field goal try of 27 yards.
Loyola moved up one spot to number 22 in the Los Angeles Times’ Southland top 25 rankings following its victory over previous number 17-ranked La Verne Damien.
For those who thought Culver City would be an easy out when viewing Loyola’s non-league schedule, you may want to think again.
The Centaurs have won 85% of their games over the last four seasons, including last spring’s shortened campaign. Culver City has amassed an overall record of 40-7 from 2018 through last Friday’s opener. In 2018 the Centaurs won their CIF Southern Section playoff division before advancing to the state regional playoffs, where they fell in a close contest to San Diego Lincoln. Culver City finished 12-1 in 2019 after making it to the CIF playoff semifinals. The Centaurs were 4-1 in the spring.
Culver City is reminiscent of the talented Santa Monica teams of the late 1970s through the mid-1980s, which gave Loyola fits in non-league contests. The Centaurs are loaded with speed and athleticism in every unit and are well coached.
Make no mistake, the Cubs will have their hands full this Friday.
A LOOK AT CULVER CITY
Veteran head coach Jahmal Wright has an impressive track record since taking over the reins of his prep alma mater in 2009. While the Centaurs suffered some big graduation losses, Wright is reloading-not rebuilding-this fall. Culver City opened the season on Friday with a 31-0 shutout of West Torrance.
The Centaurs return several All-Bay League players, including massive 6-5, 320 lb. junior offensive lineman/nose guard Mason Merriweather and senior offensive tackle/defensive lineman Bryce Williams (6-6, 315). All-League linebacker Aaron Salas (6-1, 205) is a hitter who also packs a punch at fullback.
in a scrimmage against Bishop Amat a week ago, Culver City showcased its game breaking speed against the Lancers. One of the big Centaur weapons is junior wide receiver/strong safety Malik Lewis (6-3, 220).
Culver City is led on offense by Alonzo Esparza (6-0, 170), a precocious freshman quarterback with a great arm and quick feet. Esparza already has landed scholarship offers from the likes of Texas A&M, Florida State, Minnesota and Kentucky. Against West Torrance, the freshman phenom completed 26 of 36 passes for 362 yards and two TDs.
Culver City is a similar squad to Inglewood, to whom Loyola lost, 29-26, in a down to the wire heartbreaker in its opener.
OUTLOOK
Loyola was has been hit hard by the injury bug and probably will need to improvise against the Centaurs. Culver City is a big play team which scores at a high rate on offense and plays fast on the defensive side of the ball. To notch a victory, the Cubs will need to play mistake-free football, something they have not done in their first two outings. If the Big Blue cannot slow down Esparza, the road to a win will be challenging.
Loyola probably will need to score at least four touchdowns to record its second win.
This one stacks up as a possible third consecutive nail biter. The Big Blue will need to take a step up this week, following its up and down performance against Damien.
THE SERIES
Friday’s contest is the first ever meeting between the Cubs and Centaurs on the gridiron.
LOYOLA EXTRA POINTS
Loyola’s future opponents are currently 7-1 on the season, which says a lot about the Cubs’ strength of schedule.
NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA ‘20 started as UCLA’s kicker in the Bruins’ season opening 44-10 win over Hawaii in the Rose Bowl on Saturday. He split the uprights on his sole field goal try of 27 yards.
Loyola moved up one spot to number 22 in the Los Angeles Times’ Southland top 25 rankings following its victory over previous number 17-ranked La Verne Damien.
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