August 11, 2023

Cub Football - Tune-up for road opener next Thursday in Manhattan Beach - Projected lineups and a look at Costa

LOYOLA TO SCRIMMAGE MIRA COSTA NEXT THURSDAY IN ADVANCE OF SEASON OPENER ON AUGUST 25

The searing dog days of a hot and sometimes humid August training camp will soon be over for the 2023 Loyola squad which is expected to take a step up after earning a share of the Angelus League championship and making a CIF Division 6 semifinal playoff run last fall.

The Cubs will travel to Manhattan Beach on Thursday, August 17, to participate in a scrimmage against long time rival Mira Costa at 6:30 p.m.

The scrimmage against the Mustangs will mark the final chapter of preseason preparation as the page will quickly turn to Loyola's first opponent of the fall campaign, La Verne Damien, the number three-ranked team in the San Gabriel Valley according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

THINGS TO WATCH AGAINST MIRA COSTA
Improved Cub position groups across the board will be taking the field against Mira Costa.

One of the keys to a successful season will be the play of the offensive line. The lineup from tackle to tackle has the pieces in place to be formidable.

The big boys up front from right to left are All-League senior three-year starter and Dartmouth-bound RYAN TURK (6-4, 285) at right tackle; sophomore NATHAN TURK (6-3, 265), Ryan Turk's talented younger brother, at right guard; junior JOHN FRANCIS (6-0, 285) is battling it out with sophomore NELSON PYE III (5-11, 261) at the center position; All-League three-year starter and very athletic Arizona State commit CHAMP WESTBROOKS (6-5, 275) returns at left guard; and senior left tackle LUKE HARRISON (6-4, 275) is one of the squad's strongest players. Senior tight end CARSON REAL (6-4, 227) is slated to handle tight end duties along with skilled junior SCOTT TAYLOR (6-4, 230).

No room may have been upgraded more than that of the wide receivers. Returning for his third varsity campaign, senior KHALIL CUEVA (5-11, 180) has the speed and catching ability to put defenses under significant duress. Newcomer DUKE GIARRAPUTO (6-3, 205) possesses a high ceiling with his length, catch radius, and route running. Sophomore JOSH GALLAGHER (5-10, 170), arguably the best player on last season's undefeated freshman team, has all the tools to excel. Senior LUKE HYAN (6-4, 189), twin brother of Loyola kicker LUKE HYAN, and swift soph newcomer BRYCE COLEMAN (6-3, 175) both flashed serious skills in 7 on 7 passing competition. Junior ETHAN GALLARDO (5-10, 160) is also a very quick playmaker. This is the deepest wide receiver corps Loyola has fielded in quite some time.

Highly improved junior quarterback THOMAS KNYAL (6-0, 175) will unquestionably have a top flight stable of receivers with whom to connect. Knyal honed his considerable skills over the spring and summer. He could end up being a big surprise to unwary opponents.

The running back group got a major talent infusion with the arrival of sophomore newcomer SEAN MORRIS (5-10, 185) who combines power with excellent speed and quickness. Junior RB returnee DESI VALDES (5-9, 175), who could end up playing in the , and senior JUSTIN SMITH (5-11, 180) bring valuable experience and talent to the backfield; and sophomore SONNY VILLEGAS (5-10, 185) was one of the best players on last year's undefeated Angelus League champion freshman team. Villegas was a standout player on Loyola's CIF Div. I finalist varsity lacrosse team this spring.

The defensive line will be led by returning All-CIF Edge ISAIAH "IKE" SANDERS (6-3, 223), who led the defense in sacks, tackles for loss, and QB hurries last fall. Sophomore MAX MEIER (6-5, 225) will debut on the D-line along with junior RONAN O' ROURKE (6-2, 221) and junior DECLAN O'LIONAIN (6-2, 275). CHAMP WESTBROOKS and RYAN TURK are expected to see rotational duty in the defensive trenches, which will add 560 pounds of size and power up front.

The linebacker unit is spearheaded by junior All-Angelus League outside backer SCOTT TAYLOR (6-4, 230) who will be among the best at his position in California. Junior inside linebacker returnee HENRY CASANI (6-2, 208) has gotten bigger, faster and stronger after a solid sophomore season on the varsity. Sophomore middle linebacker RONEN ZAMORANO (6-2, 215) is a rising star.

Leading a strong secondary is shut down sophomore corner BRANDON LOCKHART (6-3, 173), who was named a freshman All-American and already has 12 FBS scholarship offers. Aggressive senior All-League free safety JAKE ARELLANO (5-10, 175) was the team's second leading tackler last fall and is one of the Cubs' most assertive leaders. Other key players in the secondary include seniors ELIJAH "EJ" BRADLEY (6-1, 185), senior CHAZ AUSTIN (5-10, 165), junior newcomer BROCK BOJORQUEZ (5-10, 180) and junior safety DESI VALDES, who is getting a look at strong safety. Athletic soph safety PETER SCIARRINO (5-11, 180) has a chance to see playing time on the back end.

Senior kicker MARK HYAN (6-4, 225), a nationally renown soccer star, has a big leg and can connect on long range field goals from as far out as 60 yards, and senior punter ALEXANDER SCHULTZ (6-1, 160) booms punts with impressive hang times.

The Cubs are looking forward to competing against a group other than themselves in Thursday's interscholastic scrimmage. Some position battles could be settled, and a lot be could be learned about how good this team can be in its scrimmage against Mira Costa. The first play will be run at 6:30 p.m.

A LOOK AT MIRA COSTA
The Mustangs return nine starters (six on offense and three on defense) from its 2022 team which finished 8-3 overall and second (4-1) in the Bay League.

Junior Nicolas De la Cruz (6-0, 190) returns behind center after completing 64% of his passes for 2,891 yards and 27 TDs last season. Big time receiver, senior Reese Leonard (49 receptions for 793 yards, 16.2 average, 9 TDs) returns to lead the Mustangs' impressive aerial brigade. Lack of experience on both sides of the line of scrimmage are perceived as a team weakness heading into the fall.

While Thursday's scrimmage does not count in the win-loss ledger, Loyola owns a 14-0 record against Mira Costa in game competition. The teams first played in 1963 in the season opener, with the Cubs posting a 10-0 shutout victory. Loyola went on to complete a second consecutive undefeated season and won its second CIF AAAA championship in as many years. The Big Blue finished as the number two ranked high school football team in the nation.

2023 LOYOLA VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
August 17          @ Mira Costa (scrimmage)
August 25          @ Damien
September 1      Culver City
September 8      Leuzinger
September 15    @ Chaminade
September 22    Oaks Christian
September 29    @ St. Francis*
October 6           St. Paul*
October 13         @ Crespi*
October 20         Paraclete*
October 29         @ Cathedral* 
(* denotes Angelus League game)

LOYOLA PLAYERS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2023
Thirty-five Loyola grads will be competing on college football teams this fall at schools from Storrs, Connecticut to Los Angeles; Northfield, Minnesota to New York City; Fort Worth, Texas to Princeton, New Jersey; Grinnel, Iowa to Berkeley; and Austin, Texas to Chicago.

Here is the current list of Cubs participating in college football (in alphabetical order):
NICK ANDERSON ‘20, OL (Denison)
SINJUN ASTANI ‘17, DL (USC)
CHAD BAILEY ‘20, DB (Tulane)
JP BAUTISTA (Pasadena College)
NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA ‘19, K (Mississippi State)
GEORGE CARATAN '18 , P (Connecticut)
JAC CASASANTE ‘18, LS (USC)
COLIN CRUCE ‘22, OL (Bowdoin)
JORDAN HEWITT '23, DB (UCLA)
ALEX JOHNSON '18, DB (UCLA)
JEFFREY JOHNSON '21, TE (Cal)
JACOBY KELLY ‘22, WR (Cerritos College)
ANDREW KOZHAYA ‘21, DL (Grinnel)
LEIGHTON LINE '23, DL (Cal Lutheran)
CARTER LINK ‘20, LB (SMU)
SHAWN LIN ‘22, DL (Columbia)
CONNOR McDOWELL ‘21, DB (Angelo State)
BLAKE NEITHART ‘20 DB (Carleton)
TAHJ OWENS ‘22, DB (Princeton)
JACK PARIS '23, OL (MIT)
RYAN QUINTANAR ‘20, LB (TCU)
XAVIER RICE '23, QB (Duquesne)
DAKOTA SMITH '18, LB (Minnesota State)
PATRICK SODL ‘22, LB (Columbia)
ZAKHARI SPEARS ‘21, DB (Connecticut)
HENRY STICKLER '21, WR (SMU)
JACK SUSNJAR '23, OL (USC)
JOE TATUM ‘22, QB (Texas)
EVAN THOMAS ‘20, DB (UCLA)
PETER VANIS '23, WR (TCU)
WILKE WILES '23, WR (University of Chicago)
HOLMES WORMALD '23, TE (Merchant Marine Academy)
CEYAIR WRIGHT ‘21, DB ( USC)
SAM YOON ‘22, OL (UCLA)
BRAYDEN ZERMENO '21, QB (Connecticut)