Loyola dims the lights on Montini's party
Montini's home opener Saturday began with a ceremony to inaugurate Duffy Memorial Stadium's new permanent lighting.
Loyola quickly preceded, figuratively speaking, to shoot out those lights.
Showcasing bruising defense, Spencer Perry's 113 yards rushing and quarterback Malcolm Weaver's 192 yards and 3 touchdowns passing and another on the ground, the Class 8A Ramblers won 31-9 in Lombard to drop Montini to 0-2 entering conference play.
"We just wanted to pound the ball," Weaver said. "I've just got to credit our offensive line, and Spencer Perry had some nice runs."
"Don't panic," Broncos coach Chris Andriano told his players in the postgame address. Those from last year's 5A champs, one of two 4-loss teams in history to win it all, know of which he speaks.
"We learn from this stuff," said receiver Jordan Westerkamp, who caught 5 passes for 108 yards with a 30-yard grab up and over three defenders. He added an interception on defense.
"He (Andriano) always starts us off with the best teams so it gets us ready down the road."
Loyola defenders like Mark Sullivan and Peter McGuire threw up a big roadblock Saturday, sacking quarterback Kurt Gitchell - in for injured starter Matt Westerkamp - 5 times and holding the Broncos to minus-20 yards rushing. In a first half Loyola led 22-6, Montini gained 2 first downs and one came via penalty.
"It shows us that we've just got to go back to work," Jordan Westerkamp said.
Montini's first possession ended with a snap sailing over punter Alex Walters' head for a Loyola safety.
Loyola (2-0) went up 15-0 by 11:12 of the second quarter on Weaver touchdown passes to Earl Webb and Marquese Martin-Hayes.
Whenever Loyola coach John Holecek needed a play, Weaver got it done.
"We played tough, we just couldn't convert," said Montini linebacker Doug Dietrick. "We got embarrassed with the passing game. We just weren't dropping into our zones, we weren't playing man-to-man right."
The hosts' most thrilling moment followed the Martin-Hayes score. Junior Anthony Taylor took the ensuing kickoff at the Montini 11-yard line, veered right and ran 89 yards for a touchdown.
At 7:46 of the third quarter Montini trimmed the deficit to 22-9 on Matt Kersten's 27-yard field goal. Gitchell completed 4 of 6 passes for 60 yards on the drive, Taylor making a 39-yard grab.
Loyola used a 23-yard pass off a fake punt to answer, Weaver against finding Webb for a 28-9 lead after three quarters. The Ramblers tacked on a 33-yard field goal by Chuck Kurzydlowski.
Andriano, not panicking, saw the bright side.
"We've got great kids with great attitude, they play hard all the time," he said. "That'll take you a long ways by itself."