Finally, Loyola Gets the Title : Division I: In their first championship game in coach’s 15 years, the Cubs defeat Quartz Hill, 24-14.

Although a respected coach, Loyola High’s Steve Grady has been almost as well known in the Southland for not being able to win the big game.

In 15 years at Loyola, his teams had advanced to the playoffs 14 times, but never won a championship.

That changed Friday night at Anaheim Stadium, as Loyola defeated Quartz Hill, 24-14, to claim the CIF Southern Section Division I championship before 10,103.

“This feels so good, you have no idea,” said Grady, who played football at Loyola and graduated in 1963. “I just can’t say enough about these kids. They just never quit. In the last three games, they’ve been unbelievable. Their accomplishments are really something.”

There have been plenty of Loyola teams that have been more highly regarded, including the 1988 squad that included All-Americans Matt Butkus and Jimmy Klein, but none were able to make it past the semifinal round.

This season’s team wasn’t given much of a chance by Grady. The Cubs (12-2) finished third in the Angelus League with regular-season losses to Santa Ana Mater Dei and La Puente Bishop Amat.

But in the playoffs, the Cubs’ defense dominated, holding Long Beach Jordan, Fontana and Canyon Country Canyon to a combined 24 points.

Quartz Hill (11-3) had little more success against the Cubs. The Rebels, making their first title-game appearance, committed three turnovers and had a punt blocked. Loyola converted those mishaps into 17 points.

The Rebels’ normally powerful rushing combination of Erik Thomas and David Nelson was limited to a total of 97 yards rushing. Quarterback Jake Haro completed nine of 13 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns but threw two interceptions.

Quartz Hill entered the game having outscored its opponents, 122-0, in the second half in its last five games, but was outscored, 7-0, in the second half against Loyola.

“We knew they were a good second-half team,” Loyola defensive end Kevin Bender said. “But we didn’t want to let them do to us what they’ve done to so many other teams.”

Clinging to a 17-14 halftime lead, Grady told his team in the locker room that it was making too many mistakes and giving up too many yards.

The Cubs responded by holding the Rebels to 83 yards in the second half.

The Loyola offense, known for its conservative style of play, opened things up a bit in the second half. With nine minutes remaining in the third quarter, quarterback Corby Smith threw a lateral pass to Jim Gruettner, who proceeded to toss a 46-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Chris Walker. The play gave Loyola a 24-14 lead.

Smith completed seven of nine passes for only 45 yards. Loyola finished with 169 yards in total offense.

Quartz Hill dominated the first half in total yards, outgaining Loyola, 180 to 106. But two Rebel turnovers and the blocked punt resulted in 17 points for Loyola.