Cub Football - Loyola’s keys to victory tonight - Ticket availability - Pre-game tailgate at Las 7 Regiones at 4:00 p.m.
LOYOLA PLAYS FOR SEVENTH CIF CHAMPIONSHIP TONIGHT
Loyola will compete for it’s seventh CIF Southern Section football championship at 7:00 p.m. tonight at Smith Field against San Juan Hills (10-3), the number four seed in Division 4. The contest marks the thirteenth CIF title game in which the Cubs have played.
KEYS TO CUB VICTORY TONIGHT
For Loyola to emerge victorious tonight it must play its best game of the 2019 campaign against the most talented playoff squad it has faced thus far. Two things have to be accomplished by the Big Blue, stop the Stallions’ run game and run the ball effectively on offense.
Leading the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense at inside linebacker is senior STEVEN ARELLANO. He is a monster in the middle, with an incredible team-leading 163 tackles. A virtual heat seeking missile, the team captain has 5.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss to go along with 65 solo stops. Arellano will be counted on to lead his defensive teammates in smothering the Stallions’ rushing attack.
Other Loyola starting front seven defenders who are being counted on to play a role in stopping San Juan Hills’ high scoring offense are senior inside linebacker NIKKI GONZALEZ (118 tackles), outside linebacker CARTER LINK (88 tackles, 8 TFL), 6’ 4” junior down lineman JOSHUA LONG (76 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3 sacks), senior nose guard MARIANO UY (62 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 9 TFL), 6’ 4” D-lineman JEFFERY JOHNSON (team-leading 7 sacks, 5 TFL), and senior outside linebacker DOMINICK BELISLE (68 tackles, 6 TFL).
The Cub secondary will have it’s hands full tonight against the best statistical passer it has faced this season. The Stallions’ signal caller has completed 72 per cent of his passes. Junior corner CEYAIR WRIGHT has a team-leading three interceptions and 50 tackles to his credit. Wright, a member of Loyola’s State Champion 4X400 relay team has 10.8 100 meter speed which helped him return a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown in the Cubs’ 45-28 quarterfinal win against Villa Park. Senior safety EVAN THOMAS has snagged two picks and recorded 74 tackles. Junior corner ZAKHARI SPEARS has made 58 tackles, and senior safety BLAKE NEITHART has 50 stops despite missing five games because of injury. The secondary needs to play at a high level against possibly the best passing offense it has faced all season. Tonight is the time for its stars to shine brightest.
Loyola wants to make the Stallions one dimensional by taking away the run. The Cub stop unit held Palos Verdes, the number three seed, to a season low 50 net yards rushing (2.8 yards per carry) and number two seed Camarillo to just 91 rushing yards in the Big Blue’s 31-14 semifinal win last week. If the ‘Wolfpack’ is successful taking away the run, it can add to its impressive 28.5 sacks and 82 quarterback hurries.
In three playoff victories, Loyola has rushed for a total of 527 total yards against quality opposition. It will need similar success on the ground this evening. A formidable offensive line has paved the way for both the run and passing attacks. The big boys up front are fired up for tonight’s battle. The starters are senior tight end and team captain BRENDAN PERNECKY, senior right tackle SHANE STROYKE, sophomore right guard SAM YOON, senior center NICK ANDERSON, senior left guard HUNTER SAMUELSON, senior left tackle and team captain SAM DOMINGUEZ and sophomore tight end JOE TAYLOR. Expect a physical performance by those six tonight.
Junior quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO has continued to impressively improve his game as the season has progressed. The 6’ 4” signal caller has thrown for 1,495 yards with an 11.6 yards per completion average. He has also gained 308 yards on the ground, averaging 7.7 yards per carry.
Two very talented sophomore running backs lead the ground assault. HARRISON ALLEN has rushed for 859 yards (5.2 ypc) and 13 TDs. Allen has garnered 1,104 all-purpose yards. TAHJ OWENS has gained 687 yards (6.2 ypc) and scored seven touchdowns on the ground. Owens is also a game-breaking kick returner who has amassed 1,209 all-purpose yards.
Talented sophomore wide receiver JACOBY KELLY possesses game breaking ability. His team-leading 31 receptions have averaged 13.6 yards. Kelly has scored five TDs. Senior MICHAEL JONES has pulled in 23 passes with a 10.6 yards per reception average.
Tonight the Cubs need to pound it on the ground to set up what is expected to be a big aerial show.
With the CIF Southern Section Division 4 title on the line, a premier effort is expected from the Big Blue in all phases of the game.
TICKET INFORMATION
It is expected that walkup tickets will be available at the gate beginning at 5:30 p.m. Loyola will update the ticket situation on its website at around noon today.
PRE-GAME FESTIVITIES
Loyola fans will be meeting at LAS 7 REGIONES DE OXACA, located at 2648 W. Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90006 (southwest corner of Pico and Dewey) at 4:30 p.m. food and drinks will be available for reasonable prices.
GO CUBS!!!!!!!
BRING HOME THE CIF TROPHY!!!!!!!
Loyola will compete for it’s seventh CIF Southern Section football championship at 7:00 p.m. tonight at Smith Field against San Juan Hills (10-3), the number four seed in Division 4. The contest marks the thirteenth CIF title game in which the Cubs have played.
KEYS TO CUB VICTORY TONIGHT
For Loyola to emerge victorious tonight it must play its best game of the 2019 campaign against the most talented playoff squad it has faced thus far. Two things have to be accomplished by the Big Blue, stop the Stallions’ run game and run the ball effectively on offense.
Leading the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense at inside linebacker is senior STEVEN ARELLANO. He is a monster in the middle, with an incredible team-leading 163 tackles. A virtual heat seeking missile, the team captain has 5.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss to go along with 65 solo stops. Arellano will be counted on to lead his defensive teammates in smothering the Stallions’ rushing attack.
Other Loyola starting front seven defenders who are being counted on to play a role in stopping San Juan Hills’ high scoring offense are senior inside linebacker NIKKI GONZALEZ (118 tackles), outside linebacker CARTER LINK (88 tackles, 8 TFL), 6’ 4” junior down lineman JOSHUA LONG (76 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3 sacks), senior nose guard MARIANO UY (62 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 9 TFL), 6’ 4” D-lineman JEFFERY JOHNSON (team-leading 7 sacks, 5 TFL), and senior outside linebacker DOMINICK BELISLE (68 tackles, 6 TFL).
The Cub secondary will have it’s hands full tonight against the best statistical passer it has faced this season. The Stallions’ signal caller has completed 72 per cent of his passes. Junior corner CEYAIR WRIGHT has a team-leading three interceptions and 50 tackles to his credit. Wright, a member of Loyola’s State Champion 4X400 relay team has 10.8 100 meter speed which helped him return a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown in the Cubs’ 45-28 quarterfinal win against Villa Park. Senior safety EVAN THOMAS has snagged two picks and recorded 74 tackles. Junior corner ZAKHARI SPEARS has made 58 tackles, and senior safety BLAKE NEITHART has 50 stops despite missing five games because of injury. The secondary needs to play at a high level against possibly the best passing offense it has faced all season. Tonight is the time for its stars to shine brightest.
Loyola wants to make the Stallions one dimensional by taking away the run. The Cub stop unit held Palos Verdes, the number three seed, to a season low 50 net yards rushing (2.8 yards per carry) and number two seed Camarillo to just 91 rushing yards in the Big Blue’s 31-14 semifinal win last week. If the ‘Wolfpack’ is successful taking away the run, it can add to its impressive 28.5 sacks and 82 quarterback hurries.
In three playoff victories, Loyola has rushed for a total of 527 total yards against quality opposition. It will need similar success on the ground this evening. A formidable offensive line has paved the way for both the run and passing attacks. The big boys up front are fired up for tonight’s battle. The starters are senior tight end and team captain BRENDAN PERNECKY, senior right tackle SHANE STROYKE, sophomore right guard SAM YOON, senior center NICK ANDERSON, senior left guard HUNTER SAMUELSON, senior left tackle and team captain SAM DOMINGUEZ and sophomore tight end JOE TAYLOR. Expect a physical performance by those six tonight.
Junior quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO has continued to impressively improve his game as the season has progressed. The 6’ 4” signal caller has thrown for 1,495 yards with an 11.6 yards per completion average. He has also gained 308 yards on the ground, averaging 7.7 yards per carry.
Two very talented sophomore running backs lead the ground assault. HARRISON ALLEN has rushed for 859 yards (5.2 ypc) and 13 TDs. Allen has garnered 1,104 all-purpose yards. TAHJ OWENS has gained 687 yards (6.2 ypc) and scored seven touchdowns on the ground. Owens is also a game-breaking kick returner who has amassed 1,209 all-purpose yards.
Talented sophomore wide receiver JACOBY KELLY possesses game breaking ability. His team-leading 31 receptions have averaged 13.6 yards. Kelly has scored five TDs. Senior MICHAEL JONES has pulled in 23 passes with a 10.6 yards per reception average.
Tonight the Cubs need to pound it on the ground to set up what is expected to be a big aerial show.
With the CIF Southern Section Division 4 title on the line, a premier effort is expected from the Big Blue in all phases of the game.
TICKET INFORMATION
It is expected that walkup tickets will be available at the gate beginning at 5:30 p.m. Loyola will update the ticket situation on its website at around noon today.
PRE-GAME FESTIVITIES
Loyola fans will be meeting at LAS 7 REGIONES DE OXACA, located at 2648 W. Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90006 (southwest corner of Pico and Dewey) at 4:30 p.m. food and drinks will be available for reasonable prices.
GO CUBS!!!!!!!
BRING HOME THE CIF TROPHY!!!!!!!
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