Loyola Controls Serra League After Stopping Santa Margarita

Needing a victory to seize control of the Serra League race, Los Angeles Loyola turned in its finest performance against its chief rival.

The Cubs (6-3, 3-1 in league), ranked No. 16 in the Southland by The Times, manhandled No. 14 Santa Margarita (7-2, 2-2) on its way to a 21-7 victory at Saddleback College.

Santa Ana Mater Dei is the only other rival with one league loss. The Monarchs (4-4, 2-1) play tonight against Anaheim Servite (6-2, 1-2) and next week against Santa Margarita.

Loyola sacked Santa Margarita quarterback Michael Angelo six times and held the Eagles to 151 yards -- 76 rushing and 75 passing. Of that, 105 came on two plays.

“I think we played great team defense,” said George Hypolite, who rushed 11 times for 61 yards and helped pressure Angelo as a defensive tackle. “We had a league championship sitting right here

The only play that hurt the Cubs was Chris Ramsey’s 67-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that tied the score, 7-7.

Loyola had plenty of offense as quarterback Scott Deke scored on runs of eight and two yards and Trason Bragg added a two-yard touchdown. Bragg gained 117 yards in 21 carries as the Cubs rushed for 217 yards and out-gained the Eagles, 351-151.

-- Martin Henderson