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Loyola survives stiff test from Fenwick
Loyola's Colin Skinner rumbles into the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of their game against Fenwick in Wilmette October 6, 2012. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: October 6, 2012 8:36PM
WILMETTE — Cody Sullivan was angry with how Loyola played Saturday.
At least the senior linebacker could rest a little easier knowing the No. 4-ranked Ramblers still earned a 49-28 over Fenwick.
“We hurt ourselves,” Sullivan said. “Giving up 28 points is unacceptable and embarrassing. We didn’t show what our defense is about. We need to tighten it up and execute better.”
Loyola’s defense allowed more points Saturday than the Friars scored in the last three seasons combined against the Ramblers.
The teams were tied 14-all at the half, and the Friars evened up the score at 28-all 15 seconds into the fourth quarter on Gino Cavalieri’s 69-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Regan.
But the Ramblers responded right away, scoring on Peter Pujals’ 14-yard pass to Luke Ford. Loyola then added two more touchdowns down the stretch for the final margin.
“We learned last week about fighting until the end,” said Sullivan, referring to the 30-27 overtime victory at Mount Carmel. “The Mount Carmel win taught us a lot about our team. We had to find a way to win this one.”
Loyola (6-1) and Fenwick (5-2) each turned over the ball twice in the first quarter before settling down. The Friars scored the game’s first touchdown after Keshaun Smith returned a blocked field goal midway through the first quarter.
Pujals, who recently received an offer from Northern Illinois, didn’t have his best game, but the senior quarterback went 15-for-31 for 264 yards with a touchdown. Pujals, who threw two interceptions, including one on his first pass of the game, also ran for two scores.
Ford finished with seven catches for 131 yards and a touchdown. The senior caught two long passes — both measuring 42 yards — that set up other touchdowns.
Loyola junior running back Julius Holley ran 18 times for 121 yards and a score.
Cavalieri, who also threw an interception on his first pass Saturday, helped the Friars put a scare into the Ramblers. The junior and first-year starter finished 16-for-37 for 209 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Robert Spillane, a dynamic playmaker in his second varsity season, ran 15 times for 56 yards and scored on a 31-yard run late in the first half to tie the game before the break.
“We did a good job,” Cavalieri said. “We could have beat them. We will learn from this and get ready for next week.”
