Crespi Reflects on Blown Chances in Loss to Loyola

All over Encino this morning, there will be bleary eyes staring blankly into mirrors.

Crespi High, failing to score despite crossing the 50-yard line in eight of its 10 possessions, was blanked for the second consecutive year by Loyola, 14-0, Saturday night in a nonleague game at Glendale High.

Crespi (1-2) had nobody to blame but itself.

“We had guys in position to make the plays,” Coach Tim Lins said. “We just didn’t get it done.”

The offensive breakdown was heartbreaking for quarterback Cody Smith. After the last Crespi drive stalled at midfield late in the fourth quarter, Smith was pacing the sideline, talking a blue streak about the Celts’ numerous mistakes.

It was difficult to blame him.

Crespi receivers twice dropped sure touchdowns in the second half.

Smith completed 15 of 31 passes for 240 yards, but it wasn’t enough to score against Loyola (2-1), which has beaten the Celts in 10 of the last 11 meetings between the schools.

Loyola jumped to a 14-0 lead at halftime, but Crespi shut down the Cubs, holding them to 39 yards in the second half. But the Celts’ offense just could not stop shooting itself in the foot.

Crespi’s second drive of the half penetrated as far as the Loyola 27 before a holding penalty, an incomplete pass and a sack of Smith forced a punt.

On the next Celt possession, with the ball at the Loyola 24, receiver Mike Florit worked his way into the left corner of the end zone but dropped a pass as two defenders closed in. The drive ended when a Smith pass was intercepted by Calvin Newman at the 10 with 11 minutes 25 seconds to play.

“They did a helluva job defensively, making the big plays in critical situations,” Lins said of Loyola, which is expected to join Crespi in a new league next season. “They were in the right place in the right time.”