Peterson Leads Loyola Past Crenshaw

Loyola High scored four touchdowns in the second quarter, turning a close game into an easy 34-12 intersectional victory over Crenshaw Saturday night at Glendale High.

Loyola quarterback Chris Peterson led the second-quarter surge, completing six of 10 passes for 97 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Christian Rhodes just before halftime. Peterson also rushed for a team-high 46 yards, 38 coming on a touchdown run that put Loyola ahead, 21-6.

“[Peterson] is the guy--as he goes, we go,” Loyola Coach Steve Grady said. “He’s got a good arm, can run the ball effectively, a good field general . . . he’s a talented kid.”

Loyola (3-0) held Crenshaw (1-2) to 147 yards of total offense.

The only thing Loyola didn’t do well was get off to a fast start.

Aided by a penalty for roughing the kicker, Crenshaw marched 80 yards on the game’s opening drive. Quarterback Keenan Carter capped the drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marcus Green that gave the Cougars a short-lived 6-0 lead.

Loyola then scored 34 unanswered first-half points.

Peterson culminated a six-play, 48-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run to tie the score with 3:37 left in the first quarter.

Loyola benefited from a combination of good field position and turnovers during its second-quarter scoring spree. In addition to Peterson’s 38-yard scoring run, fullback Syga Thomas punched it into the end zone from two yards out.

Cub line backer Andrew Alton recovered a fumble on the Cougar 15-yard line and ran it in for the score after Carter, who was sacked by Thomas, lost control of the ball.