Loyola Wins on Late Pass

Los Angeles Loyola built its reputation on the running game, but that reputation took a hit Saturday behind the philosophy of Coach Jeff Kearin and the play of quarterback Henry Burge.

Burge passed for 386 yards and six touchdowns as the Cub offense defeated one of the most potent rushing attacks in California history to win the Southern Section Division I championship.

Loyola, which shared third place in the Serra League, defeated Anaheim Esperanza, 49-42, at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

It is the sixth title for Loyola.

Burge had not passed for more than 301 yards in a game this season.

Kearin, who replaced 29-year veteran Steve Grady, changed the offense this season, and picked up where Grady essentially left off. The Cubs (10-4) won their last championship in 2003 with a 21-17 win over Long Beach Poly, but as a running team.

Burge completed a 26-yard pass to Marcus Lawrence with 51.9 seconds left in a wild fourth quarter in which the teams combined for five touchdowns.

Although Esperanza (11-3) took a 42-35 lead on Charles Neal’s two-yard run with 2:03 left in the game, Burge came up big in the final two minutes as Loyola drove 57 yards to tie the score, 42-42, with 1:02 left on Burge’s 13-yard pass to Taylor Joseph.

Burge’s next bit of magic came after Rocky Taloa fumbled the ensuing kickoff at the 26. It was recovered by Loyola’s Dylan Westhoff, and Burge wasted no time.

He found Lawrence down the left sideline, where Lawrence reeled in the pass at the six and tightroped his way into the end zone.

“Someone said this was the worst Loyola team ever,” Burge said, “but we worked so hard to prove everyone wrong.”

Esperanza came into the game averaging 393 yards rushing, and finished with 378. The Aztecs’ season total is 5,504 yards, the eighth-best total in state history, according to Cal-Hi Sports magazine record book. Neal gained 179 and scored three touchdowns in 22 carries. Shane Henry rushed for 112 and scored twice. Kevin Jablonsky also passed for one touchdown, a 35-yarder to Aaron Martinez.