Loyola runs away from Maine South and into the 8A semifinals

Undefeated Lincoln-Way East, the south suburban powerhouse that Loyola Academy defeated in the last two IHSA Class 8A championship games, now awaits the Ramblers for a state tournament semifinal.

The Ramblers advanced by coming on strong in the second half to topple Maine South 35-14 at Hoerster Field on Saturday, Nov. 16, the afternoon after top-ranked Lincoln-Way East overwhelmed Stevenson 45-0 in another quarterfinal matchup.

“We’re excited about it,” said quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald, looking ahead to next weekend’s showdown, “although we’re a little bummed because we’re not playing them in the finals again this year.”

Led by Fitzgerald and All-State running back Drew MacPherson, Loyola is headed to Frankfort at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, with a 10-2 record and a nine-game winning streak following an out-of-character 1-2 start.

In eliminating Maine South (8-4), the Ramblers ended the Hawks’ winning streak at seven games.

The Hawks scored first and gave the Ramblers a hard time in the first half that ended with the teams tied 7-7, thanks to defensive back Donovan Robinson’s 60-yard interception return followed by Zak Zeman’s extra-point kick 38 seconds prior to intermission.

Robinson said he read the play, saw the football descending “and then I just had to execute.”

“Their defense was playing very well (in the first half),” Loyola coach Beau Desherow said. “Our offense made some very good halftime adjustments on the blocking and our defense continued to play very well.

“It was a great second half.”

MacPherson broke through the middle of the line to take an 81-yard touchdown trip and give Loyola the lead with 8:39 to play in the third quarter.

“My guys (on the line) were making great blocks and I saw a cutback lane,” MacPherson said. “As long as I didn’t see anyone (from Maine South) in front of me I knew I had the speed to be able to take it to the house.”

With 4:14 left in the quarter, South’s sophomore southpaw quarterback Jameson Purcell connected with Mason Patras on a 30-yard touchdown pass, enabling the Hawks to tie the score.

But on their next possession, the Ramblers went on a 74-yard scoring drive that ended with a 1-yard toss from Fitzgerald to Conlon Kane alone in the end zone with 28 seconds to play in the quarter.

Fitzgerald completed all four of his passes to account for 39 yards and kept the defense honest by carrying three times for 21 yards during the drive that sent Loyola into the fourth quarter holding a 21-14 lead.

For much of the season Fitzgerald was hampered by a hamstring injury but now appears to be recovered and is the two-dimensional threat that he was last season.

“When Ryan is healthy and can run it adds a whole another dimension to our offense,” Desherow said. “It makes us so much more dangerous.”

The Ramblers continued to come on strong in the fourth quarter. MacPherson again tore through the middle of the line on a 17-yard TD run and fellow senior running back Luke Foster went over from the 1-yard line for the game’s final touchdown with two minutes on the clock after setting it up with a 14-yard run.

MacPherson gained 191 yards in 24 rushing attempts, giving him 924 yards for the season. His two touchdowns increased his team-high season total to 18 with 12 coming on the ground and six on pass catches.

Fitzgerald hurled 16 passes, completed 10 and had one intercepted on an end-of-half hail mary, and the TD throw was his 19th of the season.

The opposing quarterback completed 13 of 33 for 142 yards, but Purcell was harassed incessantly by the defense and two of his passes were picked off by the Ramblers.

“We wanted to pressure him, get him scrambling and make him throw it out in space,” said linebacker Max Mendoza, who made a major impact on defense.

Approaching the end of the first quarter when the Hawks were on the Loyola 12, Charlie Prior intercepted Purcell’s pass and ran it back down the right sideline for what looked like the game’s first touchdown.

It was, however, called back because of a roughing the passer penalty, letting the Hawks retain possession of the football and 42 seconds later they opened the scoring on Michael Dellumo’s 2-yard run.

In the closing seconds of the game another Loyola touchdown on an interception was invalidated, this one by linebacker Henry Newton.

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