Ramblers reserving their spot again
Safety Jake Gonzalez and wide receiver Noah Jones have had very different high school football careers at Loyola. Gonzalez has been a rock, starting 28 consecutive games, while Jones has battled injuries the last two years while flashing tremendous potential.
The two seniors will be a major part of Loyola’s drive to reach the Class 8A state championship game for a fourth consecutive time. The Ramblers lost the last two years after winning in 2015. Coach John Holecek has guided Loyola to the title game in five of the last seven seasons.
“It’s all history — it doesn’t matter,” Holecek said. “I tell them they haven’t earned anything yet. We do it through hard work and repetition and doing the right things. Every year, it’s the same, so let’s embrace the expectations and run with it.”
Gonzalez, who has committed to Penn and is also an excellent hockey player, is on track to end his high school career as the leading tackler in school history.
“I’m excited for the challenge to make it back [to the title game] and try and win this time,” he said. “We know how hard it is to make it there. We just need to push a little harder to win it.”
Jack Fallon, who played in the game against New Trier last season, is expected to step in as starting quarterback.
“[Fallon] is looking good, but there’s a learning curve,” Holecek said. “His backup, Matthew Schiltz, is doing well, too, so we’ll see.”
There are plenty of other weapons on offense. Jones, who has more than a dozen scholarship offers, and fellow wide receiver Rory Boos are breakout talents. Each caught eight passes in the title-game loss against Lincoln-Way East last November. “We’re hoping those legs are going to carry [Jones] through the season without any problems,” Holecek said. “If he doesn’t have an injured year, he’ll be a fantastic high school football player.”
Junior running Trevor Cabanban was one of the area’s most exciting players last season.
“He is so special,” Holecek said. “I hope we can block for him efficiently, because when you get him in space, he is really tough. He’s got everything — the vision, the patience, the acceleration. For a little guy, he’ll put his shoulder down and run through some tackles, too.”
Linebackers Armoni Dixon and Patrick Daniels return to help out Gonzalez on the defense.
“There’s a lot of anger, a lot of drive to come into the preseason [after the loss in the title game],” Dixon said. “Every year, Loyola is a powerhouse. We’re a household name. We kind of want that. It gets us going, basically.”
The Ramblers opened last season with a loss to Phillips at Gately. The two powerhouse programs were originally expected to meet in Wilmette this season, but that game hasn’t materialized. Loyola will play at Rockford, Michigan, in Week 1.
“It will be fun,” Jones said. “It’s always good to go on the road with the team. It’s a good team bonding experience, for sure.”
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