Strong opening helps Loyola keep St. Ignatius at bay

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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