D, as in downtown.
This year's game may have been the first time Serra and Loyola varsity teams played at Loyola. In the very old days in the very old Catholic League Serra battled Loyola on Sentinel Field which was used as Loyola's home field.
Last year Loyola and Serra played each other at Serra Field for the first time in many years. Serra prevailed 56-21.
This year The jury rigged field arrangements were a little uncomfortable; and it was torture to get there on a Friday night. But the playing field was first class and the lighting was good.
D, as in defense. It started out as an offensive show. Kahlil Tate scored on a 74-yard run on the third play of the game. The Cubs knew it was coming, but it came faster than they could handle. It was the defense that stole the show. On Loyola's first possession, the Cubs suffered it's first interception of the year. Kordell Ross tipped QB O'Malley's pass at the line, and Jimmy Ma'aele fielded the ricochet at the Serra 48. The offense wasn't able to turn that turnover into points, but the exchange set the scene for the next defensive gem.
On down four of Loyola possession No. 2, a hot, high snap went through O'Malley's hands. Kevin Hicks gobbled up the loose ball, which set the offense up at the Loyola 19. Tate & Co. finished the deal in four plays, Tate hopping into the end zone at 6:00 in the first. PAT was good. Serra 13 - Loyola 0.
Loyola possession No. 3 was no different. On the third play, O'Malley reared back and threw an out past his intended receiver. Tyler Hall was in perfect position. Thank you and good bye: 47 yards later Hall was in the Loyola end zone. After a bad snap, Jalani Eason improvised a 2-point conversion, but the refs thought there was an ineligible receiver in the end zone. So Eric Escamilla came in and kicked for one extra point from 8 yards out. Serra 20- Loyola 0. Five minutes left in the first quarter.
But it was not going to be that easy for 48 minutes. Loyola possession No.4 was an impressive 9-play drive that chewed up the remainder of the first quarter. Running back Drake Beasley carried the load. Serra tacklers seemed to run right past him, or slide right off if they managed to get their hands on him. Still Serra 20 - Loyola 7 going into the second quarter was okay.
Just to give the defense a little rest, the Cav offense used the first four minutes of the second quarter on a 9-play drive that ended with a highlight film Tate pass to Tyler Hall who made a highlight film catch with the Loyola safety almost inside his jersey. In fact, so far into his jersey that he drew the yellow flag. Touchdown with the penalty enforced on the kickoff. PAT good without any drama this time. Serra 27 - 7 with 9+ minutes until half time.
Judged by the last nine minutes of the second quarter, it was going to be a long night. The D just couldn't stifle the Cub running attack. Another 9 play wear-em-down march cut the lead to 13. Loyola 14 - Serra 27 with 5 minutes remaining.
The offense kept the ball for only a minute -- the Cubs having made considerable progress on the containment of one Khalil Tate. Fortunately, Loyola's was not a quick strike offense. Five plays carried the Cubs to the Serra 21, but used up nearly all the remaining clock. The Cavs stiffened, and after a three successive time outs, the Cubs elected to kick a field goal with 40 seconds remaining. Half time score Serra 27 - Loyola 17. Loyola had erased ten of Serra's 20-point lead.
The newspapers were impressed with the three successive turnovers in the
first quarter. But it was the second half when the D showed up as Decisive.
Loyola got the first possession. Three and out. It wasn't the replay-highlight film kind of defense. It was the play-after-play smothering defense that doesn't single out one or two players, but singles out the unit.
Loyola had four possessions in the second half yielding nothing: a shut out. As a measure of the change from first half to second; Beasley carried the ball 17 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns. In the second half, he had only 22 yards. With the game won, the defense enjoyed a little frosting on the cake. Two minutes remained to play, the butter in the icebox was getting hard, Serra was driving down the field, using up clock and looking to score again. In a brilliant con, Tate threw a desperation pass toward the Loyola endzone. It was intercepted. Better than a punt. Loyola pinned at its own six.
The D wasn't content to play patty-cake 'til the clock ran out. On the first play, O'Malley's pass was batted down by the pass rush. On the second, O'Malley was cornered in the Loyola end zone, forcing a fumble. Walter Webb recovered for a jello-jiggling touchdown. Serra 33 - Loyola 17. The final two points resulted from the continuing PAT drama: the snap was low again, Eason couldn't handle it. Our kicker, Eric Escamilla, picked up the loose ball and in a pretty good Tate imitation, plowed through a couple of Loyola tacklers for two-points. Serra 35 - Loyola 17.
While the defense guaranteed the win, it shouldn't be said that the offense was dormant in the second half. Khalil Tate had another great night, 175 yards in 27 carries with every Loyola player looking to stop him on every play; 7 for 11 passing with a touchdown and key 3-down saves. The other half of the run game which couldn't do much for three quarters finally began to click in the fourth quarter. The offense didn't score, but it kept the ball away from Loyola for most of the fourth quarter.
So, as FoxSports wrapped up and Loyola began taking down the bleachers, the Serra Cavaliers left 1-0 in League play.
