Nationally Ranked Loyola Blanks Notre Dame, 24-0

There was a time not long ago when Jason Evans could not lead by his actions. The Loyola High quarterback missed four weeks of practice and the Cubs’ first game nursing a sore right shoulder and an itchy trigger finger.

The soreness lingered even while the Cubs opened the season with five consecutive wins. Finally healthy, Evans accumulated 215 yards in total offense Saturday night at Glendale High as Loyola defeated Notre Dame, 24-0. The game was the Del Rey League opener for both teams.

The Cubs (6-0) are ranked No. 15 in the nation by USA Today.

“That really is impressive that our team can do so much,” Evans said when reminded of the lofty ranking. “It’s really hard to believe that I’m the supposed commander of this team.”

He was a commander by example against Notre Dame.

Evans, a junior, passed for 138 yards on 8 of 14 attempts and ran for 77 yards while directing Loyola’s option attack.

Evans, along with the typically tough Cub defense, dominated the Knights. Notre Dame (3-3) was limited to 102 yards in total offense, and only 30 yards in the second half.

Morgan Shepherd, the Knights’ multidimensional quarterback, was ineffective, running for 12 yards and passing for 65.

Notre Dame was forced into retreat primarily by Loyola tackle Matt Butkus, who had two sacks in the first half. Clad in black high-tops, Butkus struck a resemblance to dear old dad, Dick, one of the most fearsome Monsters of the Midway.

Loyola scored its 21 first-half points in a seven-minute span at the end of the first half.

The Cubs were forced to punt in their first three possessions, but broke loose on their fourth. On first and 10 from Loyola’s 39-yard line, Evans connected with David Eastwick on a 27-yard pass play. Evans scored on the next play, running 34 yards on an option play with 7:19 left in the half.