Cub Football - Loyola's rich tradition in CIF playoffs - Preview of Friday's first round game against Palos Verdes
Loyola has a rich history in CIF Southern Section playoffs - tradition returns this Friday
Before private schools were allowed to compete in the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section playoffs in the mid-1940s Loyola had already established itself as a power in California prep football.
Under the tutelage of head coach Al Tassi, the Cubs defeated Long Beach Polytechnic, 13-7, in a non-league tilt in 1936. The Jackrabbits went on to win the CIF Large Schools title. In a 1942 non-league game under coach Tony DeLellis undefeated Loyola beat eventual CIF Large Schools champion Redondo Union, 7-6. There were multiple other Cub teams in the late '20s through the early '40s which would have been in the hunt for CIF hardware had they been allowed to compete in the CIF post season tournament.
Larry Devlin coached Loyola to 6-0-1, and 7-1-2 finishes in 1927 and 1928, respectively. The Bernie Donahue-mentored Cubs went 6-0-2 in 1930. Al Tassi's 1932 squad compiled a 7-1 record. In 1937, coach Bill Sargent was at the helm when Loyola finished the campaign with an 8-1 record. Those are among other Cub teams that could have vied for CIF glory.
Loyola was first invited to the CIF post-season playoffs in 1945. The Catholic Champion Cubs were led by AL POLLARD who as a junior halfback was crowned CIF Player-of-the-Year. Loyola tied Glendale in the first round, 6-6, but the Dynamiters advanced based on first downs gained - there were no overtimes in those days. The following year, Pollard was again named the CIF Large Schools Player-of-the-Year as the Catholic League champion Cubs made it to the finals, where they fell to Alhambra 7-6. It was the first of six CIF Southern Section runner-up finishes in Loyola grid annals.
From 1962 through 1964, the Cubs won 35 straight games, which still stands as a CIF Large Schools record. In 1962, under coach Lew Stueck, single wing tailback STEVE GRADY, the CIF AAAA Player-of-the-Year, helped lead Loyola to the CIF AAAA title and a 12-0 record. In 1963, under coach Mario DiMuro, the Cubs won a second consecutive CIF AAAA crown, defeating El Rancho, 21-0, at the Coliseum to cap another 12-0 campaign and earn the number two national ranking. Senior two-way lineman DON SWARTZ was named the CIF AAAA Player-of-the-Year. Junior single wing tailback MIKE BERGDAHL '65 had a spectacular season. Loyola was the odds on favorite to capture a third consecutive title in 1964, but was upset by Cinderella team Whittier, 21-14, in the finals at the Coliseum to end the 35 consecutive victory skein.
The 13-0 Cubs won the CIF AAAA championship in 1975 under third-year head coach Marty Shaugnessy. They defeated St. Paul,14-13, at the Coliseum, and were later acclaimed National Champions by the National Sports News Service.
Steve Grady, the only player to be named State Player-of-the-Year (1962) and State Coach-of-the-Year (2003) took over the reins of the program in 1976 and amassed a 269-77-6 record over three decades. Grady-coached squads won CIF Division I titles in 1990 and 2003 and runner-up plaques in 1992, 1995, 1996 and 2000. Defensive end ANTOINE HARRIS '97 earned the CIF Defensive Player-of-the-Year nomination in 1996. Future UCLA and NFL star, QB/safety MATT WARE '01 earned the D-I Player-of-the-Year honor in 2000 after a heartbreaking overtime loss to L.B. Poly in the title game at Anaheim Stadium.
Current head coach DREW CASANI '91 was named the 1990 CIF Defensive Player-of-the-Year after a monster season as a middle linebacker. He was the key leader on the 1990 D-I title squad. Quarterback SCOTT DEKE '04 was honored as the CIF Division I Player-of the-Year after he helped lead the Big Blue to a 21-14 championship victory over L.B. Poly at the Home Depot Center in 2003.
Loyola won the 2005 CIF Division I championship under first year coach JEFF KEARIN '78. It was the sixth and last tile won by the Cubs. Senior quarterback HENRY BURGE '06 was a maestro behind center. He threw for 2,806 yards and 26 TDs, which earned him D-I Player-of-the-Year accolades. He was the tenth Cub to earn that high honor.
Loyola has been a dominant force in CIF playoff competition over the past eight decades. During the 20-year period from 1986 though 2005, the Cubs advanced beyond the first round every season. During that span Loyola advanced to the semifinal round or beyond an amazing 11 times. The Cubs were CIF Division I runners-up four times and CIF Division I champs three times during that 20-year period.
The longest CIF playoff participation streak in Loyola history was 25 consecutive years from 1981-2005. The Cubs advanced beyond the first round in 22 out of those 25 seasons.
It is easy to understand why Loyola alums and supporters are excited about the team's return to the CIF playoffs for the forty-sixth time this Friday. And it is remarkable that first-year head coach Drew Casani, himself a veteran of many CIF playoff battles, has been at the helm of a Cub team that is returning to the playoffs for the first time in four years. That was one of Casani's primary goals, and he accomplished it in his first campaign as the head coach at his alma mater.
A preview of Friday's first round game and a look at a formidable Palos Verdes squad
On Friday night Loyola will travel to South Torrance High School to take on Bay League champion Palos Verdes (8-2, 5-0) at 7:00 p.m. in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.
If any one thinks that the Sea Kings will not be a major hurdle because they are a Division 4 program, think again. Palos Verdes, ranked 25th by the Los Angeles Times, is clearly one of the best teams, among many good ones, the Cubs have faced this year. It will likely take Loyola's best effort of the campaign thus far to upset PV.
The Sea Kings are the number three seed in D-4. San Gabriel League title winner Paramount (9-1), whose lone loss was by one point in overtime to Mission League champion Bishop Amat,is the number one seed. Camino League champ Camarillo (9-1) is the number two seed and San Juan Capistrano San Juan Hills (7-3), the champion of the Sea View League, is the fourth seed in Division 4.
Palos Verdes came within ten points of undefeated Corona del Mar, the number one seed in Division 3. CdM is ranked sixth in the latest Los Angeles Times' top 25. The 20-10 win by CdM over Palos Verdes was Corona del Mar's toughest contest of the regular season. CdM defeated 15th-ranked San Clemente, 42-21, in its second closest game.
The Sea Kings only lost to powerful Culver City, the number two seed in Division 5, by two points. The 10-0 Centaurs are averaging 51 points per game.
Bottom line, Palos Verdes has an outstanding football team. They were the Division 4 runners-up last fall and their eyes are on the championship trophy this season.
Head Coach Guy Gardner has a group of hungry players waiting for the Cubs. The Sea Kings pound the ball with great success behind a physical offensive line. PV's run game sets up an efficient aerial attack that has hurt opponents all season long.
The top two ball carriers for the Sea Kings are Seniors Jake Wilson (5-11,180) and senior Ryan Wilson (6-0, 200). They are fast and powerful, averaging 5.8 and 6.1 yards per carry, respectively.
Jake Jellison (6-0, 165) is a dangerous athlete behind center. The senior quarterback has thrown for over 1,000 yards. Jellison's favorite target is junior receiver Kevin Rahman (6-2, 165). The rangy Rahman is averaging 16.3 yards per catch.
Defensively, Palos Verdes plays fast and brings the wood. Senior linebacker Anthony Habif (5-10, 190) leads a ball hawking stop unit with 57 tackles through game nine, including 44 solos. Middle linebacker Ryan Wilson (6-0,200) had 51 stops through game nine including 33 solo tackles. Junior middle linebacker Michael Nagy (5-11, 195) hits with bone jarring intensity. Through game nine he had recorded 49 tackles with 32 solos to his credit.
Outlook
If Loyola does not match the Sea Kings' intensity, it will be a long evening for the Cubs. Loyola's 'Wolfpack' defense has to play with its hair on fire, and the Cub offense will have to score early and often in order for Loyola to advance to the second round.
The series
Palos Verdes and Loyola have only met twice on the gridiron. In a 1979 non-league tilt, the Cubs defeated the Sea Kings, 24-15. In 2008, Loyola routed PV, 34-0, in a non-league contest during a rare down season for the Sea Kings.
Before private schools were allowed to compete in the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section playoffs in the mid-1940s Loyola had already established itself as a power in California prep football.
Under the tutelage of head coach Al Tassi, the Cubs defeated Long Beach Polytechnic, 13-7, in a non-league tilt in 1936. The Jackrabbits went on to win the CIF Large Schools title. In a 1942 non-league game under coach Tony DeLellis undefeated Loyola beat eventual CIF Large Schools champion Redondo Union, 7-6. There were multiple other Cub teams in the late '20s through the early '40s which would have been in the hunt for CIF hardware had they been allowed to compete in the CIF post season tournament.
Larry Devlin coached Loyola to 6-0-1, and 7-1-2 finishes in 1927 and 1928, respectively. The Bernie Donahue-mentored Cubs went 6-0-2 in 1930. Al Tassi's 1932 squad compiled a 7-1 record. In 1937, coach Bill Sargent was at the helm when Loyola finished the campaign with an 8-1 record. Those are among other Cub teams that could have vied for CIF glory.
Loyola was first invited to the CIF post-season playoffs in 1945. The Catholic Champion Cubs were led by AL POLLARD who as a junior halfback was crowned CIF Player-of-the-Year. Loyola tied Glendale in the first round, 6-6, but the Dynamiters advanced based on first downs gained - there were no overtimes in those days. The following year, Pollard was again named the CIF Large Schools Player-of-the-Year as the Catholic League champion Cubs made it to the finals, where they fell to Alhambra 7-6. It was the first of six CIF Southern Section runner-up finishes in Loyola grid annals.
From 1962 through 1964, the Cubs won 35 straight games, which still stands as a CIF Large Schools record. In 1962, under coach Lew Stueck, single wing tailback STEVE GRADY, the CIF AAAA Player-of-the-Year, helped lead Loyola to the CIF AAAA title and a 12-0 record. In 1963, under coach Mario DiMuro, the Cubs won a second consecutive CIF AAAA crown, defeating El Rancho, 21-0, at the Coliseum to cap another 12-0 campaign and earn the number two national ranking. Senior two-way lineman DON SWARTZ was named the CIF AAAA Player-of-the-Year. Junior single wing tailback MIKE BERGDAHL '65 had a spectacular season. Loyola was the odds on favorite to capture a third consecutive title in 1964, but was upset by Cinderella team Whittier, 21-14, in the finals at the Coliseum to end the 35 consecutive victory skein.
The 13-0 Cubs won the CIF AAAA championship in 1975 under third-year head coach Marty Shaugnessy. They defeated St. Paul,14-13, at the Coliseum, and were later acclaimed National Champions by the National Sports News Service.
Steve Grady, the only player to be named State Player-of-the-Year (1962) and State Coach-of-the-Year (2003) took over the reins of the program in 1976 and amassed a 269-77-6 record over three decades. Grady-coached squads won CIF Division I titles in 1990 and 2003 and runner-up plaques in 1992, 1995, 1996 and 2000. Defensive end ANTOINE HARRIS '97 earned the CIF Defensive Player-of-the-Year nomination in 1996. Future UCLA and NFL star, QB/safety MATT WARE '01 earned the D-I Player-of-the-Year honor in 2000 after a heartbreaking overtime loss to L.B. Poly in the title game at Anaheim Stadium.
Current head coach DREW CASANI '91 was named the 1990 CIF Defensive Player-of-the-Year after a monster season as a middle linebacker. He was the key leader on the 1990 D-I title squad. Quarterback SCOTT DEKE '04 was honored as the CIF Division I Player-of the-Year after he helped lead the Big Blue to a 21-14 championship victory over L.B. Poly at the Home Depot Center in 2003.
Loyola won the 2005 CIF Division I championship under first year coach JEFF KEARIN '78. It was the sixth and last tile won by the Cubs. Senior quarterback HENRY BURGE '06 was a maestro behind center. He threw for 2,806 yards and 26 TDs, which earned him D-I Player-of-the-Year accolades. He was the tenth Cub to earn that high honor.
Loyola has been a dominant force in CIF playoff competition over the past eight decades. During the 20-year period from 1986 though 2005, the Cubs advanced beyond the first round every season. During that span Loyola advanced to the semifinal round or beyond an amazing 11 times. The Cubs were CIF Division I runners-up four times and CIF Division I champs three times during that 20-year period.
The longest CIF playoff participation streak in Loyola history was 25 consecutive years from 1981-2005. The Cubs advanced beyond the first round in 22 out of those 25 seasons.
It is easy to understand why Loyola alums and supporters are excited about the team's return to the CIF playoffs for the forty-sixth time this Friday. And it is remarkable that first-year head coach Drew Casani, himself a veteran of many CIF playoff battles, has been at the helm of a Cub team that is returning to the playoffs for the first time in four years. That was one of Casani's primary goals, and he accomplished it in his first campaign as the head coach at his alma mater.
A preview of Friday's first round game and a look at a formidable Palos Verdes squad
On Friday night Loyola will travel to South Torrance High School to take on Bay League champion Palos Verdes (8-2, 5-0) at 7:00 p.m. in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.
If any one thinks that the Sea Kings will not be a major hurdle because they are a Division 4 program, think again. Palos Verdes, ranked 25th by the Los Angeles Times, is clearly one of the best teams, among many good ones, the Cubs have faced this year. It will likely take Loyola's best effort of the campaign thus far to upset PV.
The Sea Kings are the number three seed in D-4. San Gabriel League title winner Paramount (9-1), whose lone loss was by one point in overtime to Mission League champion Bishop Amat,is the number one seed. Camino League champ Camarillo (9-1) is the number two seed and San Juan Capistrano San Juan Hills (7-3), the champion of the Sea View League, is the fourth seed in Division 4.
Palos Verdes came within ten points of undefeated Corona del Mar, the number one seed in Division 3. CdM is ranked sixth in the latest Los Angeles Times' top 25. The 20-10 win by CdM over Palos Verdes was Corona del Mar's toughest contest of the regular season. CdM defeated 15th-ranked San Clemente, 42-21, in its second closest game.
The Sea Kings only lost to powerful Culver City, the number two seed in Division 5, by two points. The 10-0 Centaurs are averaging 51 points per game.
Bottom line, Palos Verdes has an outstanding football team. They were the Division 4 runners-up last fall and their eyes are on the championship trophy this season.
Head Coach Guy Gardner has a group of hungry players waiting for the Cubs. The Sea Kings pound the ball with great success behind a physical offensive line. PV's run game sets up an efficient aerial attack that has hurt opponents all season long.
The top two ball carriers for the Sea Kings are Seniors Jake Wilson (5-11,180) and senior Ryan Wilson (6-0, 200). They are fast and powerful, averaging 5.8 and 6.1 yards per carry, respectively.
Jake Jellison (6-0, 165) is a dangerous athlete behind center. The senior quarterback has thrown for over 1,000 yards. Jellison's favorite target is junior receiver Kevin Rahman (6-2, 165). The rangy Rahman is averaging 16.3 yards per catch.
Defensively, Palos Verdes plays fast and brings the wood. Senior linebacker Anthony Habif (5-10, 190) leads a ball hawking stop unit with 57 tackles through game nine, including 44 solos. Middle linebacker Ryan Wilson (6-0,200) had 51 stops through game nine including 33 solo tackles. Junior middle linebacker Michael Nagy (5-11, 195) hits with bone jarring intensity. Through game nine he had recorded 49 tackles with 32 solos to his credit.
Outlook
If Loyola does not match the Sea Kings' intensity, it will be a long evening for the Cubs. Loyola's 'Wolfpack' defense has to play with its hair on fire, and the Cub offense will have to score early and often in order for Loyola to advance to the second round.
The series
Palos Verdes and Loyola have only met twice on the gridiron. In a 1979 non-league tilt, the Cubs defeated the Sea Kings, 24-15. In 2008, Loyola routed PV, 34-0, in a non-league contest during a rare down season for the Sea Kings.
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