Cub Football - Loyola wins shootout in final non-league game down south
LOYOLA OUT SHOOTS MOUNT MIGUEL, 46-38, IN SPRING VALLEY
Traditionally, Loyola has not been a program equipped to win in a high scoring shoot out, but the Cubs served notice on Friday in San Diego County that their offense has the capability to outscore good opponents as the running game and passing attack were both dynamic and equally effective in posting a 46-38 victory over previously undefeated Mount Miguel (Spring Valley) (4-1) in the final non-league contest of the season.
To channel Charles Dickens, the battle against an extremely fast and athletic Matador squad had a "this was the best of times, this was the worst of times" feel, as Loyola, which improved its record to 2-3, shined for most of the night on the offensive side of the ball, but was torched by Mt. Miguel's passing attack and continued to be plagued by an inordinate number of penalties (eight for 75 yards). If nothing else the win was without question a roller coaster ride.
The Cubs, sparked by a 20-yard SEAN MORRIS II run on the first series of the game, drove 40 yards in eight plays, with MORRIS bulling into the end zone from one yard out at the 8:31 mark of the first quarter. JACOB KREINBRING's PAT kick gave Loyola a 7-0 lead.
After the teams exchanged punts, the Matadors, helped by a 50-yard pass completion, quickly marched 68 yards in eight plays. The scoring threat was averted, though, when UCLA-bound senior outside linebacker SCOTT TAYLOR recovered a fumble at the Cubs' seven yard line.
On the ensuing series, Mount Miguel forced a fumble after a 20-yard MORRIS run and returned the loose ball all the way down to the Loyola five yard line. An outstanding stand by the Cubs' 'Wolfpack' defense forced the Matadors to settle for a 30-yard field goal to close the gap to 7-3.
Loyola's electric kick returner, senior DESI VALDES, took the following kickoff to the Matadors' 45 yard line, and three plays later MORRIS sprinted into the end zone from 10 yards out. KREINBRING's kick extended the Cubs' lead to 14-3 with 9:06 remaining in the second quarter.
On its first play of Mount Miguel's next possession a Matador receiver took the top off of Loyola's secondary for an 80-yard TD catch to cut the Cubs' lead to 14-10 at the 8:54 mark of the second quarter.
Loyola answered with a beautifully executed 66-yard, five play drive, with the scoring tally coming on a 44-yard pass from junior QB ASHTON PANNELL to junior wide receiver MARKUS KIER to increase the Cubs' lead to 21-7 with 7:30 left in the first half.
Mount Miguel answered with a quick, 66-yard, five-play scoring drive, capped by a 16-yard TD aerial at the 4:27 mark of the second quarter to draw within four points, 21-17.
Loyola responded with a 55-yard, four-play scoring march, the TD coming on a six-yard pass from PANNELL to senior receiver ETHAN GALLARDO to increase the Big Blue's lead to 28-17.
The Matadors stormed back, moving 80 yards on just five plays, scoring on a five-yard pass with 1:29 left in the first half, to draw within five points, 28-23, after missing the conversion attempt.
With 25 seconds left before intermission, the Cubs scored on a 36-yard pass from PANNELL to tight end SCOTT TAYLOR to complete an impressive hurry-up 83-yard, five-play scoring drive. A successful two-point conversion toss from PANNELL to MORRIS made the score, Loyola 36, Mount Miguel 23 at halftime. The first series of the second half, highlighted by a 47-yard TD aerial, the Matadors took the ball 83 yards in five plays with the score coming on a one-yard toss at the 10:53 mark of the third quarter. The PAT kick closed the gap to 36-30. It was clear at that point the contest would be a sprint to the finish line.
Disaster struck for the Cubs on the ensuing chip shot kickoff, which was fumbled by Loyola at its 28 yard line. The Cub defense, though, stepped up, stopping Mount Miguel on a fourth down play at the Loyola 17 yard line.
The Cubs promptly marched 74 yards on four plays, with a 36-yard pass completion from PANNELL to KIER on the first play to ignite the drive, which was capped by a 19-yard TD pass from PANNELL to MORRIS early in the fourth quarter, increasing Loyola's lead to 43-30.
Junior All-American corner BRANDON LOCKHART intercepted his second pass in as many games on the Matadors' next possession, giving the Cubs the ball at Mount Miguel's 48 yard line.
KEIR had a 25-yard reception on the ensuing drive before Loyola settled for a 24-yard KREINBRING field goal to up its advantage to 46-30 with less than two minutes left in the contest.
Not surprisingly, the Matadors struck right back, on a 70-yard pass on its first play. The successful two-point conversion made the score 46-38 with 1:31 remaining on the game clock.
Mount Miguel was unable to recover its ensuing onside kick, and the Cubs ran out the clock to secure the 46-38 win.
MORRIS finished with 221 rushing yards on 30 carries (7.4 ypc), two TDs and one receiving score.
ASHTON PANNELL completed 14 of 18 passes for 252 yards (14 yds. per catch)and four TDs.
Wide receiver MARKUS KIER was a big playmaker for Loyola. He hauled in six receptions for 143 yards (24 yds. per catch) two touchdowns.
All of those impressive stats were aided by an excellent outing by the ever improving offensive line, manned from right to left, SILAS NUR (RT), SAMI PARK (RG), NELSON PYE III (C), LANGSTON GIBSON (LG) and NATE TURK (LT).
Defensively, good performances were turned in by Edge/outside linebacker SCOTT TAYLOR and defensive linemen ZION SCRIVENS, MAX MEIER and SILAS NUR. They were all instrumental in shutting down the Matadors' run game.
Unfortunately, the secondary gave up big chunk pass plays of 50, 80, 44, 79, 47 and 70 yards. That aspect of the Cubs' defense needs to be shored up if Loyola intends to secure wins in the Mission League.
The Cubs host Gardena Serra (3-2) next Friday at Smith Field. The Cavaliers routed Cal Preps' 19th ranked team in California, Los Alamitos, 42-7, on Friday.
To say that Serra poses a major challenge would be an understatement.
LOYOLA SOPHOMORES AND FRESHMEN REMAIN UNDEFEATED
Loyola's sophomore team beat Mount Miguel 13-12, and the Cub freshmen defeated the Matadors today, 14-0.
The going gets tougher next week as the Missiin League gauntlet awaits.
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 ‘21, 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
2024 LOYOLA VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
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)*
10-11 @ Bishop Amat*
10-18 Chaminade (Home)*
10-25 @ Sierra Canyon*
11-1 Notre Dame (Home)*
All games on Fridays @ 7:00 p.m. * Denotes Mission League game