Loyola Gets a Kick Out of League Title, 18-7

Entering the Del Rey League football showdown Saturday night, Loyola and St. John Bosco knew there would be a new league champion for the first time in 11 years.

But it wasn’t until Loyola kicker Mike MacGillivray sealed an 18-7 victory with a 35-yard field goal with 3:47 remaining that the nearly 9,500 fans at Glendale High knew it would be the Cubs.

Loyola and St. John Bosco had both defeated 11-time champion Bishop Amat during the course of the season and entered Saturday night’s regular-season finale undefeated in league play.

Walking away victorious couldn’t have been any sweeter for 21-year Loyola Coach Steve Grady.

“This is special because we knew it would be a barnburner,” Grady said. “We were pumped to get into the position to be able to do this and to come away with the victory against such a tough team, well I don’t know what to say.”

Jose Mendoza paced the Cubs (9-1 overall, 5-0 in the Del Rey League), rushing for 94 yards and a touchdown in nine carries. Mendoza ran 64 yards for a score with 2:10 remaining in the third quarter to put his team up, 15-7.

MacGillivray, who missed two extra point attempts, connected on a 48-yard field goal in the second quarter to give his team a 9-7 lead.

Loyola was looking to add to its lead late in the first half, but on third and 11 from the Braves’ 24-yard line, St. John Bosco linebacker Jacob Negro came on a blind-side blitz and forced quarterback Ray Kasper to fumble. Manuel Garcia recovered for the Braves (8-1-1, 4-1) and they ran out the remaining 30 seconds of the half, trailing, 9-7.

The Braves took a 7-6 lead when quarterback Joe Cordova and Jamaul Montgomery connected on a 22-yard pass play to cap an 80-yard touchdown drive on their first possession.