Williams Powers Loyola

In a game marred by a postgame fight between the two teams, Loyola got three touchdowns from running back Taylor Williams, one on a kickoff return, to defeat Fontana, 28-7, in the first round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs Friday night at Pierce College.

After a first half in which Williams scored the only touchdown on a three-yard run in the second quarter, the teams combined for four scores in the third quarter.

Williams ran up the middle untouched for a 35-yard score with 6:15 to play in the quarter.

Fontana (6-5) answered with a 19-yard scoring pass from Larry Slaughter to Deandre Alexander with 2:52 left.

Williams responded with a 99-yard kickoff return that gave the Cubs (8-3) a 21-7 lead.

“That kickoff return was the backbreaker,” Fontana Coach Bob Stangel said. “We thought we’d kick them the ball, hold them on offense, get the ball back in good field position and tie it up.”

Instead, the Steelers fumbled the ball on the second play of the ensuing drive. Loyola’s Josh Quaye recovered at the 31, and three plays later, Loyola running back Justin Wesson scored on an 18-yard run.

Williams finished with 93 yards rushing, 75 in the second half. The Cubs ran for 212 yards, 160 in the second half.

The Loyola defense was just as impressive.

Fontana had 266 yards, but only 37 on the ground.

The fight broke out at midfield when the coaches met to shake hands.

After a couple of minutes of fighting among players the coaches broke it up, and Loyola ran off the field while Fontana waited for the Loyola buses to leave.

“There are a lot of kids on both sides, it’s the playoffs and there’s a lot of emotions,” Stangel said. “We don’t want to see that.”