Week 8 Football Preview

 

LOYOLA RAMBLERS (5-2) at MARIAN CENTRAL HURRICANES (4-3) 

7 p.m, Friday, October 18 at George Harding Field

 

 

RamblerStream: 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: Darren Fortin, 1st season

Conference: Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference Purple

2018: 3-6, 1-6 East Suburban Catholic Conference

 

 

 

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

October 18 at MARIAN CENTRAL, 7 p.m.

October 26 vs. Marist, 1 p.m.

 

 

W Johnsburg 3-0

W Lindblom 38-0

W Marian Catholic 21-0

L St. Viator 28-21

L St. Rita 44-10

W Carmel 28-14

L St. Ignatius 24-13

October 18 vs. LOYOLA, 7 p.m.

October 25 vs. St. Patrick, 7:30 p.m.

 

 

(conference, overall)

 

Mount Carmel 2-0, 7-0

Loyola 1-1, 5-2

Brother Rice 1-1, 4-3

Marist 0-2, 3-4

 

 

Notre Dame 2-0, 7-0

Montini 1-1, 5-2

St. Rita 1-1, 4-3

Providence0-2, 5-2

 

 

Benet 2-0, 6-1

Nazareth 2-0, 6-1

St. Laurence 0-2, 4-3

De La Salle 0-2, 3-4

 

 

St. Viator 2-0, 4-3

Marian Central 1-1, 4-3

St. Patrick 1-1, 2-5

Carmel 0-2, 1-6

 

 

Marian Catholic 2-0, 4-3

Leo 2-0, 3-4

DePaul Prep 0-2, 2-5

St. Joseph 0-2, 1-6

 

 

Joliet Catholic 2-0, 4-3

Marmion 1-1, 5-2

Fenwick 1-1, 4-3

St. Ignatius 0-2, 3-4

 

 

 

Anthony Kozlowski Sr LB

 

The 6-2, 195-pound middle linebacker was a force in Saturday’s 46-14 win over Benet, finishing with a team-best nine tackles. Kozlowski leads the Ramblers with 72 tackles to go with two pass break-ups.  

 

Braden Mullen Jr LB

 

Mullen has stepped up to help solidify the linebacking unit. The 6-3, 195-pounder had six tackles and two pass break-ups Saturday. For the season, Mullen has 25 tackles, including two for loss, and one quarterback hurry. 

 

Matty Mangan Sr WR

 

The team’s go-to pass-catcher had one of his most productive games of the season Saturday. He caught three passes for 35 yards and scored two TDs. He leads Loyola in receptions (18), receiving yards (311) and receiving TDs (6). 

 

Nate Van Zelst Jr K/P 

 

One of the top kickers in the country for the Class of 2021, Van Zelst converted a 48-yard field goal Saturday. He has three field goals this season, including a career-best 49-yarder in Week 3 against St. Rita. The value of Van Zelst, who’s averaging 34.3 yards per punt, will only increase as the postseason nears. 

 

Rory Hession Jr DB, Patrick Reilly Jr DB

 

These two scout team players are instrumental in preparing the offense each week, according to senior running back Tyler Flores. “They are always going hard and hitting hard,” he said. “They help us a lot.” 

 

 

Brian Allen So OL/DL

 

Although young, the 6-3, 230-pounder already is a presence on both sides of the ball. 

 

Austin Geils Sr LB/FB

 

The inside linebacker quarterbacks the defense and also helps out in the backfield as part of Marian Central’s power running game. 

 

Brendan Hernon So QB

 

A first-year starter, the 6-1, 175-pound Hernon operates a run-heavy offense. But he threw for one TD in last week’s loss to Saint Ignatius. 

 

Luke Rogers Sr RB

 

A three-year varsity contributor, Rogers is the team’s leading rusher for the second consecutive season. 

 

Jayden Thiergood Sr OL/DL

 

The 6-3, 258-pound two-way lineman has several Division I offers, including ones from Army and Cincinnati as a defensive end. 

 

 

This is the first meeting between the two teams. 

 

 

1 — Turnovers by junior quarterback JT Thomas since taking over as the starter in Week 5. After throwing an interception in the game against Saint Ignatius, he has no turnovers in the last two games. During the three-game stretch — all victories — Thomas is 28-for-45 for 456 yards and has thrown six touchdowns and run for one. 

 

5.9 — Yards per carry for the Ramblers this season. They have nearly twice as many rushing yards (1,560) and passing yards (882). 

 

6 — Tackles for loss, including two sacks, for Loyola’s defense Saturday. Junior linebacker Liam Conaghan had two tackles for loss and one sack. He has a team-best eight tackles for loss this season. 

 

46.3 — Points per game for Ramblers during their three-game winning streak. They scored 22 points in the first quarter against Benet and led 36-0 at the half. Four players scored TDs. Senior receiver Matty Mangan and junior running back Vaughn Pemberton  both had two, while junior receiver Owen Boos and junior quarterback JT Thomas each scored once. 

 

462 — Rushing yards by junior running back Vaughn Pemberton yards over the last three games, averaging 10.3 yards per attempt. After running for 109 yards Saturday, he’s gone for 100-plus in three consecutive games and scored nine TDs. Pemberton has 79 carries for 661 yards and 12 TDs. 

 

 

Senior running back Tyler Flores is a model teammate, according to Loyola Head Coach John Holecek. After an ACL and meniscus injury to his right knee cut short his junior season, Flores returned to the field this season. He’s a member of a backfield that is averaging 222.9 yards per game. Flores is product of Edgebrook School in Chicago, along with senior running back Trevor Cabanban. 

 

The team is on a three-game winning streak after Saturday’s 46-14 victory over Benet at home. Must be a good feeling.  

 

FLORES: We are keeping our head down. We’ve been here before, and we know how to win games. This is just another week of practice and another game.

 

Was the loss to Mount Carmel ultimately a good thing for this team? 

 

FLORES: When I got to Loyola it seemed like they never lost, but we lost a few games last year. It was different, but I think it actually helped us. Being in tough games is important. Coach Holecek tells us you have to fail to succeed, and we’ve bought in to that. 

 

The ground game is hitting its stride. With only one football, what is it like to be one of several talented running backs? 

 

FLORES: We truly want each other to succeed. It might be [senior running back] Darrell Poku sharing something he saw in film with everybody. We all have the same goal. It’s competitive, but we are all pushing each other. The group we have is pretty special.

 

You were a featured back last year before suffering a season-ending injury, which sidelined you for the final nine games. What helped you get through the season?

 

FLORES: I wanted to be around my teammates. Winning, losing, starting or whatever, the biggest thing is being with your teammates. That’s what makes football special. Even though it hurt not to play, I wanted to be around them. 

 

 

The defending Class 8A state champion Ramblers are one win away from guaranteeing themselves a 17th consecutive appearance into the IHSA playoffs. Senior captain and receiver Matty Mangan said team refocused itself after the 17-14 loss to Mount Carmel in Week 4. “Something didn’t feel right with the team,” he said. “As captains, we preached to the guys about holding on tight to that loss and have it drive you. I saw a change in attitude after that game.” According to senior offensive lineman Peter Gianaris, the team has grown closer since the loss. “It’s a good bunch with good chemistry,” he said. “Our confidence is there, but we have more work to do. We are hungry for another state title.” ... The Ramblers received good news when junior offensive lineman Josh Kreutz was cleared to play last week. He missed significant time with a hand injury that could have cost him the season. Kreutz has moved to right guard, while senior James Kennedy will remain at center. Senior Christo Kelly is at left tackle, senior Gianaris is at left guard, and junior Cooper Tamisiea is at right tackle. Gianaris said the emergence of a dominant running game is a lineman’s dream. “We love that kind of blocking,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun.” ... Junior receiver Owen Boos had a 68-yard touchdown reception last week. It was his second catch of the season and first varsity TD. Boos’ older brother Rory Boos ‘19 was Loyola’s top pass-catcher last season. Rory, a captain, had 52 catches for 814 yards and 10 TDs as a senior. He’s a freshman receiver at Colgate. ... Senior captain and defensive end Luke Desherow continues to be a difference-maker. Against Benet, the 6-5, 225-pounder finished with one sack and one quarterback hurry. He has four tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hurries this year. The defense welcomed back senior linebacker Frank Schurer last week after he sat out three games due to illness. In his return, Schurer had eight tackles, including one for loss. ... Marian Central alum Liam Kirwan is an assistant coach in Loyola’s program. A 2013 graduate and former defensive lineman, he helped the Hurricanes to consecutive trips to the Class 5A quarterfinals and a combined 22-2 record as a junior and senior. ... Marian Central needs one win to become eligible for the playoffs. The Hurricanes missed the postseason last year for the first time since 2008. They looked to be in good position after shutting out their first three opponents, but they enter Week 8 having lost three of their last four games. Only one of Marian Central’s victories has come against a team with a winning record. ... The Hurricanes are led by alum Darren Fortin, who played on the school’s 1983 Class 2A state title team. He’s been a coach in the program for three decades. 

 

 

“We have an identity now. If we are struggling on offense, in a tough game, we know we can go to our running game. That’s huge. It’s nice to be able to lean on that.” — Loyola senior offensive lineman Peter Gianaris