MOVING ON FROM OPENING GAME SETBACK
There were signs of what this young Loyola team could become in its disappointing opening game 35-14 loss to Damien in La Verne last Friday.

The Cubs showed grit and resolve in coming back from a 14-0 first quarter deficit to tie the score 14-14 going into halftime. They will need to continue displaying those traits against a remaining schedule that is, to put it mildly, unforgiving.

POSITIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM THE DAMIEN LOSS
Junior quarterback THOMAS "TK" KNYAL showed his moxie, calm field presence, accuracy and quick feet in his first varsity start. In the first half KNYAL completed 10 of 14 passes (70%) for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior receiver KHALIL CUEVA picked up where he left off last season, exhibiting excellent hands and speed. Six foot, three inch newcomer DUKE GIARRAPUTO showed why he will be a big weapon as a wide out. 

Junior outside linebacker SCOTT TAYLOR did it all against the Spartans.  He had a 24-yard TD reception in his part time role as a tight end and created havoc from his linebacker post. TAYLOR finished the night with three sacks and eight tackles for loss.

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune's article on the game described Loyola's effort thusly, "There was no quit in the young Cubs team." By any measure that is a positive observation.

IMPROVEMENT NEEDED
Loyola's run game mustered only 46 net yards (including sacks and bad snaps). The offensive line, with three new starters, needs to take a step up going forward. Sophomore tailback SEAN MORRIS ran hard and came close to breaking a couple of long distance runs.

The Cub 'Wolfpack' defense gave up 220 passing yards by Damien's electric sophomore quarterback. Loyola must shore up its pass defense as it will face some outstanding throwing teams in its remaining nine regular season games starting this week.

The Big Blue special teams did not have an auspicious debut. Damien had a 40-yard punt return for a TD, and did well returning kickoffs. As they say, special teams are a third of the game.

The mindset of this squad bodes well for improvement in the areas that need it. The talent on hand is certainly capable of ascension.

A LOOK AT CULVER CITY
Culver City head coach Jahmal Wright welcomed back 14 starters from his 2022 squad that lost twice to the Cubs in hotly contested, down-to-the-wire contests last season.

The Centaurs served notice on Friday that their offense is beyond potent, as they amassed 600 yards of total offense and scored 72 points against San Jacinto, the defending CIF Division 6 champion, on the road in their season opener.

Senior quarterback Sammy Silvia (6-3, 195), who completed 60 per cent of his passes for 2,743 yards last season, had a monster evening against the Tigers, garnering 390 yards through the air.

Silvia is the benefiary of two outstanding receiving targets, junior twins Myles (6-1, 180, 4.8 40) and Braylon Singleton (6-2, 180), both of whom project as future FBS scholarship players. The duo combined for 1,537 receiving yards last season. 

Culver City churned out 210 rushing yards against San Jacinto with the help of a massive offensive line led by strong man Keenan Carter (6-1, 290), a FBS scholarship prospect.

The Centaur defense relinquished 63 points to the Tigers in the shootout on Friday and was victimized to the tune of 548 yards of total offense (221 yards passing, 327 yards rushing). The top defender for Culver City is scholarship candidate J. R. Kirkwood, a fast and tough 6-3, 210 lb. linebacker.

GAME OUTLOOK
For Loyola to prevail two things must happen. The Cubs will need to shut down the Centaurs' rushing attack to make them one dimensional, and run the football successfully. If Culver City is allowed to rack up substantial yards in both the run and pass game, it will be tough for Loyola to notch the win.

The outcome of this contest in large measure will be determined by the play of the Cubs' offensive line and the ability of the 'Wolfpack' to stop the run. 

The Centaurs will enter Smith Field with revenge on their minds after two heart breaking losses to Loyola a year ago. 

THE SERIES
Culver City and Loyola have met on the gridiron three times. The Cubs hold a 3-0 record in the series. Loyola blasted the Centaurs 62-21 in the teams' first meeting at Smith Field in 2021 in a non-league contest.

Last season, Loyola defeated Culver City twice, 24-19 in a non-league tilt, and 17-14 in a come-from-behind victory in the quarterfinal round of the CIF Division 6 playoffs. Both games were played at the Centaurs' home stadium.
 

SUPPORT CUB FOOTBALL - JOIN THE LOYOLA GRIDIRON VANGUARD
The Vanguard provides much needed financial assistance and volunteer support to Loyola’s football program.

The link below provides sign-up information. The Vanguard’s goal is to grow to over 1,500 members this fall.

PRE-GAME MEETING PLACE

Loyola parents, alumni, and supporters  will be meeting at El Cholo before the Culver City game at 4:30 p.m.

2023 LOYOLA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE/RESULTS

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)

CUBS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

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 (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)
JUSTIN MURRAY '22, LB (Santa Monica College)
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)
WILKE WILES '23, WR (University of Chicago) 
HOLMES WORMALD '23, TE (Merchant Marine Academy)
CEYAIR WRIGHT ‘21, DB ( USC)
SAM YOON ‘22, OL (UCLA)