Grady’s Bunch in a Rout

Loyola High threw a party on Saturday night to celebrate Coach Steve Grady’s 200th career victory.

Crespi was cordially invited.

Like any good party, there was plenty of dancing as Loyola waltzed to a 38-0 victory in a Del Rey League game at Glendale High.

The Cubs (8-0, 3-0 in league play) were simply too steady with Wesley Willard carrying 21 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns. They were too explosive with quarterback Chris Peterson scrambling 30 yards for one touchdown and passing 42 yards to Sean Currin for another.

By the end of the night, Grady had the chance to ponder what it means to accumulate 200 victories.

“It means I’ve been here a long time,” said the coach, who is in his 22nd season at Loyola.

Then, in a more serious vein: “Sure, when you sit down and think, it’s nice. The years go by. You do the best you can.”

Grady’s first victory came in 1976 when Loyola upset a highly ranked Banning team with a last-second field goal. This one was not as close, though Crespi showed flashes of effectiveness.

The Celts (4-4, 0-3) used their wing-T offense to move into scoring position several times, with Blake Tibbetts rushing for 100 yards in 16 carries.

But Crespi was stung by a missed 39-yard field-goal attempt by Evan Driedger in the second quarter and, minutes later, a clipping penalty that nullified a touchdown pass.

In the final seconds of the game, Crespi moved to the Loyola five only to fumble.

“We drove the ball 80 yards,” Tibbetts said. “We had their number but we couldn’t put it through.”

It was another frustrating night for a team that rolled through its nonleague schedule, logging a 4-1 record. The Celts have hit league play like it was a brick wall, losing three in a row.

“This is one of the toughest leagues in the state,” Crespi Coach Tim Lins said.

Defending champion Loyola made that point utterly clear.

The Cubs’ onslaught started with Peterson’s 30-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter.

On the next possession, Willard capped a 60-yard drive by scoring from five yards.

Then came Peterson’s 42-yard touchdown play to Currin.

Not that he was trying to show off. Peterson completed a restrained six passes in eight attempts for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Currin was the leading receiver with four receptions for 78 yards.

Loyola continually harassed Crespi’s Kevin Cork, who completed nine of 19 passes for 88 yards with one pass intercepted.