Why York has a great chance to beat Loyola….

[YDFan_2000]

1. DEFENSE - York’s D has been phenomenal against both the run and pass! They shut down a great running team like Warren and a great passing team like Naperville Central.

2. York’s running game - Last year York was a great passing team with a legit throwing QB and talented WR corp. This year they are once again taking advantage of their personnel and running their QB as he is lightning fast . They will continue to capitalize on zone reads as their QB and RB’s will put Loyola’s defense in conflict. Plus teams are stacking the box to stop the run and that’s creating passing lanes. They are averaging over 300 rushing yards a game in the playoffs and if they do that Saturday they will win!

3. Loyola is down this year - Don’t get me wrong Loyola is still a great team but they are not as good as they were the last two years. They are beatable and now facing a hot York team that won’t be intimidated and knows how to win!

I know many have Loyola as a heavy favorite but York is a very well coached team and those kids BELIEVE!! It will be a great game……

 

[MS4EVER]

LA -17

 

[Prep writer]

Loyola isn’t down. Please.

 

[rfb321]

1. DEFENSE - York’s D has been phenomenal against both the run and pass! They shut down a great running team like Warren and a great passing team like Naperville Central.

2. York’s running game - Last year York was a great passing team with a legit throwing QB and talented WR corp. This year they are once again taking advantage of their personnel and running their QB as he is lightning fast . They will continue to capitalize on zone reads as their QB and RB’s will put Loyola’s defense in conflict. Plus teams are stacking the box to stop the run and that’s creating passing lanes. They are averaging over 300 rushing yards a game in the playoffs and if they do that Saturday they will win!

3. Loyola is down this year - Don’t get me wrong Loyola is still a great team but they are not as good as they were the last two years. They are beatable and now facing a hot York team that won’t be intimidated and knows how to win!

I know many have Loyola as a heavy favorite but York is a very well coached team and those kids BELIEVE!! It will be a great game……

Loyola isn’t down. Please.

Little York QB is a nightmare to handle. Anyone know if he is a track guy?

 

[SiuCubFan8]

York knows how to win? You know who they are playing, right? LA will teach the class on how to win to York football.

 

[Oddy]

Nice analysis, the only problem I have with it is that LA just beat LWE.

 

[gobears25]

Little York QB is a nightmare to handle. Anyone know if he is a track guy?

Yes according to the IHSA results he ran a 10.87 100m at the state meet this spring, good for 19th in 3a

 

[jwarigaku]

1. DEFENSE - York’s D has been phenomenal against both the run and pass! They shut down a great running team like Warren and a great passing team like Naperville Central.

2. York’s running game - Last year York was a great passing team with a legit throwing QB and talented WR corp. This year they are once again taking advantage of their personnel and running their QB as he is lightning fast . They will continue to capitalize on zone reads as their QB and RB’s will put Loyola’s defense in conflict. Plus teams are stacking the box to stop the run and that’s creating passing lanes. They are averaging over 300 rushing yards a game in the playoffs and if they do that Saturday they will win!

3. Loyola is down this year - Don’t get me wrong Loyola is still a great team but they are not as good as they were the last two years. They are beatable and now facing a hot York team that won’t be intimidated and knows how to win!

I know many have Loyola as a heavy favorite but York is a very well coached team and those kids BELIEVE!! It will be a great game……

I have a feeling this will not age well!

 

[CGsupporter]

Yes according to the IHSA results he ran a 10.87 100m at the state meet this spring, good for 19th in 3a

That is pretty darn fast. Who will be on the field who is faster?

 

[Connorstallions]

That is pretty darn fast. Who will be on the field who is faster?

Not only is he fast he’s very elusive. I also think teams have a hard time seeing him behind their huge offensive line.

 

[corey90]

Little York QB is a nightmare to handle. Anyone know if he is a track guy?

I am sorry but isn’t a Jonus Williams. I will be very surprised if this game is close. York has a puncher’s chance.

 

[jwarigaku]

Not only is he fast he’s very elusive. I also think teams have a hard time seeing him behind their huge offensive line.

That’s so sweet, is the QB that small that the line seems big? 6’3” 247# average OL is hardly Huge!

 

[LHSTigers94]

That is pretty darn fast. Who will be on the field who is faster?

That 10.8 only scored 7 against Lyons. It’s probably best to just wait and let’s see how things play out.

 

[Nostalgia1987]

1. DEFENSE - York’s D has been phenomenal against both the run and pass! They shut down a great running team like Warren and a great passing team like Naperville Central.

2. York’s running game - Last year York was a great passing team with a legit throwing QB and talented WR corp. This year they are once again taking advantage of their personnel and running their QB as he is lightning fast . They will continue to capitalize on zone reads as their QB and RB’s will put Loyola’s defense in conflict. Plus teams are stacking the box to stop the run and that’s creating passing lanes. They are averaging over 300 rushing yards a game in the playoffs and if they do that Saturday they will win!

3. Loyola is down this year - Don’t get me wrong Loyola is still a great team but they are not as good as they were the last two years. They are beatable and now facing a hot York team that won’t be intimidated and knows how to win!

I know many have Loyola as a heavy favorite but York is a very well coached team and those kids BELIEVE!! It will be a great game……

You need a few things to beat Loyola: familiarity, a run game to keep their offense on the sidelines and an attacking defense that can cause turnovers. York seems to have those three but then again so did LWE. It's rarely mentioned how much Loyola just wears you down. Still it's certainly possible.

As for being down, they actually were-for the first two games. Now they are back to their usual selves. A program playing for their seventh state championship in nine years, has had two Player of the Year recipients in that same time frame, numerous All-State placements and an outstanding coaching staff might have in-season blips but doesn't look headed for a slide anytime soon.

 

[eireog]

I kinda remember a lotta people on the “LA is down this year” bandwagon until about halfway through the second quarter last Saturday.

 

[TigerforFlyers]

You need a few things to beat Loyola: familiarity, a run game to keep their offense on the sidelines and an attacking defense that can cause turnovers. York seems to have those three but then again so did LWE. It's rarely mentioned how much Loyola just wears you down. Still it's certainly possible.

As for being down, they actually were-for the first two games. Now they are back to their usual selves. A program playing for their seventh state championship in nine years, has had two Player of the Year recipients in that same time frame, numerous All-State placements and an outstanding coaching staff might have in-season blips but doesn't look headed for a slide anytime soon.

Were they really down or is it more likely that ESL was up? They actually won the 2nd game handily and Fitzgerald was out for the 3rd, so arguably they only truly lost to ESL. The narrative of them starting out down this year is overstated.

 

[Connorstallions]

That’s so sweet, is the QB that small that the line seems big? 6’3” 247# average OL is hardly Huge!

They have 3 linemen that are 6’5 and a te that’s 6’7 that’s pretty big. The average is brought down because one kid is listed at 5’9. Also Massel is listed at 5’11 and I think thats pretty generous.

 

[lookoutforliam]

“3. Loyola is down this year - Don’t get me wrong Loyola is still a great team but they are not as good as they were the last two years. They are beatable and now facing a hot York team that won’t be intimidated and knows how to win!”

Huh.

 

[1111SouthFirst]

Not only is he fast he’s very elusive. I also think teams have a hard time seeing him behind their huge offensive line.

I dunno, didn’t he run the wrong direction last game?

j/k

 

[crusader_of_90]

First game hiccups against a superior team may have tainted the Ramblers. This will be Game 8 of the IHSA series - let us hope it is a good one.

 

[ODirty1]

Someone explain the "LA is down" theory

 

[MS4EVER]

I kinda remember a lotta people on the “LA is down this year” bandwagon until about halfway through the second quarter last Saturday.

I thought so. But looking back on the year I feel like 8A is down a bit this year. LA is still great but I’m not sure I would put this year’s team in their top 10. Anyway they will still 3peat and next year MC will show everybody who is boss.

 

[MS4EVER]

Someone explain the "LA is down" theory

I think the St. Francis loss did it for everybody. We all thought we had a chance. Plus Hollywood hasn’t had a two loss season since before Covid.

 

[FanFan_65]

I thought so. But looking back on the year I feel like 8A is down a bit this year. LA is still great but I’m not sure I would put this year’s team in their top 10. Anyway they will still 3peat and next year MC will show everybody who is boss.

Yeah, they sure showed LA who’s boss this year in their 31-7 loss.

 

[PowerI66]

Not sure why people have an issue with the "LA is down" statement. I think you can say that they are still very good while not being as good as the past couple of years. They have a high bar. A "down" LA is still better than most teams

 

[Nostalgia1987]

Were they really down or is it more likely that ESL was up? They actually won the 2nd game handily and Fitzgerald was out for the 3rd, so arguably they only truly lost to ESL. The narrative of them starting out down this year is overstated.

You're right in that it wasn't the first two games but it's certainly fair to say that nobody expects Loyola to lose two of its first three games. Your other point that Loyola was limited because of Fitzgerald's injury is spot-on as well. I think he's only got back to full strength recently. His ability to run the ball, and knowing when to do so, was a huge factor against LWE. (Now somebody over there needs to work with him on his post-game commentary.) A lot of high school football analysis focuses on individual players. But Loyola has only had a couple of players over this last decade who just jumped out at you when you saw them play. A lot of their success is that they have a fantastic system, coaches who have been there a long time and are just incredibly well-coached.

 

[80sRambler]

I thought so. But looking back on the year I feel like 8A is down a bit this year. LA is still great but I’m not sure I would put this year’s team in their top 10. Anyway they will still 3peat and next year MC will show everybody who is boss.

LA has beaten MC 4 of 5.

 

[mantle2626]

Haters are gonna hate......Heavy is the head that wears the crown. When all you do is win - people are gonna get excited when you loose ( and we all loose sooner or later !) If a down program produces back -to back - to back state championships ( well the third one is still up in the air) then I will take that every year and so would everyone else. If anything - you take that negative energy and you turn it into "us vs. the world" and drive that mentality into the team and players. Use it. Now back to reality instead of opinions .....LA vs. York. York no cakewalk. They will make the game closer than most people realize and I still think there has to be some let down after the LWE "hype" of that being the real state championship game, I am sure if you are a LWE fan you are thinking - if we where on the other side of that bracket we would be playing in the state championship game today not York and if LA had lost they would be thinking the same ! York should take the underdog mentality and use it. I think they will. The only thing I wonder about is you will have two of York's best players going both ways- I was wondering if they have been doing that all year - and if they play every play both ways or they get sub-in for.....for a breather ! I still think LA wins (even in a down year ! ha!) 28-20.

 

[Chris OC]

1. DEFENSE - York’s D has been phenomenal against both the run and pass! They shut down a great running team like Warren and a great passing team like Naperville Central.

2. York’s running game - Last year York was a great passing team with a legit throwing QB and talented WR corp. This year they are once again taking advantage of their personnel and running their QB as he is lightning fast . They will continue to capitalize on zone reads as their QB and RB’s will put Loyola’s defense in conflict. Plus teams are stacking the box to stop the run and that’s creating passing lanes. They are averaging over 300 rushing yards a game in the playoffs and if they do that Saturday they will win!

3. Loyola is down this year - Don’t get me wrong Loyola is still a great team but they are not as good as they were the last two years. They are beatable and now facing a hot York team that won’t be intimidated and knows how to win!

I know many have Loyola as a heavy favorite but York is a very well coached team and those kids BELIEVE!! It will be a great game……

York can throw it as well. They have talent at WR. Just haven’t much this year

 

[jwarigaku]

They have 3 linemen that are 6’5 and a te that’s 6’7 that’s pretty big. The average is brought down because one kid is listed at 5’9. Also Massel is listed at 5’11 and I think thats pretty generous.

1A Althoff has a much larger line at 6-4, 298

 

[Connorstallions]

1A Althoff has a much larger line at 6-4, 298

Okay what does Althoff have to do with this? Never said they have the biggest line playing this weekend.

 

[caravan8]

Were they really down or is it more likely that ESL was up? They actually won the 2nd game handily and Fitzgerald was out for the 3rd, so arguably they only truly lost to ESL. The narrative of them starting out down this year is overstated.

I think both things can be true. ESL is a great team and showed that all year. LA is probably not as good as they have been the past few years (at least they didn’t play as well the first few weeks). I think the best LA teams would’ve still found a way to win the SF game even with QB1 out.

 

[daveje]

This seems like a fairly ordinary team by LA standards. Which, is very bad news for the rest of the state.

 

[ignazio]

Someone explain the "LA is down" theory

I heard they lost to Brother Rice.

 

[doctor_d]

1. DEFENSE - York’s D has been phenomenal against both the run and pass! They shut down a great running team like Warren and a great passing team like Naperville Central.

2. York’s running game - Last year York was a great passing team with a legit throwing QB and talented WR corp. This year they are once again taking advantage of their personnel and running their QB as he is lightning fast . They will continue to capitalize on zone reads as their QB and RB’s will put Loyola’s defense in conflict. Plus teams are stacking the box to stop the run and that’s creating passing lanes. They are averaging over 300 rushing yards a game in the playoffs and if they do that Saturday they will win!

3. Loyola is down this year - Don’t get me wrong Loyola is still a great team but they are not as good as they were the last two years. They are beatable and now facing a hot York team that won’t be intimidated and knows how to win!

I know many have Loyola as a heavy favorite but York is a very well coached team and those kids BELIEVE!! It will be a great game……

Yeah you can’t go into it thinking you gonna lose. You gotta believe. At least the players and coaches do.
I’d love to see the weekend conclude with a down to the wire game, but I have the Ramblers pulling away. Best of luck.

 

[LHSTigers94]

You have to consider a teams schedule to determine if it’s a down year or not. How many teams would have less than 2 loss with LA schedule. Now, look at everyone else schedule, what team would LA have a worse record if they played their schedule.

It’s real easy to talk about losses when your team don’t have to play that schedule.

 

[YDFan_2000]

Just to be clear, “down year” is perspective compared to prior years. Loyola is still a great team and has beaten top 5 teams like Marist, Maine South, and LWE. But I would argue this team is not as good as their 2022 and 2023 teams, my humble opinion. Loyola is still a powerhouse and will be every year due to them recruiting great talent.

I also think this years York team isn’t as good as last years team, last years team was beating Loyola 14-3 mid 2nd quarter in the semi’s. York this year is playing great and far exceeded everyone’s expectations and 100% deserves to be in the state championship! Just think both teams (Loyola & York) had better teams last year!

One last factor I forgot to mention — The Weather! It’s supposed to be 21 degrees with some wind at game time on Saturday. That benefits York as their game plan is to Run, run , and run some more. Take time off the clock and limit Loyola’s possessions. They have the offense to do it with two great RB’s and speedster QB. Even when you put 8-9 in the box they are hard to stop as the D is in conflict. If Loyola can find a way to stop the run and force York to throw then I agree that they will win going away. If they can’t stop this 3 headed monster run attack by York then it’s a toss up and York has a great shot to win the game! Weather will be a factor and favors York’s style of offense.

I agree Loyola should be favored but I personally think the game will go down to the wire and York has a great chance win based on all the factors I provided.