Cub Football - Loyola wins overtime thriller to advance to Division 3 semifinals
LOYOLA TAKES DOWN CREAN LUTHERAN IN DRAMATIC OVERTIME QUARTERFINAL VICTORY
Loyola running back SEAN MORRIS II carried the ball on all three plays of the Cubs' overtime possession against Crean Lutheran, the last one of which covered eight yards for six points to give Loyola a dramatic 23-20 victory in a CIF Southern Section quarterfinal tilt Friday night at Smith Field.
A lasting vignette of the emotion-charged triumph was the entire Cub team deliriously swarming the field to embrace MORRIS, who has unequivocally established himself as an absolute warrior and one of the best prep running backs in the Golden State . . . and he is only a junior.
With the hard fought overtime quarterfinal victory in the books, Loyola will move on to the Division 3 semifinals to play number one seed Simi Valley (11-1) at Smith Field next Friday. Simi Valley defeated La Habra, 41-34, in the other upper bracket quarterfinal contest played last night in Ventura County.
The Cubs received the opening kickoff and promptly marched 84 yards in eight plays with sophomore MATT SMITH, in his first start behind center, connecting with senior wide receiver TK KNYAL on a beautifully executed 23-yard touchdown pass. Junior JACOB KREINBRING's PAT kick put Loyola up 7-0 less than three minutes into the game.
After the teams exchanged punts four times, Cub senior defensive back DESI VALDES had his second pick six in as many weeks from 15 yards out to increase Loyola's lead to 14-0 with eight seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Saints wasted no time in answering the Cub TD as they drove 80 yards in seven plays, scoring a TD on an eight-yard run at the 9:25 mark of the second quarter.
An unsuccessful 50-yard Crean Lutheran field goal attempt just before intermission allowed the Cubs to take their 14-7 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
The Saints were driving the ball with success to start the third quarter before a great heads up play by junior corner BRANDON LOCKHART quashed their momentum. During a long run by Crean Lutheran's talented tailback, LOCKHART rapidly tracked him down from behind and caused a strip fumble, recovered by Loyola. Following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty assessed against the Cubs they took over at their own 10 yard line.
Loyola then marched 73 yards to the Saints' 17 yard line from which KREIBRING split the uprights on a 34-yard field goal attempt to up the Cubs lead to 17-7 with 6:34 remaining in the third quarter. The highlight of the possession was another well thrown 27-yard pass from SMITH to junior wide receiver MARKUS KIER.
In the fourth quarter Loyola started a drive at its own 25 yard line. On a second down and goal-to-go play the Cubs elected to run a pass play which was intercepted in the end zone.
With what had been a seemingly comfortable 17-7 advantage, and the prospect of putting the score out of reach with a TD or at worse a short field goal instead of the turnover, the complexion of the contest was completely altered.
The Saints wasted no time in setting up a fight to the finish. They covered 80 yards in just five plays, scoring on a five-yard run to close the gap to three points, making the score 17-14 with 7:44 left in the game.
After Crean Lutheran intercepted another Loyola pass, it started its final drive at its 30 yard line. The Saints drove all the way to the Cubs' five yard line. An illegal procedure penalty forced Crean Lutheran to attempt a field goal to tie the score. With 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter the Saints kick was good to tie the score, 17-17, and force the contest into overtime.
On the first overtime possession, Loyola's 'Wolfpack' defense stuffed a second down run play and successfully defended a third down pass, which forced the Saints to settle for a 29-yard field goal to give Crean Lutheran a 20-17 lead.
With all the cards on the table on the Cubs' ensuing possession, MORRIS sprinted 10 yards for a first down on the first play, followed by a seven-yard run before the game winning eight-yard jaunt to pay dirt to give Loyola a 23-20 victory and a ticket to the semifinals.
SMITH, in his first varsity start, threw for 136 yards and demonstrated great poise and impressive arm talent.
MORRIS carried the ball 31 times for 186 yards (6.0 yards per carry) to bring his season rushing total to 1,525 yards. The Big Blue offensive kid a good job, especially with all the movement presented by the Saints' defensive front.
The Cubs improved their record to 6-6. Crean Lutheran ended its season with a 9-3 ledger.
And for Loyola the season lives on.
2024 LOYOLA VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE/RECORD
8-23 @ Cathedral (L, 16-13, 2OT)
8-30 Damien (L, 30-29)
9-13 @ Leuzinger (L, 40-30)
9-20 @ St. Francis (W, 35-7)
9-27 @ Mount Miguel (Spring Valley, San Diego) (W, 46-38)
10-4 Serra (Home)* (L, 42-35)
10-11 @ Bishop Amat* (W, 24-17)
10-18 Chaminade (Home)* (W, 44-10)
10-25 @ Sierra Canyon* (L, 45-0)
11-1 Notre Dame (Home)* (L, 35-34)
CIF SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION 3 PLAYOFFS
11-8 @ Tustin (CIF Division-3 Playoffs first round) (W, 30-13)
11-15 Crean Lutheran (CIF Division 3 quarterfinals) (W, 23-20 (OT))
11-15 Crean Lutheran (CIF Division 3 Playoffs quarterfinals)
11-22 Simi Valley (CIF Division 3 semifinals)
CUBS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Below is the list of Loyola graduates playing college football in 2024 according to published collegiate rosters:
CHAD BAILEY ‘20, DB, Bentley University
NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA ‘19, K, Mississippi State
COLIN CRUCE ‘22, OL, Bowdoin
JEFFREY JOHNSON ‘21, TE, Cal
LUKE HARRISON ‘24, OL, University of San Diego
ANDREW KOZHAYA ‘21, OL, Grinnel
SHAWN LIN '22, DL, Columbia
LEIGHTON LINE ‘23, DL, Cal Lutheran
CONNOR McDOWELL ‘21, DB, Angelo State
BLAKE NEITHART ‘20, DB, Carleton
TAHJ OWENS '22, DB, Princeton
JACK PARIS '23, DL, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
RYAN QUINTANAR '20, LB, USC
ISAIAH SANDERS, ‘24, LB, UC Davis
PATRICK SODL ‘22, LB, Columbia
HENRY STICKLER ‘22, WR, SMU
JACK SUSNJAR ‘23, OL, USC
JOE TATUM ‘22, QB, Texas
EVAN THOMAS ‘20, DB, UCLA
RYAN TURK ‘24, OL, Dartmouth
ALEX WHITMAN ‘22, WR, Notre Dame
CHAMP WESTBROOKS ‘24, OL, Arizona State
CEYAIR WRIGHT ‘21, DB, Nebraska
SAM YOON ‘22, OL, UCLA
LOYOLA GRADS IN THE NFL
MYLES BRYANT '16, corner, Houston Texans
ALEX JOHNSON '19, corner, Indianapolis Colts (practice squad)
DAVID LONG, JR., corner, Indianapolis Colts
COLEMAN SHELTON '13, center, Chicago Bears