Cub Football - The quest continues on Friday in Sherman Oaks
LOYOLA IN POSITION TO ACHIEVE GOALS
Loyola was looking forward to a showdown with favored Mission Hills Alemany last Friday before Santa Ana winds arrived and wildfire erupted in the north San Fernando foothills wreaking atmospheric havoc.
The contest between the Cubs and Warriors was cancelled with no make-up game. So Loyola (3-3, 1-0) has one less game to play in its quest for a Mission League title and first playoff invitation since 2015.
With three games left on the Mission League slate, the opportunity to continue the upward climb that began on October 4th in a 29-14 romp over the Serra Cavaliers will present itself this Friday in Sherman Oaks where the Cubs will take on Notre Dame (5-2, 1-1), which is coming off a 17-6 win in Gardena against Serra (4-3, 0-2) last Friday in a real slugfest.
Friday’s road contest could prove a gateway to the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs if the Big Blue pulls off a victory against an opponent that it first battled a year shy of 70 years ago.
The Cubs must finish in no less than third place in the Mission League to be guaranteed a playoff berth, so it will probably take two wins out of the next three Mission League games to secure an automatic playoff invitation.
But the team has much bigger aspirations than a playoff berth. A league championship is the goal, and that will likely require a 3-0 regular season finish. Make no mistake about it, such an outcome is within realistic reach. To accomplish the feat, Loyola needs to maintain its upward ascent, which will require continued improvement in all phases of the game. Unlike recent seasons, the prospects for such success are not remote.
A LOOK AT NOTRE DAME
The Knights were considered a strong contender for the Mission League crown early in the campaign before the injury bug hit them. It is believed some of their injured gridders are on the mend, but even without some of their front line players they have proven to be a formidable football team.
Notre Dame boasts a physical group of athletes. They are reputed to have the strongest players in the league. The Knights’ offense, which averages 30 points per outing, passes for 165 yards per game and averages 191 yards on the ground. Last Friday against Serra, athletic sophomore quarterback Zachary Siskowic (6-0, 170) completed 75% of his passes with an average completion of 13.8 yards. He has thrown for 1,008 yards on the season. Siskowic is a nightmare to defend running the RPO to near perfection.
The best athletes on the Notre Dame roster are junior speed merchant Justin Horton (5-10, 175) and senior Sean Guyton (6-0, 185). Horton averages 20.4 yards per catch with 17 receptions and has two interceptions as a defensive back. He also has rushed for 229 yards and averages 12.1 yards per carry. Horton has also thrown the ball on trick plays with great success. Junior tight end Henry Deakins (6-3, 225) averages 11.3 yards per reception, and junior blazer Mason Cotton (5-10, 155) averages 15.5 yards per reception.
The Knights’ defense may be the best the Cubs have faced thus far. Horton has 35 tackles from his safety position with 24 solos. Two-way senior standout Santiago Weschler (5-11, 205) has 41 tackles with 27 solo stops as a linebacker. He also averages 7.5 yards as a ram-rodding running back. Junior linebacker Jacob Moore (6-1, 205) leads the stop squad with 43 tackles, including 26 solos.
Notre Dame’s defense has seven picks to its credit. It allows only 19 points per game.
OUTLOOK
Loyola will need to match-and exceed-the Knights’ physicality all night long. The Cubs have the speed and athleticism to compete, but execution will be the key. Improvement in the Loyola passing game will be needed, and on the defensive side of the ball the Cubs must put pressure on Siskowic and keep Horton and Guyton under wraps. This could be the second toughest challenge Loyola has faced this season, but the Big Blue is up to the task. It promises to be an old school physical battle to the final gun.
THE SERIES
The schools first played in the venerable Catholic League in 1951, with Loyola trouncing the Knights, 50-13. The Cubs lead the series 32-20.
Loyola was looking forward to a showdown with favored Mission Hills Alemany last Friday before Santa Ana winds arrived and wildfire erupted in the north San Fernando foothills wreaking atmospheric havoc.
The contest between the Cubs and Warriors was cancelled with no make-up game. So Loyola (3-3, 1-0) has one less game to play in its quest for a Mission League title and first playoff invitation since 2015.
With three games left on the Mission League slate, the opportunity to continue the upward climb that began on October 4th in a 29-14 romp over the Serra Cavaliers will present itself this Friday in Sherman Oaks where the Cubs will take on Notre Dame (5-2, 1-1), which is coming off a 17-6 win in Gardena against Serra (4-3, 0-2) last Friday in a real slugfest.
Friday’s road contest could prove a gateway to the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs if the Big Blue pulls off a victory against an opponent that it first battled a year shy of 70 years ago.
The Cubs must finish in no less than third place in the Mission League to be guaranteed a playoff berth, so it will probably take two wins out of the next three Mission League games to secure an automatic playoff invitation.
But the team has much bigger aspirations than a playoff berth. A league championship is the goal, and that will likely require a 3-0 regular season finish. Make no mistake about it, such an outcome is within realistic reach. To accomplish the feat, Loyola needs to maintain its upward ascent, which will require continued improvement in all phases of the game. Unlike recent seasons, the prospects for such success are not remote.
A LOOK AT NOTRE DAME
The Knights were considered a strong contender for the Mission League crown early in the campaign before the injury bug hit them. It is believed some of their injured gridders are on the mend, but even without some of their front line players they have proven to be a formidable football team.
Notre Dame boasts a physical group of athletes. They are reputed to have the strongest players in the league. The Knights’ offense, which averages 30 points per outing, passes for 165 yards per game and averages 191 yards on the ground. Last Friday against Serra, athletic sophomore quarterback Zachary Siskowic (6-0, 170) completed 75% of his passes with an average completion of 13.8 yards. He has thrown for 1,008 yards on the season. Siskowic is a nightmare to defend running the RPO to near perfection.
The best athletes on the Notre Dame roster are junior speed merchant Justin Horton (5-10, 175) and senior Sean Guyton (6-0, 185). Horton averages 20.4 yards per catch with 17 receptions and has two interceptions as a defensive back. He also has rushed for 229 yards and averages 12.1 yards per carry. Horton has also thrown the ball on trick plays with great success. Junior tight end Henry Deakins (6-3, 225) averages 11.3 yards per reception, and junior blazer Mason Cotton (5-10, 155) averages 15.5 yards per reception.
The Knights’ defense may be the best the Cubs have faced thus far. Horton has 35 tackles from his safety position with 24 solos. Two-way senior standout Santiago Weschler (5-11, 205) has 41 tackles with 27 solo stops as a linebacker. He also averages 7.5 yards as a ram-rodding running back. Junior linebacker Jacob Moore (6-1, 205) leads the stop squad with 43 tackles, including 26 solos.
Notre Dame’s defense has seven picks to its credit. It allows only 19 points per game.
OUTLOOK
Loyola will need to match-and exceed-the Knights’ physicality all night long. The Cubs have the speed and athleticism to compete, but execution will be the key. Improvement in the Loyola passing game will be needed, and on the defensive side of the ball the Cubs must put pressure on Siskowic and keep Horton and Guyton under wraps. This could be the second toughest challenge Loyola has faced this season, but the Big Blue is up to the task. It promises to be an old school physical battle to the final gun.
THE SERIES
The schools first played in the venerable Catholic League in 1951, with Loyola trouncing the Knights, 50-13. The Cubs lead the series 32-20.
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