Loyola backfield tandem leads win over Mira Costa

As if Los Angeles Loyola High’s opponents didn’t have enough to worry about trying to stop high-powered running back Anthony Barr, they now have another reason to fret.

His name is Jared Baker, and he helped the Cubs hold off Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, 28-18, on Friday night at Los Angeles Valley College in the opener for each team.

A speedy 5-foot-9, 181-pound junior, Baker rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown in only nine carries in his varsity debut. The punishing Barr had 125 yards and two touchdowns in 30 carries in addition to an interception he returned 87 yards for a touchdown.

Baker’s 64-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter gave Loyola, ranked No. 14 in the Southland by The Times, a 21-10 lead.

“That’s going to give teams a nightmare trying to figure out who they’re going to stop,” Barr said. “They’re going to have to game-plan for both of us.”

The Cubs converted two fourth downs during a crucial 18-play, fourth-quarter drive that Barr punctuated with a lunging two-yard touchdown run after it initially appeared he had been stopped near the line of scrimmage.

Loyola junior quarterback Jerry Neuheisel completed five of 12 passes for 52 yards with an interception in his first varsity start. He connected with Nate Bellamy for a 13-yard completion on a crucial fourth-and-11 play late in the fourth quarter.

Mira Costa receiver Kyle Nunn had six catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

-- Ben Bolch

Malcolm Jones leads Oaks Christian over Alemany

Westlake Village Oaks Christian running back Malcolm Jones ran for 275 yards and three touchdowns in 37 carries in the Lions’ 28-17 victory against Mission Hills Alemany.

The Warriors (0-1) tried to reduce the lead late in the fourth quarter, but Lions (1-0) linebacker Carlos Mendoza recovered a fumble by Alemany quarterback Vernon Adams with 4:29 remaining.

Most of the play between Oaks Christian, ranked No. 2 by The Times, and Alemany was defined by both team’s ability to force turnovers as well as their struggle in maintaining possession. Two plays after Jones recovered a fumble, he ran for a 23-yard touchdown to give Oaks Christian a 7-0 lead with 9:45 left in the first quarter.

The Warriors tied the score, 7-7, on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Adams to receiver Kevin Lenik with 2:08 left in the quarter two plays after Malcolm Marable intercepted a pass from Lions quarterback Nick Montana, who completed 12 of 28 passes for 152 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

In the second quarter, Alemany’s Saladin McCullough forced and recovered fumble at the Oaks Christian 13 to set up a 22-yard field goal by Martin Meza to make it 14-10 with 2:45 left.

Oaks Christian ended the half on a high note with the Warriors mustering a 13-play, 80-yard drive. It ended with Montana connecting with receiver Blair Holliday for a 12-yard touchdown pass. Campbell Davis’ extra point made it 21-10 with 17.7 seconds remaining.

Two-minute drill

Carson’s Brent Scott scored on an 80-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and teammate Dwan Gill intercepted a pass on the goal line to guide the Colts to a 14-2 victory over Mater Dei, ranked No. 12 by The Times. . . . Devin Blackledge had 168 yards and five touchdowns in St. Bonaventure’s 24-10 victory over St. John Bosco. . . . De’Shawn Beck rushed for 273 yards and two touchdowns as L.A. Jordan defeated L.A. Locke, 25-0, in a nonleague game.