Providence upends visiting Loyola after last-second dramatics

Loyola Academy grabbed a two-touchdown lead in the first 12 minutes Friday night in New Lenox but couldn’t hold it and lost to Providence Catholic, 21-20, in a game that went down to the final seconds.

With 20 seconds to play the Ramblers pulled within a single point on a 25-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Matthew Lee to junior wide receiver Joe Haughey.

Coach Beau Desherow tried to win the game by attempting a two-point conversion rather than having senior Zack Zeman try to send it into overtime by kicking the extra point.

The Ramblers’ attempt was foiled in the backfield.

“I just felt that after we got the ball downfield (on the 65-yard touchdown drive) that we had the momentum on our side,” Desherow said, explaining his decision. “We were banged up defensively and under overtime rules they’d have been going from our 10-yard line.

“It didn’t work out.”

Providence Catholic scored the deciding touchdown on Broden Mackert’s 3-yard run with 74 seconds remaining and fellow junior Bryce Vlasak kicked the game-winning extra-point.

The Celtics improved their record to 5-2, while the winners of the last three IHSA Class 8A state championships slipped to 4-2.

The Ramblers will play their last two regular season games back home at Hoerster Field on the next two Friday nights, meeting Carmel Catholic and then Mount Carmel on Oct. 17 and 24, respectively.

“We can beat them if we play our game,” Desherow told his team.

“Everything is still in front of us. “Our goals are still there.”

The Ramblers played their game at the outset against Providence. Starting from their 32-yard line after taking the opening kickoff, the Ramblers they grabbed the lead on their 11th play when Lee threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Jordan McKinley with 4:59 elapsed.

In the third minute of the second quarter they padded their lead when sophomore Melo Maldonado’s 5-yard run put the finishing touches on a 41-yard drive highlighted by his running.

Zeman kicked his second extra-point, putting the Celtics down 14-0.

Late in the first half, a botched Loyola punt set up Providence at the Ramblers’ 21-yard line. Three plays later Mackert ran 5 yards for the touchdown that launched the Celtics’ comeback with 2:10 remaining in the half.

The Celtics were the recipients of the kickoff that began the second half and Zeman’s boot went into the end zone for a touchback that put the football on their 20. Led by Mackert’s running and the passing of sophomore quarterback Dominic Vita, they scored 13 plays later. The TD came on Vita’s 8-yard pass to sophomore DeAngelo Coates and Vlasak kicked the extra point that tied the score at 14 with 7:18 to play in the third quarter.

Providence Catholic continued to dominate, while Loyola was unable to replicate its first half offensive prowess.

Mackert’s running was the most significant factor in the 68-yard 14-play drive for the go-ahead TD with 74 seconds on the clock.

Then, Lee’s passing spearheaded the Ramblers’ 68-yard drive that put them within a point of the home team.

“When we needed him to move the ball down the field Matthew came through,” Desherow said.

“We showed we can go through adversity and still have a chance to win,” the sophomore said. “We just have to execute our game plan and limit our mistakes — especially me. If we do that we’re going to be a great team.”

A bright spot for the Ramblers in the homestretch segment of the regular season is the emergence of Haughey as an impact player as a wide receiver.

“He got hurt in the spring,” Desherow said. “He’s a very talented kid and he has come on after missing most of the practices this summer.”

“I fractured my hip in May,” Haughey explained. “I came back in August about two weeks before the (season-opening) Merrillville game. It was tough coming back and it took me a couple of weeks to fit into my role. I feel lucky and grateful to be able to step into a role and be a starter.”

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