Esperanza Breaks Down in 16-3 Loss

Los Angeles Loyola wasn’t overpowering, but it still efficiently dispatched Esperanza from the Southern Section Division I football playoffs, 16-3, Friday at Valencia High.

The Cubs committed no turnovers and made enough big plays to advance to next Saturday’s semifinals.

Third-seeded Loyola, the Del Rey League champion, will play second-seeded Moore League champion Long Beach Poly, which defeated Redlands, 37-27.

Loyola (12-0) led Esperanza (9-3) by three points at halftime but took control on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. Senior running back Stephen Faulk (143 yards in 11 carries) took a handoff off left tackle, broke to the outside, shed a few tacklers and ran 80 yards for a touchdown.

It was the second touchdown of the game for the Cubs, who took a 6-3 lead with 2 minutes 42 seconds remaining in the first quarter when Wesley Willard scored from five yards out on a drive following an interception.

Shaun Mutch’s 33-yard field goal with 3 minutes remaining in the third quarter made it, 16-3, and that was more than enough for Loyola’s defense.

The Cubs didn’t allow the Aztecs into their territory after Esperanza’s first possession of the game. Loyola’s defense also intercepted two passes and sacked Esperanza quarterback Grant Wagner four times.

Esperanza’s Brent Garrison rushed for 78 yards in 17 carries but never found the end zone. Wagner completed 13 of 24 passes for 119 yards but couldn’t help the Aztecs manufacture enough points.

“Our defense played well enough to win,” Esperanza Coach Gary Meek said. “But our offense kept breaking down, whether it was a sack, an interception. You can’t do that against a team like Loyola.

“That’s the way the whole night went.”

Loyola nose guard Dan Fitzgibbons sacked Wagner twice in the first half, and Juan Escalera’s second-half sack was such a hard-hitting tackle that Wagner’s mouthpiece came flying out.

Loyola’s secondary also played physically tough. Sean Currin, who had seven receptions for 67 yards, intercepted a pass in the third quarter after Mark MacFarlane’s hit on Esperanza receiver Aaron Hill popped the ball into the air.

Scott Silberberg’s first-quarter interception short-circuited Esperanza’s second possession.

Esperanza scored on its first possession. However, after Wagner completed a 31-yard pass to Ryan Sharpe that moved the ball to the Loyola 19, the Cubs’ defense stiffened, and forced the Aztecs to settle for Nathan Fikse’s 21-yard field goal to make it, 3-0, with 8:47 remaining in the first quarter.

The Aztecs would never see Loyola territory again. Twice Esperanza moved to midfield, but Loyola’s defense turned back the Aztecs each time.

Esperanza also had two long pass plays called back after offensive pass interference calls, the second ending their final possession of the game with 1:46 remaining.

“We just didn’t take advantage of our opportunities,” Meek said. “And they did.”