AFTER IMPRESSIVE FIRST HALF COMEBACK LOYOLA COULD NOT MAINTAIN MOMENTUM AFTER INTERMISSION IN 35-14 LOSS TO DAMIEN
With six sophomores starting on the varsity for the first time (including two offensive linemen and a defensive lineman), and several other first-time underclass players in the lineup, Loyola's youth was met with a determined Damien squad in La Verne on Friday night before an overflow host crowd, with the Spartans controlling the second half en route to a decisive 35-14 victory over the Cubs.

After battling back from an early 14-0 first quarter deficit to tie the score, 14-14, before intermission Loyola looked primed to capitalize on the big momentum it had built coming out of the locker room for the second half.  Senior safety JAKE ARELLANO picked off a Damien pass at the Cubs' 45 yard line on the Spartans' first series of the second half, and it appeared that the momentum had fully turned into an impending Big Blue tsunami.

The Cubs attempted a double pass on a fourth and nine play instead of punting the ball, but the trick play failed, putting Damien in business at its own 43 yard line. And just like that, the momentum pendulum swiftly swung back to the Spartans, who covered 57 yards in eight plays, scoring on a one yard run to take a 21-14 lead at the 5:01 mark of the third quarter.

Damien never looked back. It upped the score to 28-14 on a 40-yard punt return with 7:07 left in the fourth quarter, and the Spartans tacked put another seven points on the scoreboard on a one-yard run with 2:37 remaining in the contest.

Damien rolled up 308 yards of total offense, while the Cubs mustered less than 200. Two snaps over Loyola junior quarterback TK KNYAL's head in the first half did not help matters for the Cubs.

The Spartans drove 60 yards on their first possession, scoring on on a three yard pass. On the first play of its second possession Damien's QB connected on a 57-yard aerial for a touchdown with 3:51 left in the first quarter to increase the home team's lead to 14-0. 

The Cubs were undaunted by the Spartans' early lead. KNYAL capped a 69-yard drive with a perfectly placed 24 yard pass to junior tight end SCOTT TAYLOR at the 8:03 mark of the second quarter. Senior kicker MARK HYAN's PAT boot lowered the scoring gap to seven points. With 2:09 left in the first half KNYAL connected with senior receiver KHALIL CUEVA on a three-yard scoring toss to cap a 51 yard drive. HYAN's extra point knotted the score at 14-14.

SCOTT TAYLOR was a standout for Loyola on both sides of the ball all night long. In addition to his TD catch, he was constantly in Damien's backfield from his outside linebacker position. Other notable plays were made by junior receiver DUKE GIARRAPUTO (37-yard reception). CUEVA led all Cub receivers in receptions.

The good news for the Cubs is that there is plenty of room for improvement heading into next Friday's home opener against Culver City, which possesses a prolific passing attack of a similar quality to that of Damien. The Big Blue O-line, with three new starters, will look to open more running lanes in week two. Loyola has the talent to make a big jump.

Expect this young group to respond positively to the loss.

HOW LOYOLA'S FUTURE OPPONENTS FARED

CULVER CITY 72, San Jacinto 63
The Centaurs showed off their offensive pyrotechnics against the defending CIF Division 6 champions on the road.

Edison 17, LEUZINGER 0
After a big win over Norco, the Olympians struggled offensively against a very solid Chargers squad.

CHAMINADE 40, Cathedral Catholic 30
The Eagles bounced back in a big way from their opening game set back to Oaks Christian with a big win over one of the best teams in the San Diego Section.

Sierra Canyon 30, OAKS CHRISTIAN 14 The Lions lost no luster in a loss to one of the state's best teams.

ST. FRANCIS 34, Mira Costa 21
The Golden Knights continue to show they are for real in two TD romp over a solid Mustangs squad.

Bishop Amat 29, ST. PAUL 28
The Swordsmen proved they are back in a big way in a heartbreaker against longtime arch rival Lancers.

Garfield 41, CRESPI 0
The Celts are going to have growing pains in the rebuilding process.

PARACLETE 21, Garces Memorial 14
The Spirits improve to 2-0 with victory over their rivals from Bakersfield.

Millikan 48, CATHEDRAL 34
The Phantoms continue to show they can score points.

2023 LOYOLA VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
August 25          @ Damien (L 35-14)
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-four 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)