HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Loyola Holds Off Canyon in Semifinals

It was fitting that it came down to this: With less than a minute to play, Loyola defensive back Jim Schneiders batted away Canyon quarterback Kevin Bialas’ fourth-down pass at the Loyola 18-yard line, ending Canyon’s final bid against a tenacious Loyola defense.

Loyola’s sideline erupted after a 10-3 victory in a Southern Section Division I semifinal Saturday night before 8,000 at College of the Canyons.

Loyola (11-2) will face Quartz Hill next Friday at Anaheim Stadium in the Division I final.

It was a game marked by Loyola’s defense all night long, and it was a defense that left its mark on Canyon.

All of Loyola’s points came in the first quarter, Lance Harmon kicking a 47-yard field goal and Matt Vanis scoring on a one-yard run. Canyon countered with a 26-yard field goal by Matt George in the fourth quarter.