Loyola advances with authority, gets York next

Loyola Academy began the quest for its fourth IHSA Class 8A championship in five years by putting on its best performance of the season in burying Minooka 41-0 in the first round of the playoffs Friday night at Hoerster Field.

Making amends for their loss to defending Class 8A titlist Mount Carmel in the final regular season game, the Ramblers (9-1) dominated every phase of the game against the Indians (5-6).

Minooka ousted Evanston 35-21 in the opening round, while Ramblers coach John Holecek’s team used a bye week to get its act back together.

Loyola’s will be back at Hoerster Field on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 7, for a second round matchup with York (8-3), which advanced by eliminating Downers Grove South.

The Ramblers were chompin’ at the bit when they took the field Friday, and it took them less than a minute to assert themselves. On Minooka’s second play from scrimmage following a touchback, linebacker Will Mette, the Chicago Catholic League Blue’s Defensive Player of the Year, intercepted a pass thrown by Nathan Danielson and ran it back to the 1-yard line.

Following an incomplete pass, Melo Maldonado cut through the middle of the line to score the game’s first touchdown and Ryan Edwards kicked the extra point, putting the Ramblers in front 7-0 with 54 seconds elapsed.

“I think it kind of set the tone for the rest of the game,” Mette said, putting his interception in perspective. “It was a good feeling for us to get on the board early.

“I saw the ball coming over the middle, caught it around the 30 and saw a clear path.”

After forcing Minooka to punt, the Ramblers drove 64 yards in seven plays to increase their lead to 13-0 with 6:43 to play in the quarter. The touchdown came on a 15-yard pass from Matthew Lee to Joe Haughey.

Lee also was a catalyst in the two biggest plays on the way to the end zone — pass completions to Maldonado and Aidan Collins on plays covering 24 and 18 yards, respectively.

On the first play of the second quarter, Maldonado ran 58 yards for a touchdown, and the rout was on.

Later in the quarter Lee connected on a 53-yard scoring pass to Dylan Williamson; Jayden Garrett scored on a 2-yard run to climax a 55-yard drive that saw him accumulate all of the yardage on eight carries; and Lee hurled a 43-yard end zone pass to Jordan McKinley, the Chicago Catholic League Blue’s Co-Offensive Player of the Year.

“We executed our game plan and got the job done,” said Lee. “Dylan is good for the long touchdown for sure and Jordan is just a great player.”

“We just kept moving the chains,” Garrett said of his one-man touchdown drive that was sandwiched between the TD passes to Williamson and McKinley. “We’ve got a great group of guys and tonight was good for all of us.”

McKinley’s touchdown gave Loyola its 41-point lead with 2:06 to play in the first half, and when the second half began, the running clock (that takes effect when a team is in front by 40 or more points after intermission) was activated for the first time this season.

Like their counterparts on offense, the Ramblers’starters on defense played a superlative first half. Joining Mette in the forefront were Mark Atwood, Barrett Schifferdecker, Gus Vollmer, Winston Ericson and Hunter Wahtola.

Holecek took out all of his first stringers to start the second half, and they had the rest of the night off.

Although the subs didn’t score the Ramblers continued their domination. They had possession of the football for the entire third quarter.

It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Minooka got a first down for the first time.

“It was great to get everybody in the game,” said lineman Brock Thompson, one of the only players that Holecek has used both on offense and defense this season. “All of the seniors got playing time, and we got the sophomores in.”

Atwood said the bye week was beneficial: “It was good to get two weeks to prepare. Last week our first two days (of practice) were pretty light. Then, last week on Tuesday and Wednesday we had what were probably our hardest practices of the year. From then on it got easier.

”We were rested and well prepared.”

Holecek said: “It was a fun game. I’m glad everybody got in. I hope it happens again.

“This is a great feeling—we want four more of these (in the playoffs).”

If that happens the Ramblers will be in good position to reclaim the state championship that they surrendered to Mount Carmel last year.

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