Loyola Stops Long Beach Poly, 21-17

Los Angeles Loyola High quarterback Scott Deke, who had accounted for all of the Cubs’ scoring with three touchdown passes, also made a big play on defense with a late interception as Loyola held on to upset Long Beach Poly, 21-17, Friday in the Southern Section Division I football championship.

Deke intercepted a pass from Jackrabbit quarterback Cruz Parsons with 2 minutes 14 seconds remaining before 9,734 at the Home Depot Center in Carson as Loyola won its fifth section title and first since 1990.

“I was just in the right place at the time,” said Deke, who has committed to Virginia. “To beat our nemesis in the last game of the season was sweet.”

Poly had one final possession, but Cub defensive end Chris Jauregui sacked Parsons at the Poly 34-yard line with time winding down and the top-seeded Jackrabbits could not get off another play.

Second-seeded Loyola (11-3) scored the eventual winning points with 4:55 left when Deke rolled out and found Chris Johnson cutting toward the pylon just inside the end zone for a six-yard touchdown play. Deke completed only nine of 23 passes for 112 yards but connected for touchdowns of 16, 26 and six yards.

Poly (11-3) looked as if it might blow the game open midway through the second quarter when it took a 14-0 lead after two touchdown passes from Parsons to Desean Jackson.

But the Cubs cut their deficit in half late in the second quarter when Benjamin Bernstein took a pass from Deke at the Poly five and raced into the end zone for a 16-yard scoring play.

Loyola appeared to seize the momentum early in the third quarter when Deke, on the run after being chased out of the pocket, connected with Matt Appenfelder in the corner of the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown pass play that tied the score, at 14-14.

The Cubs held Poly on its next possession, but the Jackrabbits’ punt went off the foot of Loyola’s Casey Frost and was recovered by Poly linebacker Aaron Young at the Cub 37. Jackrabbit kicker Michael Skvor made a 32-yard field goal seven plays later to put Poly ahead, 17-14.

Parsons, who completed 16 of 25 passes for 198 yards, connected with Jackson on touchdown passes of seven and 39 yards. He also had two passes intercepted. Poly was seeking its fourth title in five years and 16th in 19 title-game appearances.

The Jackrabbits appeared in good shape after building their two-touchdown lead. Parsons connected with Jackson late in the first quarter at the Loyola one-yard line, and Jackson spun into the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown. Parson then hit Jackson for a 39-yard touchdown pass with 7:13 left in the second quarter.