Holecek’s Ramblers dominate both sides of the ball in opener

Following three years of semi-retirement, John Holecek returned as Loyola Academy’s head football coach Friday night when the Ramblers opened the season by winning 31-0 at Warren.

“A great performance in the first quarter; we played sporadically in the next three,” was Holeck’s evaluation. “It’s a good start, not a great start.”

Loyola’s all-time coaching leader with 186 triumphs since his arrival in 2006, Holecek won the 2022 IHSA Class 8A championship (his fourth) the last time he was the head coach, returned as an assistant under Beau Desherow for two more state title (2023, 2024) and an out-of-character 4-5 record in 2025, and then stepped back into the head-coaching role as Desherow stepped back into an assistant coach slot, while adding a new role as the team’s general manager.

Coming off a 9-2 season, Warren was the recipient of the opening kickoff Friday and on the first play from scrimmage junior Johnny Randolph raced 45 yards to the Loyola 35.

“We were kind of shocked,” said senior linebacker Will Mettee.

It proved to be shock therapy. The Blue Devils were able to gain only three yards on their next series and the Ramblers took over on downs.

Loyola had a penchant for big plays in the first quarter and the first was a spectacular 32-yard run to the Warren 36 by junior Melo Maldonado.

Two plays later quarterback Matthew Lee connected on a 40-yard touchdown pass to fellow junior Jordan McKinley, putting the Ramblers on top with 8:38 to play in the quarter.

Before the quarter ended the Ramblers struck for two more touchdowns.

The first was on a 70-yard run by Maldondo and the second was on a 10-yard run by Jayden Garrett, another junior who splits time at running back.

Watching his kid brother play high school football for the first time was Marco Maldonado, who graduated from Colgate this year after concluding his Loyola career in 2021 by rushing for a school record 335 yards in 38 carries, scoring four touchdowns in a win at Brother Rice.

That was the fourth game of the 2021 fall season and Marco was sidelined for the duration because of a broken collarbone he sustained in the final minute.

“I wanted to make (Marco) proud, and I wanted to put on a show for our family,” Melo said. “Jayden also played a very strong game. I think we make a great combination.”

“Melo is a smaller back who is very shifty and I’m more of a big back,” agreed the 205-pound Garrett. “Today I think I played better than I did in any of my games last year.”

Maldonado finished with 135 yards in eight carries, while Garrett had 104 yards in 12 carries.

With 4:41 to play in the second quarter senior Ryan Edwards’ 22-yard field goal increased the Loyola lead to 24-0.

Following a scoreless third quarter, with 10:25 remaining in the game a 42-yard touchdown pass from Lee to McKinley and Edwards’ fourth extra point kick put the finishing offensive touches on the lopsided victory.

“We felt we could run the ball and our running backs did what they had to do,” Lee said. “We stuck to our game plan and had a well-balanced offense.

“Jordan is big (6-3 and 215 pounds) and he has speed. We teamed up a lot last season and I feel very confident when I make a deep throw to him.”

“Tonight it was just reading the defense,” McKinley said of his two TD receptions. “Matthew made the right read and I made the right read.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the football, the Ramblers flaunted their physicality.

“We cleaned it up after that big play by them at the start,” Mettee said. “Being physical was what we focused on, and we were dominant.”

Last season the Ramblers were an exceptionally young team and the experience Mettee, Maldonado, Garrett, Lee and McKinley acquired while playing prominent roles manifested itself in the opener.

Loyola will be back on the road in Week 2, playing on Friday night, Aug. 28, at Cathedral of Indianapolis, which lost its opening game 33-27 at another Indianapolis school Ben Davis.

“We’re going into a lion’s den,” Holecek warned his players. “They’re a good team and it’s a strong program. We have a lot to clean up. We have to get better.”

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