Cub Football - Loyola’s remarkable playoff run falls short in CIF Southern Section championship game
LOYOLA FIGHTS BACK, BUT IS UNABLE TO CLOSE IN CIF SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION 4 TITLE GAME
The stage was set for an historic ending with the recovery of a perfectly executed on side kick by Loyola with just under five minutes to play following a 33-yard field goal that pulled the Cubs within six points of the San Juan Hills Stallions before a capacity crowd at Smith Field on Saturday night in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 championship game.
But it wasn’t meant to be as San Juan Hills intercepted a third and long pass in its own end zone with 26 seconds left in the contest to secure the San Juan Capistrano school it’s first CIF football championship and deny Loyola from winning a seventh Southern Section title.
The story line for the Loyola program under first year head coach DREW CASANI ‘91 had nothing to do with the heartbreaking loss, but it was rather about the grit and confidence with which the Big Blue competed down the final four-game stretch of the season. It wss that ineffable turnaround that set a new standard for Cub Football.
One of the critical keys to Loyola’s shot at another CIF championship was slowing down the Stallions’ run game. San Juan Hills came into the title contest with a prolific passing attack, and the thinking was that if the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense could make the Stallions one dimensional, Loyola’s chances for a victory would be significantly enhanced. Unfortunately it was San Juan Hills’ rushing game that earned it the title.
After the Cub offense went three-and-out on the game’s opening possession, the Stallions drove 99 yards following a beautiful 63-yard HAYDEN EAVES punt. The TD march was capped by an eight yard touchdown run with 1:53 left in the first quarter. The nine minute drive was dominated by the run.
Loyola answered with a 67-yard scoring drive. Junior quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO bolted into the end zone from eight yards out at the 5:58 mark of the second quarter. The PAT kick was blocked, making the score 7-6 in favor of San Juan Hills. The Cub stop unit forced a Stallion punt, and momentum had swung in Loyola’s favor as it had a first and ten at its own 20 yard line. Then disaster struck as a short pass in the flat was caught but fumbled, and the loose ball was returned 18 yards for a touchdown to put the Stallions up 14-6 with just 2:12 left in the first half.
The teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter, but San Juan Hills went on another run-dominated 73 yard scoring drive which culminated with a four-yard quarterback keeper tonput San Juan Hills up, 21-6. It appeared to be, but proved not to be, an insurmountable lead.
A determined Cub offensive crew answered with a 60-yard TD drive, the highlight of which was a long distance third and long run by sophomore running back TAHJ OWENS. Zermeno threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver MICHAEL JONES. The two point conversion attempt failed, making the score, 21-12, in favor of the Stallions with 10:40 left in the fourth quarter. Loyola ‘s defense forced a punt, and the Cub offense took over at San Juan Hills 49-yard line. Penalties against the Cubs forced them to settle for a 33-yard DIEGO BURGOS FIELD goal with 4:51 left in the contest to close the gap to 21-15.
A perfectly executed onside kick was recovered by Loyola Senior CHAD BAILEY. The home crowd was in a frenzy as Loyola had plenty of time to pull out the win. Once again the Cubs were victimized by penalties. A fourth down Zermeno completion to senior tight end BRENDAN PRNECKY kept the drive alive, but a third and long pass into the end zone was tipped and intercepted by the Stallions to seal the deal for the visitors.
Loyola improved by leaps and bounds from the end of the regular season campaign through the title contest. And during that span, the Cubs played with great grit and resolve. Loyola defeated the number two and three seeds en route to the title tilt, and in the process put Cub Football back on the map again.
The stage was set for an historic ending with the recovery of a perfectly executed on side kick by Loyola with just under five minutes to play following a 33-yard field goal that pulled the Cubs within six points of the San Juan Hills Stallions before a capacity crowd at Smith Field on Saturday night in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 championship game.
But it wasn’t meant to be as San Juan Hills intercepted a third and long pass in its own end zone with 26 seconds left in the contest to secure the San Juan Capistrano school it’s first CIF football championship and deny Loyola from winning a seventh Southern Section title.
The story line for the Loyola program under first year head coach DREW CASANI ‘91 had nothing to do with the heartbreaking loss, but it was rather about the grit and confidence with which the Big Blue competed down the final four-game stretch of the season. It wss that ineffable turnaround that set a new standard for Cub Football.
One of the critical keys to Loyola’s shot at another CIF championship was slowing down the Stallions’ run game. San Juan Hills came into the title contest with a prolific passing attack, and the thinking was that if the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense could make the Stallions one dimensional, Loyola’s chances for a victory would be significantly enhanced. Unfortunately it was San Juan Hills’ rushing game that earned it the title.
After the Cub offense went three-and-out on the game’s opening possession, the Stallions drove 99 yards following a beautiful 63-yard HAYDEN EAVES punt. The TD march was capped by an eight yard touchdown run with 1:53 left in the first quarter. The nine minute drive was dominated by the run.
Loyola answered with a 67-yard scoring drive. Junior quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO bolted into the end zone from eight yards out at the 5:58 mark of the second quarter. The PAT kick was blocked, making the score 7-6 in favor of San Juan Hills. The Cub stop unit forced a Stallion punt, and momentum had swung in Loyola’s favor as it had a first and ten at its own 20 yard line. Then disaster struck as a short pass in the flat was caught but fumbled, and the loose ball was returned 18 yards for a touchdown to put the Stallions up 14-6 with just 2:12 left in the first half.
The teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter, but San Juan Hills went on another run-dominated 73 yard scoring drive which culminated with a four-yard quarterback keeper tonput San Juan Hills up, 21-6. It appeared to be, but proved not to be, an insurmountable lead.
A determined Cub offensive crew answered with a 60-yard TD drive, the highlight of which was a long distance third and long run by sophomore running back TAHJ OWENS. Zermeno threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver MICHAEL JONES. The two point conversion attempt failed, making the score, 21-12, in favor of the Stallions with 10:40 left in the fourth quarter. Loyola ‘s defense forced a punt, and the Cub offense took over at San Juan Hills 49-yard line. Penalties against the Cubs forced them to settle for a 33-yard DIEGO BURGOS FIELD goal with 4:51 left in the contest to close the gap to 21-15.
A perfectly executed onside kick was recovered by Loyola Senior CHAD BAILEY. The home crowd was in a frenzy as Loyola had plenty of time to pull out the win. Once again the Cubs were victimized by penalties. A fourth down Zermeno completion to senior tight end BRENDAN PRNECKY kept the drive alive, but a third and long pass into the end zone was tipped and intercepted by the Stallions to seal the deal for the visitors.
Loyola improved by leaps and bounds from the end of the regular season campaign through the title contest. And during that span, the Cubs played with great grit and resolve. Loyola defeated the number two and three seeds en route to the title tilt, and in the process put Cub Football back on the map again.
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