Football: Loyola and Mira Costa nearing kickoff
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The air quality seems fine at L.A. Valley College despite nearby wildfires. The air temperature is another matter entirely.
It feels like 100 degrees here in Van Nuys, where an intriguing nonleague game between Loyola and Mira Costa is less than an hour from kickoff. I’m sitting in the steamy press box, which I’m sad to report has no air-conditioning.
Loyola is ranked No. 14 in the Southland by The Times, but the Cubs are No. 1 in two other categories: game program and number of football coaches.
Loyola’s 90-page, partial-color program would put some college programs to shame. Five pages are devoted to what must be the biggest coaching staff among high schools in Southern California: a whopping 25 coaches among the Cubs’ varsity, sophomore and freshman teams.
A quick perusal of the program also reveals that Loyola is 8-0 all-time against Mira Costa. But the Mustangs are loaded with returning starters and eager to atone for last season’s opening 23-7 loss at home to the Cubs.
It should be interesting, especially if UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel arrives via helicopter to check out his son Jerry, Loyola’s starting quarterback. We’ll post updates throughout the game.
-- Ben Bolch