Loyola Has Too Much for Canyon

The highlights were few and far between for Canyon High, and they often came with a touch of irony in a 34-7 loss to Loyola in the Cowboys’ first home game under new Coach Larry Mohr.

The Cowboys (0-2) had only 98 yards of total offense with 7 minutes 45 seconds left in the game when quarterback Brian Bialas pitched the ball to running back David Gonzalez.

Gonzalez juggled the ball wildly, the Cubs over-pursued, and Gonzalez escaped on a 44-yard run--Canyon’s longest play.

The run set up a four-yard touchdown pass from Bialas to Brian Connelly. But it was too late. Loyola led, 34-0, at the time.

And it was certainly too little--the Cowboys were outgained, 370-171.

“I don’t think their starting defense was out there,” Bialas said. “The coaches thought we improved tonight, but we need to work.”

Running back Mike Ellison rushed for three touchdowns to give the Cubs (2-0) a 20-0 halftime lead. Ellison didn’t return for the second half after carrying 13 times for 114 yards and catching one pass for 31.

They didn’t need him.

After a scoreless third quarter, Canyon made a big defensive stand, with linebacker Matt Pence and free safety Peter Gregory stopping running back Mike Vanis at the Cowboy goal line.

But Loyola got the ball when Canyon couldn’t move it, and wide receiver Matt Peterson caught a 17-yard scoring pass from Kyle Spielbuchler.

Vanis later scored on an eight-yard run after Steve Dunne blocked a Cowboy punt.

Canyon quarterbacks Ahjeron Palmer (who left with an injured finger in the first quarter) and Bialas were a combined two of 10 for 29 yards in the first half, as Loyola covered the sidelines well, broke up four passes and batted down two at the line of scrimmage.

Palmer said he might have a broken finger in his throwing hand. Bialas, a senior, finished eight for 17 for 73 yards.

Spielbuchler was eight of 12 for 98, while nine Loyola running backs accounted for 241 yards.

The Cowboys started tough. They held on downs in Loyola’s first drive, but couldn’t stop the Cubs on third and one at the Loyola 49. Canyon lined up all 11 men within four yards of the line of scrimmage and got burned when Ellison slipped through on the left side and ran 51 yards untouched to make it 7-0.

Ellison also scored on runs of one and two yards, setting up one touchdown with a 25-yard run and the other with a 31-yard reception.