Loyola Academy Falls To L-W East In State Football Title Game

DEKALB, IL — Scoring was at a premium Saturday as Frankfort's Lincoln-Way East High School was able to outlast Wilmette's Loyola Academy to win the Class 8A state football championship. The Griffins defeated the Ramblers, 23-14, as both schools' stiffling defenses made putting points on the board a struggle until the final minutes of the title game at Northern Illinois University's Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. It was the second consecutive year Loyola was the runner-up in the state title game.

After Dominic Dzioban's field goal put L-W East up 16-14 with 5:11 left in the fourth quarter, Max Cesario intercepted Quinn Boyle on Loyola's following possession. Sophomore A.J. Henning sealed the Griffins's victory with a touchdown run on the next play.

The game Saturday was L-W East's third appearance in the state final in the school's 16-year history. The Griffins's only other state championship came in 2005. Among Illinois high school football programs, it has the distinction of being the only school in the state to make the playoffs in each year of its existence.

The Griffins scored first Saturday when Morrissey completed a 25-yard touchdown strike to Mason Keenan midway through the second quarter. Both teams then held each other scoreless for the rest of the first half, with the Ramblers missing an attempted field just before halftime.

Loyola, however, was able to tie the game at the start of the third quarter on a five-play, 36-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown pass from Boyle to Rory Boos. L-W East captured the lead again late in the third quarter. But when the Griffins botched the ensuing extra point, the Ramblers were able to go ahead 14-13 on their next touchdown.

Top-ranked L-W East ended the 2017 season undefeated with a 14-0 record. No. 3 Loyola Academy was 12-2 for the year.

Images via Lincoln-Way East High School and Loyola Academy