Loyola Lives Up to No. 1 Rating, Defeats Santa Ana, 27-0

Defense.

There was little else played Saturday night at Glendale High School.

Santa Ana High School played it well. Loyola played it great.

The Cubs, the No. 1-ranked team in the Southern Section’s Division I, played so well defensively that their offense needed only to make periodic appearances in a 27-0 victory over the Saints in front of 1,100 spectators.

On the game’s first play from scrimmage, the Cubs set the tempo. Cub nose guard Jason Casani hit quarterback Dan Tuioti before he had a chance to set up, sacking him for a 5-yard loss.

The Saints could not hold up under the constant pressure of Loyola’s defensive unit.

“Pressure. That’s the key to their defense,” Santa Ana Coach Dick Hill said. “Anytime you can keep that type of pressure on a team, you’re going to force mistakes.”

The Saints made several. Three of which led to 13 Loyola points.

Tuioti, a junior, was harassed most of the game by Casani and Matt Butkus, not to mention an occasional blitz by Keven Dell’Amico. As a result, Tuioti completed just 5 of 14 passes for 22 yards and threw 3 interceptions.

“Our plan was to take away Santa Ana’s running game, make them pass,” Loyola Coach Steve Grady said. “We did that very well.” Santa Ana (2-3) was held to 72 yards rushing and 94 total yards.

Only twice did the Saints have possession in Loyola territory, both times after fumble recoveries. But Loyola’s defense stopped Santa Ana both times.

The Saints remained close for more than three quarters because of their own defense.

Loyola (5-0) had just 58 yards at halftime. Defensive tackle Oscar Wilson and linebacker Philip Oviedo each had two sacks.

Still, the Cubs held a 13-0 lead at halftime because of their defense and special teams.

Santa Ana was forced to punt from deep in its own territory on its first possession. The Cubs then put together their only offensive drive of the game, a 47-yard march-30 yards of which came on one play.

Running back Johann Fuller broke free around left end for 30 yards to the Santa Ana 13-yard line. Three plays later, quarterback Brian Dennis kept the ball on an option play and went 9 yards for a touchdown.

An interception by Edgar Hussain set up a 42-yard field goal by Loyola’s Paul Stonehouse late in the first quarter.

Dell’Amico pressured Gus Plasenciainto into a 6-yard punt, giving the Cubs the ball on the Santa Ana 14 with 43 seconds left in the half. Stonehouse kicked his second field goal, from 43 yards, for a 13-0 halftime lead.

“Our defense played great, our special teams played great,” Grady said. “Our offense stunk up the place.”

The Cubs scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns. By that time, the Saints defense had spent too much time on the field and was worn out.

Dennis threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Ryals. A fumble recovery by Jeff Ross led to a 3-yard scoring run by Fuller.

“Our defense was outstanding,” Hill said. “The offense had problems.”

Mainly with the Loyola defense.