Cub Football - Seven Loyola Players named All-Mission League - Alum David Long returns interception 80 yards
Seven Loyola players earn All-Mission League honors
Seven Loyola players were selected to the 2017 All-Mission League first and second team football honor squads. The selections were released Sunday after every Mission League team participating in the CIF playoffs lost in first round contests.
First team selections
Three Cubs earned first unit accolades.
Senior inside linebacker JACK FITGERALD led Loyola's 'Wolfpack' defense with 80 total tackles, including 31 solos. Fitzgerald also had one pass interception, one fumble recovery and a sack to his credit.
Senior corner ALEX JOHNSON earned first team notice for the second consecutive season. Johnson led the defensive squad with three interceptions. A ball hawking cover corner, Johnson led the taem in passes broken up. On the offensive side of the ball, he had 14 receptions for 216 yards (15.4 yards per reception) and one touchdown.
Senior inside linebacker TOMMY VANIS was the 'Wolfpack's' fourth leading tackler with 47. Vanis had one interception, a 52-yard pick six in Loyola's 41-0 victory over San Diego St. Augustine, and recorded six sacks. As a part-time quarterback, Vanis completed 60% of his passes for an average of 12.3 yards per reception.
Second team honorees
Loyola had four players selected to the second team All-Mission League squad.
Junior free safety ALEX BLAKE patrolled the back end of the defense with great success. He was the 'Wolfpack's' sixth leading tackler with 42. He also intercepted one pass. On offense, Blake had ten receptions for 148 yards.
Senior do-it-all performer JACOB McBRIDE was selected as a running back, but he also made major contributions on special teams and defense. McBride was the third leading tackler (60 total tackles) on a strong defensive platoon and was an outstanding, fearless punt returner. He also had two fumble recoveries.
Junior kicker NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA was a perfect 23 of 23 on PAT kicks, converted eight of nine field goal tries with his longest successful attempt from 48 yards. He was second on the team in most points scored with 47.
Speedy, strong sophomore strong safety KEVIN PARADA proved to be a big play maker. He was the defense's fourth leading tackler with 52 stops, and excelled in getting his teammates lined up correctly pre-snap. Parada also had 84 receiving yards.
The all-league selection process allows more players to be selected from schools that finished higher than their opponents. League champion Chaminade therefore had the most players (12) named to both the first and second team units. Loyola put more players than the seven selected up for vote by league coaches, but unfortunately all of the Cub players recommended did not receive the votes necessary to garner all-league recognition.
Loyola alum has 80-yard interception return for Michigan
University of Michigan redshirt freshman corner DAVID LONG '16, an Army All-American, All-State first team and All-CIF Southern Section Division I corner at Loyola in 2015, had an 80-yard interception return against Maryland in the Wolverines' victory over the Terrapins last Saturday. See the video on the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44bCOtEDWSU&feature=youtu.be
Seven Loyola players were selected to the 2017 All-Mission League first and second team football honor squads. The selections were released Sunday after every Mission League team participating in the CIF playoffs lost in first round contests.
First team selections
Three Cubs earned first unit accolades.
Senior inside linebacker JACK FITGERALD led Loyola's 'Wolfpack' defense with 80 total tackles, including 31 solos. Fitzgerald also had one pass interception, one fumble recovery and a sack to his credit.
Senior corner ALEX JOHNSON earned first team notice for the second consecutive season. Johnson led the defensive squad with three interceptions. A ball hawking cover corner, Johnson led the taem in passes broken up. On the offensive side of the ball, he had 14 receptions for 216 yards (15.4 yards per reception) and one touchdown.
Senior inside linebacker TOMMY VANIS was the 'Wolfpack's' fourth leading tackler with 47. Vanis had one interception, a 52-yard pick six in Loyola's 41-0 victory over San Diego St. Augustine, and recorded six sacks. As a part-time quarterback, Vanis completed 60% of his passes for an average of 12.3 yards per reception.
Second team honorees
Loyola had four players selected to the second team All-Mission League squad.
Junior free safety ALEX BLAKE patrolled the back end of the defense with great success. He was the 'Wolfpack's' sixth leading tackler with 42. He also intercepted one pass. On offense, Blake had ten receptions for 148 yards.
Senior do-it-all performer JACOB McBRIDE was selected as a running back, but he also made major contributions on special teams and defense. McBride was the third leading tackler (60 total tackles) on a strong defensive platoon and was an outstanding, fearless punt returner. He also had two fumble recoveries.
Junior kicker NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA was a perfect 23 of 23 on PAT kicks, converted eight of nine field goal tries with his longest successful attempt from 48 yards. He was second on the team in most points scored with 47.
Speedy, strong sophomore strong safety KEVIN PARADA proved to be a big play maker. He was the defense's fourth leading tackler with 52 stops, and excelled in getting his teammates lined up correctly pre-snap. Parada also had 84 receiving yards.
The all-league selection process allows more players to be selected from schools that finished higher than their opponents. League champion Chaminade therefore had the most players (12) named to both the first and second team units. Loyola put more players than the seven selected up for vote by league coaches, but unfortunately all of the Cub players recommended did not receive the votes necessary to garner all-league recognition.
Loyola alum has 80-yard interception return for Michigan
University of Michigan redshirt freshman corner DAVID LONG '16, an Army All-American, All-State first team and All-CIF Southern Section Division I corner at Loyola in 2015, had an 80-yard interception return against Maryland in the Wolverines' victory over the Terrapins last Saturday. See the video on the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44bCOtEDWSU&feature=youtu.be
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