Cub Football - Progress made but Loyola falls to Cathedral
LOYOLA SQUANDERS OPPORTUNITIES IN LOSS TO PHANTOMS
The Cathedral defensive backs worked over and over on a tip drill in pre-game warmups before their battle with Loyola. Ironically, it was a Phantom interception off a tipped pass as the Cubs were quickly marching down the field for what could have been the game winning touchdown with less than a minute and a half left in the contest on a warm night at Cathedral’s home field before an overflow crowd that sealed the deal for the home team.
The final score was 17-13 in favor of the Phantoms. Save for mistakes and missed opportunities, the third non-league game of the season could have easily gone Loyola’s way. The Cubs were victimized by penalties, an unsuccessful field goal attempt, a missed extra point try, a handful of plays that should have been made in the passing game and a couple of big chunk pass completions by Cathedral, all of which combined to prevent Loyola from notching a statement-making win over a solid opponent.
The Cubs put together an impressive 62-yard drive to open the contest, capped by a 10-yard touchdown sprint by sophomore running back HARRISON ALLEN at the 5:41 mark of the first quarter. Loyola’s offensive line was dominant in the march to pay dirt. Thereafter, the men up front found the sledding more difficult as the Phantoms routinely packed the box with as many as nine defenders.
The teams exchanged five punts after the Cubs’ first score, but Loyola’s stellar punts forced the Cathedral offense to begin drives at their own 25, 14 and 6 yard lines. Another costly penalty forced the Cubs to settle for a field goal attempt early in the second quarter. The 31-yard try sailed wide left. On the ensuing Phantom possession, Cathedral kicked a 35-yard field goal to make the score 7-3 with 5:18 left in the first half.
Sophomore running back TAHJ OWENS’ 48-yard kickoff return set Loyola up at midfield, but Cub miscues forced another punt. A perfectly placed boot pinned the Phantoms back at their own five yard line with just under two minutes to play before intermission.
Cathedral hit some huge downfield pass plays in a hurry-up 95-yard drive which culminated in a two-yard touchdown run with 8.7 ticks left on the clock. It was reminiscent of the dagger drive St. Augustine put together last week in the final seconds of the first half.
The Phantoms went 67 yards in just over three minutes on the opening possession of the second half, scoring on a 30-yard pass to extend Cathedral’s lead to 17-7.
Harrison Allen broke a couple of tackles and bolted 50 yards down the Cubs’ sideline to score the answering TD with 6:15 left in the third quarter. A missed extra point kick made the score 17-13.
Cathedral started the ensuing drive at its 21 yard line. A 46-yard pass completion on fourth down allowed the Phantoms to set up business inside Loyola’s five yard line. A ferocious goal line stand by the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense ended with a fourth down run stuff at the one yard line.
Loyola was forced to punt again, but the Cubs thereafter stopped Cathedral on a fourth down play to set up a possible game winning drive which would have required Loyola to go over 70 yards in less than two minutes. Junior quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO hit a couple of passes, including a big gainer to senior tight end BRENDAN PERNECKY, and it was looking like the Cubs might just pull off a victory, as Big Blue nation was roaring in support. Then the interception off a tipped pass ended all hope for Loyola.
The Cubs will travel to the Santa Clarita Valkey to take on Valencia, another high end opponent next Friday. The Vikings’ high octane offense scored 129 points in Valencia’s first two games.
There were positive signs in the tough loss Friday. Loyola played with high energy. Sophomore wide receivers JACOBY KELLY and PETER VANIS continue to show off great hands and route running. Allen and Owens are the real deals at the running back position. The offensive line took a step up. The defense, while on the field too much, bent but did not break. The goal line stand showed the ‘Wolfpack’s’ mettle. Improvement in the passing game is attainable. The next step in the process will be scoring more. Eliminating penalties will need to be a focal point as the Cubs prepare for their third consecutive road trip. Despite the loss, Loyola should make considerable improvement as the non-league portion of the schedule plays out over the next two weeks.
LOYOLA JV TEAM UNDEFEATED
Loyola’s JV squad downed Cathedral,13-8, at Smith Field on Thursday to improve its record to 3-0. The Cubs defeated Culver City, 27-8, in their opener and beat St. Augustine, 14-3, on September 5.
Loyola’s defense has been dominant, allowing just six points per game. Headlining the stop unit has been sophomore inside linebacker PATRICK SODL, who recorded an amazing 28 tackles on Thursday. Junior linebacker CARTER ESPARZA and sophomore linebacker JACK SHOEMAKER have also been key players for a top flight defensive unit.
After a scoreless first half against Cathedral, sophomore quarterback JACK WYNPERLE connected with sophomore receiver JACKSON SHEA on a one-yard fourth down scoring pass in the third quarter. Shortly thereafter, Wynperle put the Cubs up 13-0 on a two-yard run, following a 30-yard pass completion to Shea. The Phantoms scored late, but Loyola recovered the ensuing on side kick to seal the win.
The Cathedral defensive backs worked over and over on a tip drill in pre-game warmups before their battle with Loyola. Ironically, it was a Phantom interception off a tipped pass as the Cubs were quickly marching down the field for what could have been the game winning touchdown with less than a minute and a half left in the contest on a warm night at Cathedral’s home field before an overflow crowd that sealed the deal for the home team.
The final score was 17-13 in favor of the Phantoms. Save for mistakes and missed opportunities, the third non-league game of the season could have easily gone Loyola’s way. The Cubs were victimized by penalties, an unsuccessful field goal attempt, a missed extra point try, a handful of plays that should have been made in the passing game and a couple of big chunk pass completions by Cathedral, all of which combined to prevent Loyola from notching a statement-making win over a solid opponent.
The Cubs put together an impressive 62-yard drive to open the contest, capped by a 10-yard touchdown sprint by sophomore running back HARRISON ALLEN at the 5:41 mark of the first quarter. Loyola’s offensive line was dominant in the march to pay dirt. Thereafter, the men up front found the sledding more difficult as the Phantoms routinely packed the box with as many as nine defenders.
The teams exchanged five punts after the Cubs’ first score, but Loyola’s stellar punts forced the Cathedral offense to begin drives at their own 25, 14 and 6 yard lines. Another costly penalty forced the Cubs to settle for a field goal attempt early in the second quarter. The 31-yard try sailed wide left. On the ensuing Phantom possession, Cathedral kicked a 35-yard field goal to make the score 7-3 with 5:18 left in the first half.
Sophomore running back TAHJ OWENS’ 48-yard kickoff return set Loyola up at midfield, but Cub miscues forced another punt. A perfectly placed boot pinned the Phantoms back at their own five yard line with just under two minutes to play before intermission.
Cathedral hit some huge downfield pass plays in a hurry-up 95-yard drive which culminated in a two-yard touchdown run with 8.7 ticks left on the clock. It was reminiscent of the dagger drive St. Augustine put together last week in the final seconds of the first half.
The Phantoms went 67 yards in just over three minutes on the opening possession of the second half, scoring on a 30-yard pass to extend Cathedral’s lead to 17-7.
Harrison Allen broke a couple of tackles and bolted 50 yards down the Cubs’ sideline to score the answering TD with 6:15 left in the third quarter. A missed extra point kick made the score 17-13.
Cathedral started the ensuing drive at its 21 yard line. A 46-yard pass completion on fourth down allowed the Phantoms to set up business inside Loyola’s five yard line. A ferocious goal line stand by the Cub ‘Wolfpack’ defense ended with a fourth down run stuff at the one yard line.
Loyola was forced to punt again, but the Cubs thereafter stopped Cathedral on a fourth down play to set up a possible game winning drive which would have required Loyola to go over 70 yards in less than two minutes. Junior quarterback BRAYDEN ZERMENO hit a couple of passes, including a big gainer to senior tight end BRENDAN PERNECKY, and it was looking like the Cubs might just pull off a victory, as Big Blue nation was roaring in support. Then the interception off a tipped pass ended all hope for Loyola.
The Cubs will travel to the Santa Clarita Valkey to take on Valencia, another high end opponent next Friday. The Vikings’ high octane offense scored 129 points in Valencia’s first two games.
There were positive signs in the tough loss Friday. Loyola played with high energy. Sophomore wide receivers JACOBY KELLY and PETER VANIS continue to show off great hands and route running. Allen and Owens are the real deals at the running back position. The offensive line took a step up. The defense, while on the field too much, bent but did not break. The goal line stand showed the ‘Wolfpack’s’ mettle. Improvement in the passing game is attainable. The next step in the process will be scoring more. Eliminating penalties will need to be a focal point as the Cubs prepare for their third consecutive road trip. Despite the loss, Loyola should make considerable improvement as the non-league portion of the schedule plays out over the next two weeks.
LOYOLA JV TEAM UNDEFEATED
Loyola’s JV squad downed Cathedral,13-8, at Smith Field on Thursday to improve its record to 3-0. The Cubs defeated Culver City, 27-8, in their opener and beat St. Augustine, 14-3, on September 5.
Loyola’s defense has been dominant, allowing just six points per game. Headlining the stop unit has been sophomore inside linebacker PATRICK SODL, who recorded an amazing 28 tackles on Thursday. Junior linebacker CARTER ESPARZA and sophomore linebacker JACK SHOEMAKER have also been key players for a top flight defensive unit.
After a scoreless first half against Cathedral, sophomore quarterback JACK WYNPERLE connected with sophomore receiver JACKSON SHEA on a one-yard fourth down scoring pass in the third quarter. Shortly thereafter, Wynperle put the Cubs up 13-0 on a two-yard run, following a 30-yard pass completion to Shea. The Phantoms scored late, but Loyola recovered the ensuing on side kick to seal the win.
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