Cub Football - Regular season halfway point
LOYOLA EMBARKS ON TOUGH FIVE-GAME LEAUGE SLATE, HAS SHOWN MARKED IMPROVEMENT
The Loyola team that will take the field against Serra of Gardena on Friday night at Smith Field is a much improved version of itself from when it kicked off the 2024 campaign against Cathedral on August 23.
The most notable positive trend has been on the offensive side of the ball. Since the Cubs' season opening, 16-13, double overtime loss to the Phantoms, the offensive platoon has scored 29, 30, 35 and 46 points through last week's 46-38 road win over Mount Miguel.
Rams head coach Jim Harbaugh said of his philosophy on the offensive line, "Offensive lineman we look at as weapons. When we talk about attacking on offense . . . Offensive line is the tip of the spear."
Veteran offensive line coach RICK PEDROARIAS '84 agrees with Harbaugh's point of view. A position room that lost three 2023 starters to college football programs, has been improving week by week. The O-line starters are junior NATHAN TURK (LT), junior LANGSTON GIBSON (LG), junior NELSON PYE III (C), senior SAMI PARK (RG) and junior SILAS NUR (RT). Junior ANDREW HILTON has played at right guard as well.
Junior running back SEAN MORRIS II continues to be an impressive, tough ball carrier who has makes spectacular plays with regularity.
Since a shaky start against Cathedral, junior quarterback ASHTON PANNELL has completed 70% and 76% of his passes for 462 yards in his last two outings. He has probably made more strides than any other player on offense since game one.
Junior wide receiver MARKUS KIER has shown why he has multiple FBS scholarship offers. He is averaging 15.2 yards per reception.
If the offense continues to improve and the defense can continue to upgrade its performance, Loyola could make some real noise in the Mission League.
CUB STAT LEADERS AFTER FIVE GAMES
RUSHING: SEAN MORRIS II 109 carries, 686 yards, 6.3 yards per carry, 5 TDs
PASSING: ASHTON PANNELL 72 of 124 (58%), 916 yards, 13 TDs, 3 interceptions
RECEIVING: MARKUS KIER 28 receptions for 422 yards, 15.1 yards per reception, 5 TDs
SEAN MORRIS II 11 receptions for 148 yards, 13.8 yards per reception, 2 TDs
BRYCE COLEMAN 10 receptions for 133 yards, 13.3 yards per reception, 2 TDs
TACKLES: HENRY CASANI (inside linebacker) 63 total, 15 solo
DESI VALDES (safety) 51, 19
DAEQUAN JEFFES (inside linebacker) 50, 18
ZION SCRIVENS (defensive lineman) 43, 14
SACKS: MAX MEIER (defensive lineman) 3.0
ZION SCRIVENS (defensive lineman) 2.5
INTERCEPTIONS: BRANDON LOCKHART (corner) 2
KICK RETURNS: DESI VALDES 36.2 yard average, long 96 yards
LOYOLA SOPHS DOMINATE REDONDO UNION IN NON-LEAGUE CONTEST
For reasons unknown Serra's JV squad did not choose to schedule a game against Loyola's sophomore squad, so the Cubs were forced to find another opponent.
In a rare Wednesday night game at Smith Field. the Cub sophs put forth a dominant defensive effort under the direction of defensive coordinator PJ PASCALE '78 and the offense shined in a 41-8 demolition of Redondo Union. The half time score was 34-0, and the second half was played with a running clock.
Inside linebackers KANE CASANI and MERRICK DOTTS were tackling machines as were defensive end BRENDAN VANIS and defensive linemen WESLEY SCHELLINGER, ANDREI LOPEZ and GREGORSON LAW. Outside linebackers JAYCE DAWSON and XAVIER WIMBLEY played shut down ball, and safety GAVIN GRABE snagged an interception.
CASANI raced for a 90-yard TD on Loyola's final score. Quarterback MATT SMITH (2 passing TDs) and running back MATT FINE (3 TDs) had big games on the offensive side of the ball. Receivers SAMMY FRIEND, TOBY THUSS (2 TDs), and TYLER HARPER all contributed. The offensive line was dominant (RT BENJAMIN TORRES, RG ANTHONY RIOS, C MICHAEL VOLMERT, LG ANDREI LOPEZ AND LT NICHOLAS LAU).
The Sophs are now 6-0. Their average score through six games is 33-10.
FRESHMAN TEAMS FALLS TO SERRA JV SQUAD LOYOLA's freshman team was shut out, 34-0, by the Serra JV team, which is comprised of freshman and sophomores. It looked like there were so some upperclassmen mixed in for good measure. It was the Cubs' (5-1) first loss of the season.
LOYOLA NUMBERS AND NOTES The Cubs have averaged more points (31) in their first five games than any Loyola team since the 2021 squad, which averaged 36 in the non-league portion of its schedule. . . Iron man: Junior SILAS NUR played every snap of the game last Friday against Mount Miguel at both right tackle on offense and as a defensive lineman . . . Loyola's 'Wolfpack' defense held Mount Miguel to 44 rushing yards on 21 carries.
CUBS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL UPDATES
Former Loyola All-American corner CEYAIR WRIGHT '21 is tied for first in passes defended as well as fumbles caused for the University on Nebraska. Wright is tied for third in solo tackles for the Cornhuskers . . . SAM YOON '22, a Cub All-CIF tackle in 2021, will be making his first start at center for UCLA on Saturday at Penn State.
FRIDAY PRE-GAME Loyola families, alumni and supporters will be meeting at El Cholo on Western Avenue at 4:30 p.m. before tomorrow's game.