Prep football game of the week: L.A. Loyola at Upland
One of the best nonleague games of the season pits Los Angeles Loyola (4-0), the seventh-ranked team in the CIF-SS Pac-5 Division, against an Upland (4-0) team ranked third in the Inland Division.
Rematch: Loyola emerged a 30-13 winner when these two teams met last year and Upland coach Tim Salter is convinced Loyola is better than it was last year. Of course, Upland is clearly improved from the team that finished second in the Baseline League last year and exited the playoffs in the quarterfinals.
Loyola lost to Newport Harbor and Bellflower St. John Bosco last year. Already this season the Cubs have shutout Newport Harbor and won a 28-14 game over St. John Bosco, the No. 8 team in the Pac-5 Division.
Upland has defeated three consecutive ranked teams, Tustin (No. 3, Southwest Division), Serrano (No. 8, Eastern Division) and most recently a 54-27 drubbing of a Norco (No. 7, Inland Division).
"We're a much better team that last year," Salter said. "But I don't see a weakness in their game. They're as good a team as we'll play all year."
Power vs. speed: Upland's defense successfully contained the Norco running game predicated on the zone read and the option. But tonight the Highlanders will face a running attack that is completely different.
"Loyola will come right at you," Salter said. "They're more of a power game with a blocking back. And they'll run play action off of that and screens too. Our defense is fast but this is a different kind of challenge."
The Upland defensive line will be tested in an entirely different way. Norco's offensive line is as sizable as any, but its blocking scheme is for more of a finesse running game. Loyola's Wyatt Bradford, a 5-foot-9, 192-pound junior running back, has 461 yards and six touchdowns on 50 carries while 5-11, 170-pound Cameron Walker has 229 yards and two scores on 38 carries.
No shortage of skill: While both teams possess a power running game, there will be plenty of flashy skill players littering the field tonight, namely Upland receiver Kenny Lawler and Loyola receiver/defensive back Chaz Anderson.
Lawler, who has 17 receptions for 350 yards and two touchdowns, is committed to Arizona State but is still fielding scholarship offers. The 6-0, 162-pound Anderson committed in June to Boise State, where he will play defensive back.
Both teams have capable quarterbacks who can open up the offense if necessary with the help of their star receivers. Each team, however, would seemingly prefer to play a ball-control game.
"They key is going to be first down," Salter said. "Nobody has won the battle with Loyola on first down. They'll hold teams to a short gain and then they can get real aggressive on second down."
12 Comments
Leave a comment
About Clay
Clay Fowler has been covering high school sports for six years in California and Texas. He was born in Dallas, attended the University of Texas and worked in Central Texas before joining the Daily Bulletin staff in 2006.
Email Clay here
Why is it that the kid from Etiwanda, Raphael Barr, who is leading Division II in receiving gets no press from you?
It is easier to accumulate stats when your are not winning games. Etiwanda is 2-2, while Upland is 4-0. Teams do not tend to throw the ball when they are ahead. The other advantage that Lawler has with the media is the fact that he has college offers, while, as far as I know, the Etiwanda kid has not. Throw in the fact that Etiwanda is a fast paced passing team, and Upland is a ground and pound team, the single reciever will garner more attention.
What a bunch of malarkey, Etiwanda is a passing team and they have more than one competent receiver. Besides Lawler is the only decent receiver Upland has. Just because Lawler has college offers and you do not know if that kid has any is no reason to not ackowledge accompliment. YOUR REASONING IS BACKWARD, YOU ACCUMLATE MORE STATS BY WINNING, NOT LESS.
What a bunch of malarkey, Etiwanda is a passing team and they have more than one competent receiver. Besides Lawler is the only decent receiver Upland has. Just because Lawler has college offers and you do not know if that kid has any is no reason to not ackowledge accompliment. YOUR REASONING IS BACKWARD, YOU ACCUMLATE MORE STATS BY WINNING, NOT LESS. Also have you seen this kid play? If you had you would not be so self righteous! COACH!
Justin you are clueless....Ask Norco if Lawler is the only receiver Upland has (LMAO)...You my friend need to get out once in awhile...ALso when you are up by 30 points you tend not to pass as much as when you are behind (lol)....Dont worry in 2 weeks you will see just how many receivers Upland has
This is for The U, how many teams have Upland been up by 30? This is not about Lawler, whom I appreciate as a player. With Lawler having these offers is even more reason for other players to be recognized. A passing team will be passing whether they are behind or not. The blog I wrote earlier did not reference Lawler or Upland. Keep things in perspective. U.
All i know is another interception by Chris Hawkins #4 Rancho Cucamonga.1 pass thrown @ 1 pic baby.Can't wait to play both of those schools.Hope everyone from all three teams gets a scholarship
Justin..You might want to reread your post indicating Lawler was only DECENT receiver Upland has....OK 30 might have been a couple points over board but here is a breakdown for u...San Bernardino up by 59, Serrano up by 24, Norco up by 27 and Loyola up by 21.....As you can see 3 of of 5 games required very little passing stats and Tustin would have been the same as well had we not given them 14 points in the 1st minute..See Ya in 2 weeks :-)
Justin, you might want to re-read your previous indicating that Lawler was the only DECENT receiver that Upland has.ANd yes 30 may have been a couple ponts off but here's a breakdown for you..San Bernardino up by 59, Serrano up by 24, Norco up by 27, Loyola up by 21..4 out of 5 games and yes Tustin would have been the same had we not given them 14 points in the first minute....See Ya in 2 weeks (lol)
I just watched Robert Woods get 254 yards on 14 catches against Arizona but they were not losing. Why did that happen? Coach or The U do you want to opine? I think it happened because the opportunity was there and he is a good player but I'm sure you guys have a more thought provoking reason.
Teams with the lead throw less, while teams that are behind throw more. How do you dispute this fact Justin? Barr is a very good player, as is Lawler. Both should be All-League and All-CIF if they continue the seasons they are having.
Coach, now that you have clarified your point from your earlier blog I will agree with that statement.