July 18, 2023

Cub Football - Loyola's tough guys - A look at the the Cubs' 2023 opponents - Cub grads in college football coaching

LOYOLA LED BY CORE GROUP OF TOUGH PLAYERS
Football is a physical game.

Everything else being equal, teams that feature the toughest players usually vanquish opponents that do not possess the same level of physicality.  

Yes, the sport has evolved in many ways over the recent decades, including the advent of high tempo, air-it-out, point-a-minute spread offenses featuring fast, skilled athletes.

But one constant remains, football is a violent collision game, where blocking and tackling set the foundation.

One reason for optimism as the Cubs commence fall camp on August 2 in preparation for the 2023 campaign is the number of tough, physical players who will be taking the field for Loyola. This season there will be tough competitors in every position group on the squad.

One of the definitions of tough is uncompromising determination. The Cubs have more than a few players who embody that definition.

It will be exciting to see if the ethos of those athletes can create a team-wide culture of physicality as the season progresses.

Who are the tough guys? The answer will begin to emerge as the Big Blue opens the season with a scrimmage at Manhattan Beach Mira Costa on Thursday, August 17th at 6:30 p.m.

Constants on Loyola's 12 CIF Large Schools /AAAA/Division I football championship squads and finalist teams (1946, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1975, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005) were physical toughness and an "edge" possessed by every starter.

The warrior culture started in the weight room and carried over to the field. Opposing coaches used to say their teams were sore for a week after battling the Cubs.

Can this year's tough guys lead the charge? We'll find out starting in 18 days.

LOYOLA AT THE COLISEUM - LOOKING BACK OVER THE HALLOWED VENUE'S CUB CHAMPIONSHIP  GAMES OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a world renowned sports venue that has hosted Olympic Games, NFL title contests, the Dodgers' first season in Los Angeles, some of the best college football battles in the sport's history and myriad other historical athletic and entertainment events.

Loyola High School played in seven CIF AAAA/Division I championship contests at the venerable stadium from 1946 through 1996.

Here's a look at those seven championship games played at the Coliseum:

• 1946
Led by senior halfback AL POLLARD, the only player in Loyola football annals to be acclaimed CIF Large Schools Player-of-the-Year for two consecutive seasons (1945 and 1946), in a titanic matchup, the Cubs lost a 7-6 nail biter to Alhambra in their first appearance at the Coliseum to end a 10-1 campaign, in which they won a third consecutive Catholic League championship. POLLARD was nicknamed The Loyola Express by the sporting press.

• 1962
The Cubs completed a 12-0 season by winning their first of six CIF Southern Section AAAA/Division I championship titles. Led by CIF AAAA Player-of-the-Year STEVE GRADY, an incomparable single wing tailback, Loyola downed Anaheim, 14-3. The Cubs outscored their 12 opponents 387-88


• 1963
Once again, Loyola completed an undefeated 12-0 campaign, this time behind junior All-CIF tailback MIKE BERGDAHL, the Cubs all-time leader in rushing yards. Two-way senior tackle DON SWARTZ was named the CIF AAAA Player-of-the-Year. Loyola outscored its opponents 350-53. The Cubs beat El Rancho 21-0 in the title contest before a crowd of over 23,000. Loyola ended its second consecutive CIF AAAA championship season ranked second in the nation.

• 1964
The Cubs' 35-game victory streak-still a Southern Section Large Schools record-came to an end in the championship tilt against underdog Whittier in a 21-14 loss to the Cardinals. All-CIF tackle GEORGE KUNZ, the second player taken in the 1968 NFL draft, recently lamented, "We ran out of time." Bergdahl again earned All-CIF AAAA honors at tailback. He finished his Loyola rushing career with 4,231 yards.

• 1975
Loyola was crowned National High School Champions after completing a 13-0 season with a thrilling 14-13 victory over fellow national power St. Paul. The list of Cub luminaries on that squad is a long one. The All-CIF AAAA players were veer quarterback KEVIN MUNO, offensive tackle ROD BUTLER, WR/DB KAZELL PUGH, linebacker BOB WOOLWAY, and running back PAT NOMURA.

• 1995
The Cubs could not hang on against arch rival Bishop Amat in the title game won by the Lancers 14-10. All-CIF running back MIKE VANIS was a star for Loyola which finished the season 11-3. All-CIF offensive guard ROBERT QUIGLEY and All-CIF defensive lineman STEVE PREJEAN were two of the Cubs' all-time best at their respective positions.

• 1996
In a fiercely contested slugfest, Mater Dei downed the Cubs 17-10. Loyola completed its season 11-3. CIF Division I Player-of-the-Year ANTOINE HARRIS, who started at tight end and defensive end was Loyola's best player. He is the only player in USC history to start at tight end for the Trojans for four consecutive years.


A LOOK AT LOYOLA'S 2023 OPPONENTS
In CalPreps' very early state rankings (most teams had not put in their squad information at the time of the initial computer rankings, so last season's results clearly drive the early rankings), six of Loyola's ten regular season opponents were ranked higher than the Cubs, but expectations in the Big Blue camp are much higher than those computer prognostications.

Here is a look at each of Loyola's ten 2023 foes, in order:

DAMIEN
(2022 record: 3-7. Defeated Loyola 34-7)
The Spartans were highly ranked going into last season, but ended up underachieving following a physical, dominating win over the Cubs. Word has it that Damien has multiple incoming transfers. How impactful they will be remains to be seen. Powerful junior running back Steve Chavez returns along with talented senior receiver Ayden Guitterez. Loyola will be on the road against the Spartans, who will not only have home field advantage but also a game against Yorba Linda under their belts. The Cubs will look to be more physical against a strong Damien squad this time around.

CULVER CITY
(2023 record 6-6. Loyola defeated the Centaurs twice, in a non-league contest, 24-19, and in the second round of the CIF Div. 6 playoffs, 17-14) 
Culver City returns a large contingent of starters from a squad that was better than its record in 2022. Talented junior wide receiver twins Myles and Braylon Singleton combined for 1,537 receiving yards, and senior quarterback Sammy Silvia threw for 2,743 yards at a 60% completion clip. The Centaurs are well coached and hungry. The Cubs are fortunate to have the game at Smith Field.

LEUZINGER
2022 record: 6-7. Lost to Etiwanda in a tight CIF Div. 5 semifinal contest)
Do not let the Olympians' 2022 record mislead you. A young squad lost some close games to quality opponents before making a charge to the D-5 semifinals. A large number of starters are returning this fall, including a solid group of huge, strong linemen, led by one of the state's best in junior Jordan Tonga (6-2, 300). Some top end skill players also return, including speedy running back Damonte Bias who averaged a phenomenal 14 yards per carry last fall. Loyola will need to capitalize on its home field advantage against this very talented non-league opponent.

CHAMINADE
(2022 record: 10-3, defeated Loyola 48-10, advanced to the semifinal round of the CIF Div. 2 playoffs)
The Eagles blew out the Cubs last fall with a combination of power and speed. A well coached squad that benefits from a top flight strength program lost the majority of its starters, including two of its best skill players who transferred out. But Chaminade will still be tough to beat. Junior QB Seth Shigg is a dual threat gem who averaged 10.6 yards per carry. Shigg has a playmaker in junior receiver Logan Carpenter (16.7 yards per catch), and the Eagles' kicker Ryon Sayeri is one of the best kicking specialists in the nation. Incoming transfers, WR Landon Bell from Nevada (an Arizona commit) and linebacker Ian Howard are difference makers. Speed-laden Chaminade will be a tough out on the road in West Hills.

OAKS CHRISTIAN
(2022 record: 7-4, defeated Loyola 34-7, lost in the first round of the CIF Div. 2 playoffs to Rancho Cucamonga, 14-10)
Senior signal caller Nate Bennett returns along with super fast sophomore RB Deshonne Redeaux (7.8 yds. per carry). The Lions' leading tackler, junior Christian Knoss, also returns to spearhead the defense. The Cubs will need every bit of the home field advantage against what promises to be a very good Oaks Christian squad.

ST. FRANCIS
(2022 record: 10-4, lost to Loyola in a last second thriller, 28-27, made it to the CIF Div. 5 title game where it lost to Etiwanda, 45-42 in a shootout)
The Golden Knights return eight defensive starters, including leading tackler, senior middle linebacker Preston Jernegan. Powerful two-way senior lineman Phillip Ocon (6-4, 320) will lead a good trench corps. St. Francis lost 4,665 yards of offensive production from its graduated QB and running back. Those losses will be tough to cover, but when the Cubs and Golden Knights get in the ring, the bouts are typically down to the final bell. Both teams' first Angelus League game will be played at St. Francis' hillside stadium in La Canada. There won't be an open seat in the house.

ST. PAUL 
(2022 record: 4-6, lost to Loyola 28-14)
The Swordsmen made a head coaching change, hiring well regarded former La Mirada coach Mike Moschetti, who has been charged with the task of bringing St. Paul back to its glory days under legendary head mentor Marijon Ancich. A slew of incoming transfers will help in the quest for a quick upgrade. Senior 6-3, 215 lb. QB Andrew Maushardt returns as does leading ball carrier, senior Christian Melendez. The Cubs will play host to St. Paul at Smith Field.

CRESPI
(2022 record: 0-10, lost to Loyola 49-0)
The Celts will start the rebuilding process under new head coach Brad Vonnahme, who most recently was a defensive quality control assistant at Fresno State. There are a large number of starters returning from a young squad. Loyola will travel to Encino to take on what promises to be an improved Crespi .

PARACLETE
(2022 record: 1-9, lost to Loyola 31-12)
The Spirits return 17 starters (eight on offense and nine on defense) from what ended up being a disappointing 2022 campaign. Senior dual threat QB Tyler Sales returns behind center, and bruising 250-pound senior RB Tyler Neal (824 yds. 6.2 avg.) will carry the load again out of the backfield. The top two tacklers, senior middle linebacker Deshaun Malone and senior defensive lineman Charles Milner will lead the stop unit. Paraclete will travel from Lancaster to take on Loyola.

CATHEDRAL (2022 record: 10-3, defeated Loyola 21-3, lost to champion Downey, 55-54, in the CIF Div. 4 semifinals)
The Phantoms lost their 2022 QB, who threw for 3,690 yards, to graduation, but return starting 6-2, 215 lb. RB Raman Jones (837 yds., 5.3 avg.). The loss to transfer of receiver Xavier Jordan, widely considered the top prep receiver in California, was a tough one, but there is plenty to work with this fall, including a transfer QB, as Cathedral ended the summer by going 7-0 to win the Corona Santiago passing tournament. The Cubs will trek across downtown to take on their long time rivals.

BIG GAMES IN CUB FOOTBALL HISTORY
A graduate of the Class of 1973 recently asked about the top five football games in Loyola history. Here's a best effort to identify the five biggest triumphs observed by this writer in the last 58 years:

1975
Loyola found itself in a dogfight with Anaheim in the CIF AAAA semifinals at El Camino College on a cold December night. Down 17-14 with less than two minutes to play and backed up inside their own ten yard line, things were not looking good for the Cubs on third and long. All-CIF quarterback KEVIN MUNO threw a pass to All-CIF flanker KAZELL PUGH that bounced on the turf (it was a lateral as Pugh was lined up in the backfield) before being grabbed by Pugh. Pugh, the second string QB, feigned dejection before unleashing a nearly 50-yard bomb to tight end HENRY WORKMAN who caught the ball in stride en route to scoring the winning TD. That play enabled Loyola to advance to the AAAA title game, after which the Cubs were crowned National Champions.

1995
In the CIF Division I semifinals before an overflow crowd at Glendale High, Loyola trailed national power Los Alamitos by 14 points well into the second half. The Griffins looked to be in control before a perfectly executed fumblerooski gave the Cubs a powerful shot of momentum. All-CIF tailback MIKE VANIS churned out big yardage, and Loyola came away with a 37-34 triumph that propelled it to the D-I title contest the following week at the Coliseum.

1990
Loyola was pitted against national powerhouse Fontana in the quarterfinal round of the CIF Division I playoffs. Prohibitive underdogs, the Cubs put up a fight for the ages. The Steelers were a dominant run team with a college-sized offensive line. FoHi faced a fourth and nine play in Loyola territory late in the game, and against all odds decided to run the ball. CIF Division I Player-of-the-Year DREW CASANI and All-CIF defensive end KEVIN BENDER combined to make the stop three inches short of the first down marker to seal a 10-7 win before a capacity crowd at Glendale High. The Cubs won the CIF championship two weeks later.

2003
The Cubs won a classic defensive battle against Los Alamitos at Home Depot Center in the CIF Division 1 semifinals. Loyola held the Griffins on four consecutive downs inside the Cubs' five yard line to notch an impressive 22-15 overtime victory. Loyola defeated L. B Poly 21-17 the following week to earn the school's fifth of six CIF AAAA/ Division I championships.

1977
Before a standing-room-only crowd at Santa Monica College in the CIF Big Five Conference playoff quarterfinals, Loyola played host to the state's number one ranked team, Fountain Valley. The contest was a back and forth prize fight. The Cubs eked out a huge 28-27 triumph against the Barons in double overtime.

There can be fair debate as to other great games in Loyola football history, and the selections above will be sure to spark plenty of spirited conversations and great memories.