Loyola Academy Wins State Football Championship

A perfect season with a perfect ending.

The 2015 Loyola Academy Ramblers may go down as one of the best high school football teams to ever take the field in the state of Illinois. They proved that Saturday night with a 41-0 win over Marist in the IHSA Class 8A state championship game.

The Ramblers got on the board early with a 4-yard run from Emmett Clifford and added three more touchdowns in the second quarter to take a commanding 27-0 lead over their private school rivals from the south side at halftime.

At that point, a party not seen in Wilmette since 1993, was taking shape. But just for good measure, Loyola added two touchdowns in the second half and secured the shutout.

For those not in-tuned to the high school football game, Loyola is a powerhouse. Before this year, seven of the last nine state champions had to defeat the Ramblers en route to the title. In 2011 and 2013, it was Loyola who was beaten in the final game.

But not in 2015. The Ramblers proved they were too much for Marist, and secured the school’s first football title in 22 years.

The Ramblers completed the 2015 campaign with a perfect, 14-0 record.

From the IHSA:

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
Chicago (Marist).... 0 0 0 0 - 0
Loyola Academy...... 7 20 14 0 - 41

Scoring Summary:
1st 09:36 LOYOLA - Clifford, Emmett 4 yd run (Tata, Patrick kick)
7 plays, 44 yards, TOP 1:52, MARIST 0 - LOYOLA 7
2nd 09:02 LOYOLA - Laja, Dara 9 yd run (Tata, Patrick kick blocked)
13 plays, 66 yards, TOP 3:41, MARIST 0 - LOYOLA 13
05:21 LOYOLA - Laja, Dara 6 yd run (Tata, Patrick kick)
4 plays, 14 yards, TOP 1:39, MARIST 0 - LOYOLA 20
01:07 LOYOLA - Isaac, Jonah 9 yd pass from Clifford, Emmett (Tata, Patrick kick)
9 plays, 73 yards, TOP 2:43, MARIST 0 - LOYOLA 27
3rd 07:27 LOYOLA - Marwede, Jake 2 yd run (Tata, Patrick kick)
12 plays, 77 yards, TOP 4:33, MARIST 0 - LOYOLA 34
03:56 LOYOLA - Marwede, Jake 1 yd run (Tata, Patrick kick)
7 plays, 46 yards, TOP 2:59, MARIST 0 - LOYOLA 41