Loyola Academy sophomore Melo Maldonado caught the opening kickoff from St. Ignatius on Saturday and sped 86 yards down the right sideline to the end zone, but the apparent touchdown was wiped out because of a penalty.

Maldonado and his teammates shrugged it off.

The Ramblers promptly drove 92 yards for a touchdown, and fittingly it was scored by Maldonado on a 58-yard run down the right sideline.

They then scored on their next three possessions to gain a commanding first-half lead and went on to a 28-7 senior day victory that enabled them to capture the Jesuit Cup on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 4, at Hoerster Field.

The next first-quarter touchdown came on a 46-yard pass play with sophomore Matthew Lee throwing to junior Joe Haughey on the first play after a punt went out of bounds.

In the second quarter, Lee tossed a 1-yard pass to sophomore Jordan McKinley, climaxing a 77-yard drive spearheaded by the running of sophomore Jayden Garrett, and Maldonado’s 3-yard run put the finishing touches on an 80-yard drive in which he played the most prominent role.

Senior Zak Zeman celebrated the day’s senior tribute by kicking all four extra points and sending his five kickoffs soaring into the end zone for touchbacks that forced the visitors from Chicago to start from their 20-yard line.

The first half ended with a big play on defense: the Ramblers swarming to block a 42-yard field goal attempt.

“That first half was amazing,” said Loyola senior defensive back Lucas Savaiano after the winners of the last three IHSA Class 8A championships improved their record to 4-1, while St. Ignatius slipped to 2-4. “I wish we could have kept going but we didn’t have as many opportunities with the ball (in the second half).”

Coach Beau Desherow thought the opening kickoff return sent the message that the Ramblers had been composing at their practices during the week.

“We were looking at it all week and we thought we were going to get it,” he said of Maldonado’s breakaway that was called back.

“That’s one reason we elected to receive (after winning the coin flip). It’s unfortunate that there was a block in the back (erasing the touchdown).

“We wanted that early lead because when they have the football they control the clock with their option plays. That’s what they do and they do a great job with what they’ve got.”

In the second half, option plays gave the Wolfpack the yardage it needed to control the football but the Ramblers’ lead was unsurmountable.

St. Ignatius could not get on the scoreboard until 9 minutes 42 seconds remained in the game when Connor Hites carried a fourth down pitchout 3 yards to the end zone and Thomas Cilella kicked the extra point.

An onside kick gave the Ramblers the football at their 45 and now, with their second stringers on the field, they were the ones who controlled the clock.

“Going into the game we knew we had to be physical and capitalize on our possessions,” said senior tight end Chase Williamson.

“We did our job on offense and it was fun,” Maldonado said.

Fellow sophomores Garrett and Maldonado complement one another. After being injured and seeing limited action early in the season, Garrett has been a conspicuous contributor in the last two games. 

“It’s a different pace than (junior varsity) and the playbook is a lot different,” he said.

The diversity found in the playbook was evident in this game.

Maldonado rushed 9 times for 116 yards, Garrett carried 4 times for 34 yards and senior Owen Lamb gained 25 yards in 7 runs on the Ramblers’ final possession.

Lee was 9-for 17 for 106 yards passing and junior Dom Maloney, who replaced him in the fourth quarter, was 4-for-6 for 33 yards.

Senior Robert Clingan was the most effective receiver with five catches for 50 yards and McKinley had three receptions for 27 yards.

Desherow praised the defensive unit for containing the Wolfpack. Senior linemen Chris Evangelides, Kai Calcutt and Nick Richter were in the forefront.

The Loyola coach also raved about the play of junior linebacker Will Mettee: “Holy cow! He was all over the place making tackles again today!”

Junior Gus Vollmer is another junior linebacker who has a promising future.

“With their triple option it was assignment football and I think we all got our jobs done today,” said the son of Matt Vollmer, who played college football at New Hampshire. “I’m not getting as much playing time as I did on junior varsity last year but I’m making the most of it when I’m out there.”

Now that the Ramblers have gotten their act together with two compelling conquests in the friendly confines of Hoerster Field after losing 28-6 at Brother Rice, they’re taking it back on the road for a game in south-suburban New Lenox at Providence Catholic (4-2) on Friday night, Oct. 10.

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An early mistake can put you behind the 8-ball. Several miscues against one of the state’s best? That’s sure to bury you in the pocket.

The Maine South Hawks took full advantage of a sluggish start from New Trier football, hanging 21 straight points on the Trevians in the game’s first 13 minutes en route to a lopsided 35-7 win on Friday, Oct. 3, on Robert Naughton Field in Northfield.

New Trier turned the ball over on each of its first four drives of the game (two turnovers-on-down and two interceptions), allowing the Hawks to build a sizable early advantage that the Trevians could not overcome.

“We didn’t play well enough to win a game tonight and we didn’t play good enough to be competitive throughout the game, which we need to do,” New Trier head coach Brian Doll said. 

“I think it just comes down to execution,” Doll later added. “We did not execute well, we did not play well, and just a lot of things went wrong. It had a bad feel right from the first five or six minutes and you can’t have that happen against a good football team.” 

How it happened 

Maine South wasted no time starting the scoring Friday night. After returning the opening kick-off to New Trier’s 44-yard line, the Hawks went on a seven-play scoring drive that was finished off on a 1-yard run by their star quarterback Jameson Purcell. 

The Trevs drove the ball to just outside the Hawks’ red zone on their first series but could not convert a fourth-and-4 attempt.

After taking over at New Trier’s 28, it took only a couple of plays for Maine South to move the ball inside Trevians territory. The Hawks then found the end zone for a second time when Purcell fired a 37-yard touchdown strike to put South up 14-0 10 minutes into the game.

The game script went from bad to worse for New Trier on the next series when the Hawks’ Fintan Lennon intercepted a New Trier pass and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown. Lennon also intercepted another pass later in the first half as well.

New Trier got on the board late in the second quarter when backup quarterback Marco Black, who also is a starter in the defensive backfield for the Trevs, tossed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Emmett Koshkarian. Black entered the game as quarterback for one play after starting quarterback Jackie Ryder’s helmet came off on the prior play, forcing him to sit a play, per state rules.

The late-half score appeared to set New Trier up with an opportunity to close the gap, but the Hawks had other ideas. Maine South took the ball 71 yards in under two minutes to take a 28-7 lead into halftime.

Purcell threw for 66 yards on that drive alone and he again capped the series with a 1-yard touchdown run. 

Maine South embarked on an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter to add on to its lead. Running back Niko Kokosioulis scampered to the end zone from 20 yards out to put the Hawks up by the eventual final score of 35-7. 

“I think that (for us) tonight, the moment was a little bigger than some kids were able to handle,” Doll said. 

“This is the first time I’ve seen (this group) freeze a little bit,” he later added. “We have to look at the film, talk about this as a staff and talk to our leaders — and I don’t really have a lot of answers about what went wrong tonight other than we didn’t really play well. Sometimes, you don’t play well, but … I expected a better effort. I expected, actually, a really close game tonight against them.” 

Defensively, the Trevs struggled to find a solution for the Hawks’ fierce passing attack led by Purcell. The Indiana University commit completed 17 of his 23 pass attempts for 232 yards with one touchdown throwing and two rushing.

It was the second time in three weeks that New Trier faced an opposing quarterback (Fremd’s Johnny O’Brien) who’s headed to play in the Big Ten, one of the nation’s best collegiate football conferences. 

“Jameson and Johnny O’Brien are great quarterbacks that we’ve seen this year and that’s why they’re going to play at Big 10 schools,” Doll said.

New Trier finished the evening with just over 250 yards of total offense (164 passing, 91 rushing) but its inability to convert on key downs proved to be especially costly during the Week 6 matchup.

New Trier was unsuccessful on all four of its fourth-down attempts. Those plays, along with a pair of interceptions, accounted for the Trevs’ season-high six turnovers. 

Koshkarian led the way for New Trier with five receptions for 71 yards. Luke Mastros hauled in two passes for 49 yards. Running back Declan O’Meara had 53 yards rushing while Alex Rafeedie also chipped in 25 yards on the ground. 

Evanston on deck

After three straight games at home, New Trier will head back on the road next Saturday for a 1 p.m. showdown with its rival, the Evanston Wildkits. 

Doll said he told the team the Week 7 game is a “must-win” for the Trevs as New Trier enters the contest needing to win two of its final three games to qualify for the state playoffs. 

“We’re going to be excited to go over there,” he said. “It’s a great rivalry, it’s still one of the longest ones in the state of Illinois and we’ll be excited to play them at their home. Anybody who’s ever been to a New Trier-Evanston game knows there’s a lot of fireworks in them, so we know we’re going to get their best and they know they’re going to get our best.”

The Wildkits have dropped five consecutive games after an opening-week win over Niles North. But New Trier is not overlooking Evanston one bit as the Wildkits have defeated the Trevians each of the last two seasons.

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Lilly Cimaroli is a senior center midfielder for the Trevians. She is an All-State and All-America selection who competed with the U16 national team for three years. Cimaroli will continue playing for Princeton University.

1. Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

Not too many. There are certain songs I like to listen to and I’m usually the one who connects to the speaker in the locker room. I go through warmups and passing with the same person, Avery (Haleck) every time. We have the same set warmup every game … and I like to do the same things at the same point of warmups. So more routines than superstitions.

2. Why Princeton?

First and foremost, the level of academics I’m able to obtain going there, while also being able to compete at a very high athletic level — Princeton is (seventh) in the country — so being able to be set up for the future and have that balance. Also getting to know the girls on the team and everyone else, I saw myself in those people and being surrounded by people with similar interests was a big selling point for me.

3. When did you get started with field hockey?

I started playing when I was like 6 years old. One of my parent’s really good friends played field hockey and lacrosse at Johns Hopkins and introduced to the spot. My dad signed me up one summer for a clinic and from there I kept playing. … It’s crazy that I’m still playing at that club (Windy City Field Hockey).

4. When did you know field hockey was your thing?

I played competitive soccer for a really long time and would usually would play soccer and field hockey simultaneously. Then in the middle eighth grade I made the Team USA junior team and was like OK maybe I’ll pursue field hockey and there’s a future in this. I was getting more national recognition and it clicked for me and my family, like maybe this is something I should pursue.

5. What’s been your top sports moment so far?

When I was a sophomore in high school, it was my third year on the U16 national team, and I got the privilege to be the captain of that team. We got to go to the Netherlands and I had that honor. Being involved with the USA program for so long and going into recruiting and getting that leadership role, was the culmination of my efforts those three years.

6. What’s your favorite thing to do off the field?

I like to spend time with friends and hang out, but I really like to listen to music and going to concerts and sports games. I do have a busy schedule, so to take time with friends and family and disconnect is something I value a lot.

7. What is your dream job?

I’m not sure. I definitely want to do something with problem solving and numbers, and every so often I mention maybe I would like to work for the CIA and do strategy. I definitely want to do something with problem solving and helping people as well and contributing to our world.

8. If you’re in Walgreens with a couple bucks, what are you buying?

I really like fun drinks, so I’d find a fun drink, like a Poppi or Body Armor. I also love facemasks, like a skin-care masks, so a fun drink and facemask and have a fun, chill night.

9. What is something people don’t know about you?

Maybe that I really like music and I have a knack for learning lyrics really quickly. I love music and want to learn more about it. It’s not something I’d want to go into but I am really interested in music.

10. What will it take for this team to win another state title?

I think to get to another state title a lot is going to be our team having confidence in ourselves. We’ve proved we are capable of stepping up and embracing hard challenges when we need to. So it’s just recognizing we are capable, and let’s have confidence in ourselves and embrace these challenges. Everybody on the team has skills and decision-making ability. It’s taking the skills and being able to execute in big moments.

I’m looking forward to these playoffs and seeing how we do. I’m excited for the opportunities in front of us.

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