Cub Football - Season commences with scrimmage against City Section Open Division runner-up Carson on Thursday
LOYOLA SCRIMMAGES CARSON THURSDAY TO OPEN 2024 CAMPAIGN - COLTS LED BY FAMILIAR HEAD COACH
On Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Loyola will kick off the 2024 season with a controlled scrimmage on the road against the Carson Colts, who finished 10-2 last fall and were finalists in the CIF Los Angeles City Section Open Division playoffs.
Ranked number two in the CalPreps.com preseason City Section rankings, Carson is led by head coach Mike Christensen who served as the Cubs’ varsity head man from 2010-2012 following his first successful tenure as the leader of Carson’s football program.
Christensen knows Loyola well, and will be sure to have the Colts fired up to compete against the Cubs.
Carson likely will give Loyola everything it can handle. The Marine League favorites feature an impressive combination of size, athleticism and speed.
Two Colts were named to CalHi Sports’ preseason All-South Bay squad. Senior offensive lineman Taelenuu Tuaa (5-11, 300) is a bulldozer who leads a big, strong trench corps. Carson’s all-purpose star is senior Kameryn Hurst (5-9, 175). The electric athlete can do it all. Last season he rushed for 945 yards (9.2 ypc, 10 TDs) and had seven interceptions as a defensive back.
Colt senior tight end Dayton Norris (6-1, 253) averaged 22.5 yards per catch last fall and is a powerful blocker. Fast junior wide receiver Craig Walker comes back with a 16.5 yards per catch average.
Among the returning defensive leaders are junior linebacker Xavier Allen (6-0, 201) and sophomore corner Troy Taulua who snagged four interceptions in 2023.
Christensen has his squad primed for another run at the City Open Division title.
Following his stint at Loyola Christensen was the head coach at Palos Verdes Peninsula and Lakewood before taking over the head job again at Carson.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE SCRIMMAGE
Don’t listen to those who say scrimmages have little meaning in terms of how teams will fare going forward. This scrimmage is important for both teams, as the competition can serve as a tone setter for the season.
Loyola will be starting three new offensive linemen. That position group will play a critical role in the Cubs’ offensive production. Junior running back SEAN MORRIS II (5-11, 191) has continued to impress in camp. Look for him to make plays.
Junior QB ASHTON PANNELL (6-3,190) will see his first action as a Cub, as will talented transfer wide receiver MARKUS KIER (6-3,188). It will be interesting to see where the passing attack is early in the season.
Loyola’s ‘Wolfpack’ defense is expected to be formidable. Will it be able to contain Kameryn Hurst, one of the most talented athletes it will face this season?
Which Cub reserve players will step up to make a push for playing time?
CUB-COLTS HISTORY
Loyola lost to Carson in a 1980 non-league contest in the schools’ lone meeting on the gridiron. The 1980 campaign was the only losing season in CIF Hall of Fame head coach STEVE GRADY’s 29-year career (269-77-6, two CIF Division I titles, four CIF Div. I runner-up finishes).
EXTRA POINTS - SBLive RANKS LOYOLA IN PREASEASON SOUTHERN SECTION TOP 25 - SCOTT TAYLOR RATED AS ONE OF BEST DEFENDERS IN SOUTHERN SECTION
All-State underclass senior Edge/outside linebacker SCOTT TAYLOR (6-4, 232) was rated by SBLive as the eleventh best defensive lineman in the Southern Section in its preseason position group rankings. BRANDON LOCKHART (DB), SEAN MORRIS II (RB), HENRY CASANI (LB) and NATE TURK (OL) were the other Cubs rated by SBLive in their respective position groups.
Loyola was rated as the 14th best squad in the CIF Southern Section by SBLive in its preseason rankings. If the Cubs live up to that ranking after ten games there is no question that the 2024 season will have been an unqualified success.
Loyola had over 130 freshman players come out for the 2024 freshman team.
2024 LOYOLA VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
8-15 @ Carson (scrimmage)
8-23 @ Cathedral
8-30 Damien (Home)
9-13 @ Leuzinger
9-20 @ St. Francis
9-27 @ Mount Miguel (Spring Valley
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.,except Carson scrimmage on Thursday, August 15 @ 6:00 p.m.