Cub Football - Loyola to host San Diego Mira Mesa on Friday
LOYOLA HAS FIRST TIME FOE, SAN DIEGO MIRA MESA, ON DOCKET THIS FRIDAY
The Cubs were supposed to play neighboring Crenshaw of the Los Angeles City Section this Friday, For reasons that are not at all clear, Crenshaw pulled out of the scheduled game and instead will play Woodland Hills Taft on Friday.
For the second time this season Loyola was forced to find a replacement contest. It fortunately was able to secure a visit from Mira Mesa of the San Diego Section. Kickoff will be at 7:00 p.m. at Smith Field.
The Cubs moved up to the number 18 spot in the Los Angeles Times’ Southland Top 25 rankings following their 34-6 rout of Cathedral last Friday which improved their record to 3-1. Loyola is currently 17th in the CalPreps state rankings.
In the last two games, the Cubs have outscored their opponents by the combined score of 96-27 (48-13). New starting signal caller JOE TATUM has completed 64 percent of his pass attempts with a robust 13.8 yards per completion average.
Senior wide receiver PETER VANIS has 19 catches for 210 yards (11.1 ypc), senior JACOBY KELLY has snagged 14 aerials for 176 yards (12.6 ypc), junior BAYLIN BROOKS has caught 11 passes for 177 yards and WILKIE WILES is averaging 24.3 yards per reception on three receptions. Wiles’ 79- yard catch and run for at TD against Cathedral was spectacular.
Senior All-CIF running back TAHJ OWENS continues to show why he has multiple FBS scholarship offers and is establishing himself as one of the top running backs in Big Blue annals. He has rushed for 588 yards and averages an impressive 7.1 yards per carry.
Loyola’s ‘Wolfpack’ defense continues to be paced by tackle-leading inside linebackers, senior PATRICK SODL and sophomore TJ SMITH.
The Cubs have not yet played to their full potential. The Big Blue arrow continues to point up.
A LOOK AT MIRA MESA
The Marauders from the San Diego Section will make the trek north on Friday with heavy hearts. Their fourth-year head coach, Chris Thompson, passed away less than two weeks ago. Thompson had led Mira Mesa to the CIF San Diego Section finals in 2018, so the Marauders know how to compete at a high level against quality competition.
Assistant head coach Aurelio Morales and assistant Phillip Lomax have taken over co-head coach duties, and they bring a 1-1 squad to 1901 Venice Boulevard on Friday. The Marauders lost to Helix 28-20 in their opener and defeated winless San Marcos, 27-21, in their second game.
Senior Alex Zappia (6-0, 170) has completed 57% of his passes for 348 yards, throwing for three TDs and one interception. Senior receiver Tajon Evans is a dangerous playmaker. He has six receptions for 174 yards (29 ypc). Mira Mesa has struggled in the rushing game, having amassed just 168 yards.
The Marauders will have to find balance in their offense and an effective game plan to slow down Loyola’s productive offense. The Cubs are averaging 37 points per game. If Mira Mesa plays it’s best game it can make a game of it, but if Loyola is focused and plays with emotion it could end up being a long night for the visitors from San Diego.
THE SERIES
This is the first meeting between the Cubs and Marauders. Mira Mesa, which is located in the Mira Mesa neighborhood of San Diego is in close proximity to the Miramar Naval Air Station northeast of downtown. The school was established in 1976.
EXTRA POINTS
Former Loyola All-American/All-State/All-CIF defensive back DAVID LONG, JR. ‘16 made his first start for the Los Angeles Rams at corner on Sunday and also made his first NFL interception in the Rams’ victory over the Chicago Bears . . . the Cubs have played, and defeated, one first-time opponent, Culver City, this season, and have two more games on the schedule against teams they have never played before, MIra Mesa this Friday, and San Clemente on the road on October 1 . . . not since its National Championship season in 1975 has Loyola scored more than the 96 points it put on the board in two consecutive contests against Culver City (62) and Cathedral (34); in ‘75 the Cubs scored 107 points in consecutive games against Salesian (61) and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (46) . . . looking at future opponents: Corona Del Mar upset future Cub opponent San Clemente (3-1), 7-3, last Friday . . . Mira Costa (1-2) lost by a point, 28-27, to Lancaster Paraclete; Crespi (0-2) was blown out, 42-14, by Chaminade; St. Francis (1-1) was scheduled to play Inglewood last week but the game was canceled because of COVID-19 issues within the Inglewood program; and St. Paul (3-0) which has won its three games thus far by the average score of 49-7, trounced Long Beach Jordan, 41-8.
THE CUBS NEED FANS IN THE STANDS!!