Loyola Academy Upsets L-W East To Advance To Class 8A Title Game

WILMETTE, IL — Last year, Loyola Academy had its dreams of a state title dashed by Lincoln-Way East, losing to the Griffins in the 2017 championship game. But Saturday afternoon, the Ramblers played the role of spoiler by upsetting the Griffins, 24-16, and handing the defending champs their first loss in nearly two years.

Loyola Academy returns to the Class 8A title game for the fourth consecutive year. The Ramblers will play Brother Rice on Saturday in Champaign.

Lincoln-Way's loss ended the the Griffin's 26-game win streak — until Saturday, L-W East's only other defeat had been a 34-31 nail-biter to Maine South on Nov. 12, 2016, in the third-round of the playoffs. — and it was a heartbreaking end to an otherwise dominating year. During the regular season, L-W East's defense held opponents scoreless in five games, and the Frankfort school outscored other teams 160-38 in the playoffs.

But the Griffins struggled to establish that type of rhythm against the Ramblers on Saturday. A fumbled handoff exchange between senior quarterback Jake Blatz and junior running back Devon Williamson was returned for a touchdown, putting L-W East behind 7-0 in the first quarter. A pick-six by L-W East's Kenny Palmer followed by a Loyola field goal put the Ramblers up 10-7.

Even though they would briefly take the lead, the Griffins uncharacteristically struggled to overcome a series of small but costly mistakes as the first half ended. A poor snap led to a blocked extra-point attempt by usually reliable kicker Dominic Dzioban and put L-W East up 13-10.

The Griffins then were able to force the Ramblers to punt with about 1:30 left in the second quarter. But the short, low, line-drive kick bounced off the back leg of L-W East Josh Ohiku. Loyola recovereed and recaptured the lead — 17-13 — on a 30-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jack Fallon to senior wide receiver Rory Boos.

With 48.3 seconds remaining in the half, L-W East pulled off a nifty option pass — receiver Matt Judd to fellow receiver Chase Anderson — from around midfield to the 4 yard line. Senior cornerback Michael Byrne's tackle stopped the touchdown, and the the Griffins had to settle for a field goal after Josh Ritter dropped a pass in the numbers in the end zone as the game reached halftime, 17-16.

Fallon connected with Roos for a another touchdown — the only second half points for either team. Baltz and the Griffins did try to tie the game, but his end zone pass went incomplete as time — and L-W East's hopes of a consecutive state title — expired.

Loyola Academy quarterback Jack Fallon (Screen shot from video via CN100Sports)