Cub Football - Tough road foe Damien next up for Loyola on Thursday
NUMBER ONE TEAM IN SAN GABRIEL VALLEY NEXT UP FOR CUBS
Coming off a painful 29-26 loss to explosive, state-ranked Inglewood, Loyola will need to regroup in a hurry as it prepares to take on the San Gabriel Valley Tribune’s preseason number one ranked program, the Damien Spartans. The La Verne based school is currently ranked 17th in the Southland by the Los Angeles Times. The Cubs remained ranked in the number 23 slot despite losing to Inglewood, an acknowledgement of the quality of opponent and the close score.
Because of official availability issues the road game was moved from Friday to Thursday evening at Damien’s campus in La Verne. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
A LOOK AT DAMIEN
Head coach Matt Bechtel’s Spartans are reported to be loaded for bear. The Trbune not only ranked Damien first in its preseason San Gabriel Valley rankings, but CalHi Sports ranked the Spartans as the 23rd best team in California.
In its preview of Damien, MaxPreps reported that 5-11, 175 lb. defensive back Richard Perez is the top returnee on the Spartans’ hard hitting defensive squad.
MaxPreps indicated that two talented players are vying for the starting quarterback position, sophomore Rahim Wright II and junior Dylan Gutierrez. A big, tough offensive line is led by veteran seniors Tyler Palm (6-3, 275) and Ramsey Qishta (6-3, 300).
It was reported by the Tribune that Damien has a large number of talented transfers who enrolled since the spring season. That is probably the reason for the Spartans’ high local and state rankings. One thing is certain, Damien is a disciplined, physical football team that will play hard from the opening kickoff to the final gun.
OUTLOOK
Thursday’s road tilt will be Loyola’s second game, whereas it will be the first contest of the 2021 campaign for the Spartans. With a game against a very talented opponent under their belts, the Cubs may have an advantage. That being said, Damien scrimmaged against perennial power Corona Centennial.
It is clear Damien has expectations of being a very competitive, title-contending squad based upon the rigorous schedule it put together. After their opener against the Cubs, the Spartans take on La Canada St. Francis, Orange Lutheran, Oaks Christian and Bishop Amat before entering Baseline League play. The fact that Damien is ranked ahead of La Puente Bishop Amat tells you all you need to know about its talent level.
Loyola cannot afford to turn the ball over as it did three times against Inglewood if wants to return victorious from its trip to La Verne. The Cubs also will need to score early and often-something they did not do against the Sentinels-to notch a win against what is one of the toughest opponents on their schedule.
THE SERIES
Loyola has only played Damien once. The Spartans defeated the Cubs, 27-7, in a rare down year for Loyola in 1971. On Thursday the Cubs will try to even it up.
LOYOLA EXTRA POINTS
The 29-26 loss to Inglewood at Smith Field on Friday did have some silver linings. Loyola competed toe to toe against a team manned by the fastest, most skilled group of athletes it will see during the course of the regular season. It was a far better opening contest in preparation for the remainder of the campaign than it would have been if Pasadena Muir had not pulled out of the zero week contest. Inglewood defeated Muir 70-14 in the spring. Few would argue that Inglewood was the fastest-if not best-team the Cubs played since their final league game of 2019 against Bishop Amat.
With nine new starters, the Cubs gained valuable first game experience before taking on a very rugged Damien team this Thursday.
All of the teams Loyola will play this fall won their zero week games. Cathedral routed El Camino Real of the City Section, 45-0; San Clemente blew out Oceanside, 38-0; and St.Paul handled Cerritos Valley Christian, 41-14.
The Cub JV team defeated Inglewood’s JV squad 32-0 last Thursday. Loyola’s freshman team opens its season on Thursday at Quartz Hill.
CUBS IN THE NFL
COLEMAN SHELTON ‘13, a multi-year OL starter and All-PAC-12 performer at the University of Washington, has looked fantastic as the starting center thus far in the exhibition season for the Los Angeles Rams.
MYLES BRYANT ‘16, the 2015 Cub MVP and All-PAC-12 defensive back at the University of Washington, has been starting in the secondary for the New England Patriots, but is currently sidelined by a minor injury.
ANTHONY BARR ‘10, a four time Pro Bowler, is a starting inside linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings.
Former All-American Loyola corner and All-Big Ten defensive back DAVID LONG, Jr. ‘16 is seeing playing time in the secondary for the Rams.