Cub Football - Mission League challenge begins on Friday against Serra - CalPreps shuts down
LOYOLA TO HOST SERRA ON FRIDAY IN FIRST OF FIVE TOUGH MISSION LEAGUE CONTESTS
Coming off an impressive offensive performance against Spring Valley Mount Miguel and riding a two game winning streak with confidence and positive momentum building, Loyola will host the Gardena Serra Cavaliers at Smith Field this Friday in the first of five challenging Mission League contests.
Serra, ranked 11th in the Southland by the Los Angeles Times, is coming off an impressive, 42-7, beatdown of 18th ranked Los Alamitos last Friday.
After checking with reliable sources it appears that the only way the Cubs can make the playoffs is to finish conference competition as a top three squad in the Mission League. To do so, Loyola will most likely have to win three of five league contests. A tall order to say the least, but the Cubs' trajectory is definitely pointing up.
A LOOK AT SERRA Coach Scott Altenberg's Cavaliers are, as always, fast and athletic, and are coming off a surprising one-sided victory over highly regarded Los Alamitos.
Serra's 3-2 record is deceiving, as they have played a tough non-league schedule (lost to Orange Lutheran 21-13, defeated Warren 36-0, lost to Oaks Christian 13-6, beat Los Alamitos 42-7).
The Cavaliers' passing attack is as good as it gets. Senior quarterback Jimmy Butler (6-0, 180) has completed 76 of 127 passes (60%) for 1130 yards (14.9 yds. per reception), seven TDs and four interceptions.
Butler's main weapon is off-the-charts 6-2 senior wide receiver CJ McBean. The lightning fast game changer scores a touchdown every three times he catches a pass. McBean has 12 receptions for 374 yards and four TDs. He averages a mind numbing 31.2 yards per reception.
The other big time playmakers in the ridiculously talented Serra receiving corps are senior Malachi Holt (5-10, 165: 18/285, 15.8, 3 TDs) and sophomore Skylar Robinson (5-10, 165: 9/12&. 14.2).
The Cavaliers' rushing attack only averages 100 yards per contest, but the dual threat Butler can take the ball for long distances on any snap (35 carries for 199 yards, 5.7 ypc, 3 TDs). Senior Camron Harris-Willcot (5-9, 170) has carried the ball 36 times for 173 yards (4.8 ypc), 3 TDs).
Serra's exceptional team speed carries over to the defensive side. The Cavaliers have relinquished only 62 points in five contests against top flight competition.
Leading the Serra demolition unit are junior linebacker Daylaun Reed (37 tackles/12 solo, 5 TFL, 4 sacks), DB CJ McBean (36/25) and junior defensive lineman Khary Wilder (6-3, 230: 36/16, 5 TFL).
The Cavalier stop squad has recorded 20 sacks in just five games. The team has snagged eight interceptions, two each by junior DBs Derohn Moutra (5-9, 165) and Marcellous Ryan (6-0,160).
Serra's average score is 25-12, and the Cavalier's offensive output averages 324 yards of total offense.
GAME OUTLOOK
Loyola got a look at a prime time passing attack featuring ultra fast receivers last Friday in Spring Valley against Mount Miguel. So one positive from Mount Miguel's domination of the Cubs in the passing game is they had a real time preview of what Serra's offense will look like.
Whether there were lessons learned that can be implemented to slow down the Cavaliers' aerial assault will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the contest.
If Loyola's offensive line performs well, the Cubs will have a shot at victory. They will need a balanced offensive outing to give them a shot at what would be an attention-getting victory.
Loyola's defensive line is really stepping up. It will need its best performance of the campaign thus far to slow down Butler and company.
If Serra throws the ball with the same success as Mount Miguel did, it will be very tough for the Cubs to notch a win. Whoever is assigned to cover McBean will have his hands full.
The Cavaliers had two pick-sixes against Los Alamitos. Loyola cannot turn the ball over and needs to drastically reduce the penalties, 24 in the last two contests alone, to stay in the game.
The Cubs cannot allow Serra to get out to a fast start. The Cavaliers struck early and often against Los Al, sprinting out to an insurmountable 35-0 halftime lead.
Serra's ball hawking defense held Los Alamitos to a meager 96 rushing yards and just 92 through the air. Los Alamitos was averaging 214 rushing and 210 passing yards coming into the contest.
If the game is close, the Cubs look to have an advantage in the kicking and punting games, which could be pivotal.
THE LOYOLA VS. SERRA SERIES
The first football battle between the schools was in 1953. Coach Jack Bouchard saw Loyola (7-1-2) down Serra, 13-6, in a Catholic League tilt.
The last time the teams met was in a 2019 Mission League battle at Smith Field, with the Cubs stunning the Cavaliers, 24-7. Loyola went on to the CIF Division 4 finals, while Serra lost to Rancho Verde in the first round of the D-2 playoffs.
That win enabled the Cubs to get an invitation to the playoffs. They are hoping for a similar outcome on Friday.
The largest margin of victory in the series was in 1963. Loyola routed Serra 53-0 in a Catholic League bout, before going on to win a second consecutive CIF Southern Section AAAA title and finishing the campaign ranked number two in the nation.
The Cubs lead the series 13-11-1.
LOYOLA'S FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORE TEAMS REMAIN UNDEFEATED
Loyola's lower division teams arrived at Mount Miguel on Saturday only to learn that the freshman team would play the Matadors' JV team and the Cub Sophs would play Mount Miguel's outstanding freshman team. Notwithstanding the scheduling change, both of Loyola's lower division squads remained undefeated.
In their come from behind 13-12 victory, the Sophs (5-0) were paced by some outstanding running by MATTHEW FINE and 70 yards rushing by QB MATT SMITH on three carries in the second half.
KANE CASANI and LONDON GRAY caught TD passes from SMITH, who finished with 124 passing yards. Receiver SAMMY FRIEND also had a good day for the Cubs.
In the 14-0 victory over Mount Miguel's JV team, the Loyola freshman defense dominated, especially defensive linemen JUDE SUGUITAN, JACK WAGNER, TRIPP LOVEQUIST and CHARLES LENZINI.
Defensive back ELIJAH SMITH was a standout for the Cubs (5-0). He had a pick six for a touchdown.
AADIN BRADY accounted for the other TD on a pass from JOEY BOSKOVICH.
The Sophs play at Redondo Union at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The freshmen will host Serra's JV squad at Smith Field at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.
CALPREPS ANNOUNCES SHUTDOWN NOTICE
In shocking news on Sunday, CalPreps' website announced it was shutting down because of a lack of funds. It was stated that CBS, which purchased MaxPreps in 2007, breached its contract with CalPreps by not paying for its proprietary computer rankings and projections.
Why is that a significant development? Because the CIF Southern Section and other CIF sections throughout the state rely on CalPreps' rankings for divisional playoff placement.
A spokesman for the Southern Section said there is a back up plan in place.
HOW LOYOLA'FUTURE OPPONENTS FARED LAST WEEK
In order:
SERRA (3-2) 42, Los Alamitos 7
St. Mary's (Stockton) 56, BISHOP AMAT (2-3) 21
CHAMINADE (1-4) IDLE
SIERRA CANYON (2-3) IDLE
NOTRE DAME (3-2) IDLE
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
XAVIER RICE '23, QB, Duquesne
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