LOYOLA RAMBLERS (7-3) vs. GLENBARD WEST HILLTOPPPERS (10-0)

1 p.m. Saturday at Hoerster Field

 

 

Live-stream: https://www.goramblers.org/news--media/ramblerstream#

Twitter: @LAGoRamblers

 

 

 

Head Coach: John Holecek, 14th season (146-30)

Captains: Luke Desherow, sr., Christo Kelly, sr., Matthew Mangan, sr., Jack Nimesheim, sr.

Conference: Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference Blue

2018: 11-3, 2-2 Chicago Catholic Blue, Class 8A State Champions

 

 

Head Coach: Chad Hetlet, 13th season (129-21)

Conference: West Suburban Conference Silver

2018: 8-3, 5-1 West Suburban Conference Silver, Lost in Class 8A second round

 

 

 

L St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio) 27-10

W New Trier 34-3

W St. Rita 24-7

L Mount Carmel 17-14

W St. Ignatius 58-6

W Brother Rice 35-14

W Benet 46-14

W Marian Central 52-0

L Marist 14-6

W Maine South 14-6

 

 

W Maine South 45-28

W Leyden 55-8

W Proviso West 59-0

W Addison Trail 49-0

W York 47-7

W Downers Grove North 55-7

W Lyons 42-0

W Hinsdale Central 20-17

W Oak Park-River Forest 42-0

W Downers Grove South 48-2

 

 

 

Marty Auer Jr DB

 

After showcasing his playmaking ability in Week 4’s loss to Mount Carmel, Auer continues to find ways to positively affect games. In Saturday’s 14-6 win over Maine South, he blocked a field goal and intercepted a pass at Loyola’s 1-yard line. For the season, he has three interceptions, two blocked field goals and two pass break-ups.

 

Artis Benjamin Jr DB

 

Loyola’s secondary got a lift when Benjamin returned from an injury he suffered against the Caravan. In limited action, the cornerback is second on the team with six pass break-ups. Benjamin, along with senior Kyle Zupec, gives the Ramblers two talented cornerbacks.

 

James Kennedy Sr OL

 

An invaluable member of the line, Kennedy switched from guard to center early in the season when junior Josh Kreutz got hurt. Kennedy’s been a key contributor to an offense that averages 209.1 rushing yards a game.

 

James Kyle So TE

 

A big target at 6-5 and 220 pounds, Kyle secured Saturday’s win with his 32-yard TD catch with 1 minute, 3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. It was his eighth reception and second TD of the season.

 

JT Thomas Jr QB

 

Since Thomas took over as the starter in Week 5, the Ramblers are 5-1. He improved to 3-0 on the road after Saturday’s 14-6 win against Maine South. For the season, Thomas has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 1,087 yards. He’s thrown 12 TDs and run for two. As the starter, Thomas has only two interceptions in 109 passes.

 

 

Greyson Metz Sr LB

 

An outside linebacker, the 6-3, 185-pound Metz, who owns several Division I offers, is a leader on a defense that causes trouble for opposing offenses. The Hilltoppers are allowing 6.9 points a game.

 

Sean Michel Jr DB

 

A starter as a sophomore, the 6-1, 185-pound safety is a game-changer in the secondary for the Hilltoppers.

 

Jalen Moore Jr RB

 

In his first varsity season, the 5-10, 187-pound Moore has established himself as one of the team’s top offensive options. One of four primary ball-carriers — along with Joey Richmond, Nic Seifert and Samson Zander — he’s rushed for 1,157 yards and 13 TDs, averaging 9.3 yards per carry.

 

Nic Seifert Sr RB

 

The 6-foot, 200-pound fullback Seifert ran for 124 yards and two TDs in Saturday’s 48-2 win over Downers Grove South. Glenbard West finished with 374 yards on the ground and has more than 3,000 rushing yards this season.

 

 

2016 — Ramblers 42, Glenbard West 13 (Class 8A state semifinals)

 

 

0 — Offensive touchdowns surrendered by the Ramblers in the last two games against Maine South, which is known for scoring points. The only time the Hawks got into the end zone in Saturday’s 14-6 loss was on a fumble recovery. Loyola beat Maine South 17-0 last year in the quarterfinals of the Class 8A playoffs.

 

5 — Games in which the Hilltoppers haven’t allowed a touchdown. They have four shutouts and have held eight teams to eight points or less this season. Conversely, Glenbard West has scored 42 or more points nine times.

 

7 — Undefeated regular seasons out of 14 for Glenbard West under Head Coach Chad Hetlet. He’s led the Hilltoppers to two Class 7A State Championships since 2012.

 

8 — Consecutive wins for Ramblers in the state playoffs on an opponent’s home field after Saturday’s victory in Park Ridge. The last true road loss was in 2014 when Stevenson beat Loyola 24-21 in the second round. The Patriots went on to capture the Class 8A State Championship to cap an undefeated season.

 

45.9 — Percentage of third downs the Ramblers have converted into first downs this season. After going 8-for-13 against Maine South, they are 51-for-111 in 10 games. Loyola is 10-for-18 on fourth downs.

 

 

JT Thomas is the first Loyola junior since Malcolm Weaver ’12 to start at quarterback in the postseason when he lined up under center Saturday against Maine South in the first round of the Class 8A state playoffs. In the 14-6 victory on the road, Thomas rallied the Ramblers by throwing two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. He finished 16-for-25 for 189 yards and didn’t turn over the ball. Thomas is Loyola’s sixth starting signal-caller from Glenview’s Our Lady of Perpetual Help since 2012, joining Peter Pujals, Jack Penn, Emmett Clifford, Quinn Boyle and Jack Fallon.

 

You’ve come a long way since Week 4 when you got your first significant playing time. What was it like starting the second half on the road against Mount Carmel?

 

THOMAS: I was definitely nervous, but I didn’t let the nerves take over. I told myself this is what I’ve been working for. I had to play how I knew how to play.

 

How have you grown since then?

 

THOMAS: I’m more comfortable out there. I’ve played in big games now. I’m more confident, and that stems from the coaches, the offensive line, my teammates. I try to focus on my job and what I have to do.

 

You missed your entire freshman season with a knee injury, one of two you suffered before high school. What did you learn from those setbacks?

 

THOMAS: I think I’m mentally strong. I’ve had things not go my way, but that taught me to never give up and to keep working hard. It’s helped me in terms of leadership, especially this season.

 

All three losses have come to quality teams. Of Loyola’s eight in-state opponents, seven qualified for the postseason and four are in the second round. Has the difficult schedule benefitted the team?

 

THOMAS: It hurt losing to Marist at home, but it increased our drive. We never want to lose, but we can’t sulk about it. Every one of the losses brought out our flaws, and we’ve made corrections to get better.

 

Our Lady of Perpetual Help has been a quarterback pipeline for the Ramblers in recent years. What does it mean to you to carry on that tradition?

 

THOMAS: It feels great to part of the legacy. I trained with Quinn [Boyle ’18] in grade school, and he was someone I’ve looked up to. Jack [Fallon ’19] was another one who gave me great advice. They are a bunch of good guys who look out for each other.

 

 

The Ramblers are in the second round of the Class 8A state playoffs for the 13th consecutive season after Saturday’s 14-6 win over Maine South on the road. Loyola has advanced to the Class 8A state finals the last four years. A potential rematch with Marist looms in the quarterfinals. The RedHawks, who beat the Ramblers in Week 9, earned a 49-7 win over Glenbard East in the first round. They host Huntley this weekend. ... Loyola and Marist are two of 12 CCL/ESCC teams still alive in the top four classes. The conference went 4-0 in Class 8A, 2-1 in Class 7A, 1-1 in Class 6A and 5-2 in Class 5A. Brother Rice and Notre Dame join the Ramblers and RedHawks in the second round of the Class 8A bracket. ... Junior running back Vaughn Pemberton, Loyola’s leading rusher, missed the playoff opener with an injury. It was the third game he didn’t play this season. He also sat out against Marian Central and New Trier. Pemberton has run for 685 yards, averaging 8.0 yards per attempt, and 12 TDs in seven games. Seniors Tyler Flores and Trevor Cabanban carried the load Saturday. Flores finished with 71 yards on 17 rushes, while Cabanban ran 15 times for 57 yards. ... For the second game this year, senior receiver Matty Mangan caught more than 100 yards worth of passes. On Saturday, he finished with a season-high nine receptions for a season-high 116 yards and one TD. Mangan, who’s caught at least one pass all 10 games, has 32 receptions, 479 yards and seven TDs. “The coaches have stressed to the quarterbacks to give him a chance to catch the ball,” Loyola junior quarterback JT Thomas said. “More often than not, he will come down with it. It’s huge to have someone like him on your team.” ... Junior safety Marty Auer was one of many difference-makers on defense. Senior cornerback Kyle Zupec forced the fumble that set up Loyola’s first touchdown, which gave the Ramblers the go-ahead lead. ... Although the Ramblers didn’t get the shutout, it was the third time they kept an opposing offense out of the end zone. Maine South scored its TD on a fumble recovery early in the fourth quarter. It was the lowest point total for the Hawks this year. They had scored at least 28 in eight of nine games during regular season. Loyola limited Maine South 15 rushing yards on 20 attempts and 297 total yards. The Hawks were 3-for-12 on third downs. The Ramblers got a boost with the return of junior linebacker Dan Naselli, who missed the final four games of the regular season with an injury. ... Glenbard West beat only three teams during the regular season that made the playoffs, two of which lost in the first round. Its 10 opponents are a combined 45-49.

 

 

“What makes us scary is we haven’t reached our full potential.” — Loyola junior quarterback JT Thomas