LOYOLA KEEPS KNOCKING ’EM DOWN
ANOTHER OPPONENT ON short NOTICE, Another WIN AS RAMBLERS MOVE TO 5-0
There will be no playoffs in this pandemic-shortened football season, but it might feel otherwise to Loyola. The No. 1 Ramblers are navigating their way through the state’s toughest schedule — six straight ranked opponents — with matchups materializing only days in advance against opponents they’ve rarely seen, if ever.
Loyola passed another test Friday, shutting out No. 25 Phillips 30-0 in an unusual afternoon home game behind another dominating performance by running back Vaughn Pemberton and the defense.
Playing only every other series, Pemberton nonetheless piled up more than 100 yards of total offense: 10 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 11 yards.
Aidan Brownlee scored on an end-around, and quarterbacks JT Thomas and Jake Stearney each threw a touchdown pass for Loyola (5-0).
Hillcrest and Phillips were last-minute schedule additions when the Ramblers’ original Week 4 and 5 opponents were unavailable. Had they not stepped in, Loyola would have had three weeks off before playing Marist in the regular-season and Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference Blue finale next Friday.
“When we got Phillips scheduled, we were all really happy,” Pemberton said. “I got the Hudl message from coach [John] Holecek when I was in my bed. I was like, ‘Oh! I’m playing a game.’ ”
There was a bittersweet aspect, Pemberton said. Besides it being the seniors’ last home game, it came days after Ramblers tight end James Kyle announced on Twitter that his football career was over because of health issues.
“We don’t take any of these for granted,” said Pemberton, who, like his teammates, wrote Kyle’s uniform number (81) on his wrist.
Holecek didn’t take playing for granted, either.
“Very nice of Hillcrest and [Phillips coach] Troy [McAllister] to pick us up,” he said. “Both [coaches] said, ‘This helps our program.’ What was I going to do, take two weeks off to get ready for my Week 6 [game]?”
Linebacker Braden Mullen and lineman Brandon Svets paced Loyola’s defense. Mullen had an interception and a sack; Svets had two sacks.
The Ramblers’ edge in experience and preparation showed against Phillips (2-1).
“I feel bad for these guys because they just got started,” Holecek said of the Wildcats. “[Chicago Public Schools] tied their hands completely. We had 20 [contact days] in the summer, 20 in the fall, and then, starting in January, a little bit. We can do a lot more than these guys can do.”
That’s the goal every time the Ramblers step on the field in this six-game season, defensive back Marty Auer said.
“We think we’re the best team in the state,” he said. “We have to prove it one more week.”
Loyola couldn’t look past anyone, given its loaded schedule. But it’s safe to say the finale at Marist always was in the back of the Ramblers’ minds.
“This team beat us at home twice last [season], so we have something to prove,” Auer said. “Yeah, it is our Super Bowl.”
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