Oh, brother: Harvey, Loyola handle Pats
Loyola Academy senior Mark Harvey heard a very effective motivational speech. On Thursday night, Harvey's older brother Tim called and offered a few words of encouragement.
"He just told me to keep working hard and to fight for every yard," the younger Harvey said of his brother, who starred at Loyola three years ago and now plays at Drake University. "I like to talk to him before games because he really motivates me and tells me what Loyola football is about."
Whatever the elder Harvey said sure worked.
His younger brother ran for 122 yards on 19 carries and scored the first touchdown of the season as the Ramblers handed Stevenson its first season-opening loss in four years 27-0.
"(Mark) has great feet and tremendous visions," said Loyola coach John Holecek. "He really runs hard and has great wheels."
When Harvey and the Ramblers offense weren't on the field, the defense was doing its part by limiting Stevenson to only 31 yards on the ground and 85 total.
"We went to more of a goal-line defense and really did not let (Stevenson) get out on the pitch," Holecek said.
Loyola (1-0) got its offense moving on its second possession with a 13-play drive that chewed up more than six minutes. Though it ended in a 25-yard Patrick Kasten field goal, it was a sign of things to come.
Stevenson's offense didn't help the defense out much in the first half. On six possessions, the Patriots gained just 24 yards and earned just 2 first downs.
"Our defense played pretty well tonight, I thought," said Stevenson coach Bill Mitz. "But when they are out there as long as they were like that, we have to give them some help on offense."
The Ramblers also took full advantage of Stevenson miscues. On what was already a sloppy track from the week's rains, the field grew increasingly treacherous as the night went on.
The Patriots defense, aided by a sack from junior Austin Self, halted the Ramblers' first drive of the second quarter, forcing Loyola to punt. Loyola did and pinned the Patriots back to their own 1-yard line.
Two plays later, a mishandled snap set Loyola up at the Stevenson 2. One play after that, Harvey hit pay dirt for the first time and the Ramblers had all the points they needed.
"I don't think we are as good as we showed tonight and I don't think (Stevenson) is as bad as they played tonight," Holecek said.
Loyola closed a masterful first half with an 11-play, 73-yard scoring drive. Senior Peter Badovinac scored the first of his 2 touchdowns to give the Ramblers a 17-0 halftime cushion.
"We need our seniors to step up and provide the type of leadership we need to be successful," Mitz said. "We just have to file this one away, get back to practice on Monday and get ready for next week."