Loyola ends Fremd's run
Fremd's remarkable run into the Class 8A football playoffs ended on the turf at Hale Hildebrandt Field on Saturday, despite making life difficult for visiting Loyola.
Fremd nearly doubled Loyola's offensive output, 304 yards to 157, but two big plays in the final 2:30 of the first half put the Vikings at a disadvantage they couldn't overcome in the second half.
The first of two turnovers a 62-yard fumble return for a touchdown gave Loyola (10-1) a 14-point lead just seconds before halftime. The second an interception with 1:02 remaining in the game sealed No. 2 Loyola's 14-7 victory over the No. 10 Vikings (6-5).
It took an improbable 4-game winning streak just to qualify for the playoffs, and then the Vikings advanced to the second round with a road victory at Evanston last week.
"In a playoff game with teams the caliber of these, that's the difference," Fremd coach Mike Donatucci said. "They had 2 turnovers, and they won the punting game.We stuffed them. It was two good defensive teams.
"They had one big turnover, and we didn't. The kids were well-prepared and they played hard. This is a great group of kids."
Loyola (10-1) will play its quarterfinal next weekend at No. 14 Palatine (7-4).
For nearly 22 scoreless minutes, Loyola won the field position battle thanks to punter Patrick El Zoghbi, whose family moved to the United States from Australia prior to this season. El Zoghbi's rugby-style punts pinned the Vikings inside their 5 three times.
Fremd's defense escaped one Loyola threat when Chuck Kurzydlowski's 29-yard field goal attempt was wide. The Ramblers got on the scoreboard with 2:30 remaining in the half when Michael Collins snared a Malcolm Weaver pass away from Jeff Diegel and raced down the sideline for a 27-yard touchdown.
On Fremd's next drive, quarterback Sam Beutler fumbled while being sacked, and Peter McGuire scooped up the ball and raced 62 yards for what turned out to be the game-winning points with 33.6 seconds left in the half.
"I didn't have time to think," McGuire said. "Pat Foley made the hit, and I just picked up the ball and ran.
"It's a good win for us," McGuire said. "I'm really happy we pulled it out."
Beutler brought the Vikings to within a touchdown when he threw a perfect pass to Diegel (10 receptions, 127 yards) in the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown with 8:42 left in the game. They were on the move toward a tying touchdown in the final minutes.
On third-and-15 from his own 35, Beutler (13-of-27, 155 yards) completed an 8-yard pass to Diegel, who lateraled to Greg Money, who finished the play by running 16 more yards to Loyola's 41.
A pass interference call put the ball on the Ramblers' 26, but Robert Dooley intercepted a pass in the end zone to kill the threat.
"It's unbelievable," said Loyola coach John Holecek. "We couldn't ask for more."
Justin Wallace finished his career by leading Fremd with 146 yards rushing on 27 carries. Wallace rushed for 1,543 yards on the season.