FOOTBALL RECAP: LA 30, MARIST 10
LA’s Trevor Cabanban gains some yardage against Marist. He finished with 185 yards. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
His breakout game —and varsity debut — came three weeks ago in Loyola Academy’s playoff win over New Trier.
Now, sophomore running back Trevor Cabanban has become one of the developing stores for the Ramblers. He’s potentially breaking news — every time he takes a handoff from quarterback Quinn Boyle.
His stock goes up with every QB-RB exchange.
The 5-foot-6, 140-pound Cabanban produced big-time numbers in LA’s 30-10 victory over host Marist in a Class 8A state quarterfinal game on Nov. 11. He rushed the ball 28 times for 185 yards with touchdown carries of four and two yards. He gained 10 yards or more on nine of those rushes.
“He’s electric,” said LA head coach John Holecek, who picked up career win No. 134 to become the winningest football coach in school history. “He’s good at making something out of nothing. And he never seems to take a hard hit.
“He puts defenses on their heels,” the coach added.
The Ramblers (11-1), who have won 11 straight, are collectively clicking their heels following this 20-point road over a previously undefeated squad. They will try to keep it going next weekend, when they travel to Edwardsville in a state semifinal game.
Holecek could find very little wrong with his team’s commanding performance. The Ramblers finished the game with 455 yards, while LA’s defense held Marist to 49 yards on the ground. The Red Hawks had 199 passing yards.
“We did some stupid things with some some self-inflicting penalties,” said Holecek. “Other than that, I thought we played great.”
Loyola used a balanced attack to put 30 points on the board.
Boyle found his groove — rushing the ball 17 times for 62 yards and completing 13 of 23 passes for 200 yards.
Rory Boos was on the back end of two major passing plays. The LA junior wideout caught a 38-yard TD pass in the first half, and then he capped his night (6 catches, 129 yards) by hauling in a 32-yard pass on a go-route down the right sideline late in the fourth quarter.
The ever-dependable James Joyce made five catches for 56 yards, while Noah Jones had two receptions for 15 yards.
It was LA’s defense which set the game’s early tone. Following a 38-yard punt by Thomas Schafer, which was downed at the Marist one-yard line by a hustling John Lynch, the Ramblers took a 2-0 lead with a safety with 4:10 left in the first quarter.
Four plays later — on Boos’ 38-yard TD catch — Marist found itself trailing 9-0.
“It forced them to play catch-up,” said Holecek.
Junior Jake Gonzalez was one of the stars on defense. He intercepted a deflected pass deep in the red zone just before halftime. He added a second INT late in the game.
“Jake’s got a great motor,” said Holecek.
The other defensive leaders included Christopher Scott (7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass breakup), Anthony Rodriguez (5 tackles, 1 forced fumble), Charlie Largay (4 tackles, 2 pass breakups), Armoni Dixon (4 tackles, sack) and Patrick Daniels (4 tackles, 1 TFL).
LA Game Balls: Trevor Cabanban (RB), Rory Boos (WR), Quinn Boyle (QB), Jake Gonzalez (DB), Christopher Scott (LB)
Marist Game Balls: Jadon Thompson (WR), Michael Markett (QB), Billy Skalitzky (WR)
LA Offensive Player of the Game: Cabanban
LA Defensive Player of the Game: Gonzalez
LA Offensive Stat Leaders:
— Cabanban (28 rushes, 186 yards, 2 TDs)
— Boos (6 catches, 129 yards, 2 TDs)
— Boyle (17 rushes, 62 yards; 13-23-1, 200 yards, 2 TDs)
— James Joyce (5 catches, 56 yards)
— Noah Jones (2 catches, 15 yards)
LA Defensive Stat Leaders:
— Gonzalez (3 tackles, 2 interceptions)
— Scott (7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass breakup)
— Anthony Rodriguez (5 tackles, 1 forced fumble)
— Charlie Largay (4 tackles, 2 pass breakups)
— Armoni Dixon (4 tackles, 1 sack)
— Patrick Daniels (4 tackles, 1 TFL)
— John Lynch (3 tackles, fumble recovery)
Marist Offensive Stat Leaders:
— Markett (12 rushes, 41 yards; 16-32-3, 199 yards, 1 TD)
— Thompson (6 catches, 93 yards)
— Skalitzky (5 catches, 65 yards, 1 TD)
Loyola’s Rory Boos scores a touchdown during 30-10 victory over Marist. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
James Joyce runs with the ball after making a catch against Marist. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
LA center Ryan Hagedorn (No. 56) hugs running back Trevor Cabanban following a TD. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
LA’s Anthony Rodriguez makes a hit and forces a fumble. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
LA quarterback Quinn Boyle stretches the ball out before going out of bounds on a scramble. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
LA’s Noah Jones goes up high trying to make a catch in the end zone. But the pass was broken up by a Marist defensive back. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
Members of the Loyola football team gather together following their 30-10 win at Marist. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER