Week 3 Football Preview

 

ST. RITA MUSTANGS (1-1) vs. LOYOLA RAMBLERS (1-1)

1:30 p.m. Saturday, September 14 at Hoerster Field 

 

 

RamblerStream: goramblers.org/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: Todd Kuska, 22nd season (180-83)

Conference: Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference Green

2018: 7-6, 0-4 Chicago Catholic Blue

 

 

 

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

W New Trier 34-3

Sept. 14 vs. ST. RITA, 1:30 p.m. 

Sept. 20 at Mount Carmel, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 27 at St. Ignatius, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 vs. Brother Rice, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 vs. Benet, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 at Marian Central, 7 p.m.

Oct. 26 vs. Marist, 1 p.m.

 

 

W Joliet Catholic 31-14

L Richards 35-28

Saturday at LOYOLA

Sept. 20 at Montini

Sept. 27 vs. Marian Central

Oct. 4 at Providence Catholic

Oct. 11 vs. Marian Catholic

Oct. 18 vs. Benet 

Oct. 25 vs. Notre Dame

 

 

 

Trevor Cabanban, sr., RB

 

A second-year starter, Cabanban scored his first two touchdowns of the season in Saturday’s 34-3 win over New Trier. He finished with 65 yards on nine carries. 

 

Liam Conaghan, jr., LB

 

Part of a rebuilt defense, Conaghan is coming along in his first season as a starter and is a big presence at 6-3 and 225 pounds. In two games, he has two tackles for loss and one sack. 

 

Luke Desherow, sr., DL

 

The most experienced player back on defense, the 6-5, 225-pounder has one tackle for loss and three quarterback hurries. 

 

Peter Gianaris, sr., OL

 

A seasoned veteran, the 6-1, 240-pounder is one of three returning starters on the line. 

 

Christo Kelly, sr., OL

 

Experienced and versatile, the 6-3, 265-pound Kelly is an anchor on the line. He’s verbally committed to Holy Cross.  

 

Anthony Kozlowski, sr., LB

 

At 6-2 and 195 pounds, Kozlowski has the size for a middle linebacker. A first-year starter, he only will get better each game. He has 16 tackles and two pass break-ups. 

 

Marco Maldanado, so., RB

 

In a crowded backfield, Maldanado had a breakout performance in Week 2, rushing for 79 yards on 11 carries. His 104 rushing yards are first on the team. 

 

Matthew Mangan, sr., WR

 

He’s quickly established himself as a top target. The 6-3, 190-pounder leads the team in receptions (8), receiving yards (117) and receiving touchdowns (2). He had two touchdowns as a junior. 

 

Perrion McClinton, jr., QB

 

The 6-3, 175-pound varsity rookie looked more comfortable in his second start, finishing 7-for-9 for 49 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions. He showed his running ability by rushing six times for 58 yards.  

 

 

Kaleb Brown, so., RB

 

The 5-11, 185-pound playmaker is one of the top recruits in the country in his class. He has 226 rushing yards on 37 carries and four touchdowns. 

 

Michael Gaughan, jr., LB

 

A disruptor at 6-0 and 195 pounds, Gaughan has a team-best 26 tackles to go with three tackles for loss and one interception. 

 

Brian Johnson, jr., QB

 

The 6-2, 185-pound first-year starter has completed 54.3 percent of his passes for 328 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. 

 

Michael Milton, sr., DL

 

An end, the 6-0, 215-pound Milton already has three sacks. 

 

Trevor Tovey, sr., OL

 

A big body up front, the 6-2, 305-pound Tovey is responsible for creating holes for Kaleb Brown. 

 

 

2018 — Ramblers 33, St. Rita 3

2017 — Ramblers 34, St. Rita 14

2016 — Ramblers 35, St. Rita 3

2015 — Ramblers 56, St. Rita 14

2014 — Ramblers 38, St. Rita 14

2013 — St. Rita 31, Ramblers 19

2012 — Ramblers 28, St. Rita 7

2011 — Ramblers 34, St. Rita 7

2010 — Ramblers 24, St. Rita 21

2009 — Ramblers 17, St. Rita 7

2008 — Ramblers 24, St. Rita 0

2007 — St. Rita 28, Ramblers 0 (Prep Bowl playoffs)

2007 — Ramblers 28, St. Rita 17

2006 — St. Rita 35, Ramblers 14

 

 

5 — Consecutive wins by the Ramblers over the Mustangs in the series. In 13 seasons under John Holecek, Loyola is 11-3 against St. Rita. The last loss was a 31-19 defeat on the road in 2013. The Mustangs beat the Ramblers 28-0 in the Prep Bowl playoffs in 2007 and 35-14 in 2006, Holecek’s first season. 

 

6 — Minutes advantage in time of possession over its opponents after Loyola controlled the clock in its 34-3 win over New Trier. The Ramblers ran 17 more plays and held the ball for nearly seven minutes longer than the Trevians. With a brand-new defense, it’s important Loyola’s offense carries the burden early on.

 

7 — Number of first-year starting quarterbacks for the Ramblers in the last seven seasons. Junior Perrion McClinton, who edged out senior John Grogan and junior JT Thomas in the offseason, is the latest to take over under center.

 

39 — Wins against Brother Rice, Mount Carmel, Providence Catholic and St. Rita since John Holecek was hired in 2006. The Ramblers are 39-14 against those traditionally strong programs. 

 

67 — Jersey number worn by senior offensive lineman Preston Hess, one of 11 Loyola students named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. Eight of the candidates play sports. 

 

 

Loyola’s 27-10 loss to St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio) was the second time in three years the Ramblers started the season 0-1. The late John Hoerster, who led Loyola from 1987-2002 and won a Class 6A state title in 1993, famously said a team’s biggest improvement came between the first and second games. There’s evidence the Ramblers got better, but there’s plenty more work to do, according to Head Coach John Holecek. “It’s hard to really say because the opponents were completely different, but we ran the ball well and gave up less points,” he said. “There were still mistakes out on the field that young guys make. Hopefully, we are learning and will continue to progress going forward.” ... This was the sixth time in seven years the Ramblers started the season with an out-of-state opponent. They are 5-1 in those matchups. Loyola is one of five teams outside of Ohio on St. Ignatius’ schedule. The Wildcats play two teams from Canada. ... Loyola controlled all aspects of the game in its 34-3 win over New Trier. The Ramblers ran for 289 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per attempt. They averaged 5.9 yards per play, up from 4.0 against St. Ignatius. Junior quarterback Perrion McClinton was efficient and effective in his second start. Most importantly, he didn't turn over the ball. “I was much more comfortable out there,” he said. Senior John Grogan and junior JT Thomas both saw playing time under center in Week 2. Thomas went 3-for-4 for 17 yards. Grogan was 2-for-2 for eight yards. Senior receiver Matt Mangan caught five passes for 40 yards and two touchdowns. Six other players had at least one reception. Loyola went 3-for-3 on fourth-down conversions and is 4-or-5 this season. The defense held the Trevians to 165 yards (3.7 yards per play), limiting them to 53 yards on the ground. The Ramblers forced three turnovers. ... Loyola will celebrate the 50th-year reunion of the ’69 graduates Saturday. Loyola Vice President of Alumni and Network Engagement Marty Jennings ’98 said he expects former football players John Dore, Ken Nelson, Mike O’Rourke and Jack Spellman to be in attendance. The 1969 team, coached by the late Bob Spoo, went 11-0 and beat Lane Tech 26-0 to win the Prep Bowl. Dore, O’Rourke and Spellman are in Loyola’s Hall of Fame. ... St. Rita sophomore Kaleb Brown is a dynamic athlete with potential to break a big play every time he has the ball. As a freshman, Brown earned three medals at the Class 2A state track and field meet. According to 247sports.com, he already owns four offers from Power 5 programs, including ones from Illinois and Iowa. He has totaled 300 yards of offense, averaging 7.5 per touch. In last week’s 35-28 loss to Richards, Brown ran 22 times for 131 yards and scored three touchdowns. “He’s the go-to guy,” Loyola head coach John Holecek said. “They want to get him the ball however they can."