In a game defined by wet conditions, timely defensive plays, and momentum swings on both sidelines, the Loyola Cubs battled back from an early deficit to defeat the Bonita Bearcats 21–14 on Friday night. Despite steady rain and a slick field, both teams delivered a gritty, physical matchup that stayed tight until the final minute.
Bonita struck first midway through the opening quarter. After trading early punts, quarterback #10 Travis Lippert found #7 Jacob Maddox streaking downfield for a 63-yard touchdown, putting the Bearcats up 6–0. The extra point made it 7–0, and Bonita appeared ready to take control.Loyola struggled early to flip field position, punting on their first two drives. But with just under a minute to play in the first quarter, momentum finally shifted. The Cubs turned to #84 Sam Friend, who broke loose for a 33-yard rushing touchdown, tying the game at 7–7 and lighting a spark for Loyola entering the second quarter.
Bonita answered quickly. After driving into the red zone, #19 Ezekiel Velarde connected with #8 Isaiah Lazarus on a 22-yard touchdown strike, reclaiming a 14–7 lead.But Loyola’s defense delivered one of the game’s most pivotal moments minutes later. #28 Gavin Miller jumped a Bonita pass for an interception, giving the Cubs the ball deep in Bearcats territory. Loyola capitalized on the short field when #21 Jayden Rogers powered in from four yards out, tying the game 14–14.Bonita mounted a promising drive just before halftime, reaching Loyola’s 38-yard line and setting up for a late field goal attempt. But the Cubs’ special teams came up huge, blocking the kick to send the teams into halftime deadlocked.
The Cubs opened the second half with renewed energy. After forcing a Bonita punt, Loyola fed Jayden Rogers again, who ripped off a long run to push the ball deep into Bearcats territory. Moments later, Loyola punched in another short rushing touchdown—this time credited to #9—to take their first lead of the night, 21–14.Their defense continued to shine. #8 Gage Santos intercepted Bonita on the next possession, giving Loyola another chance to extend the lead. Although the Cubs were unable to convert, their ability to control possession and field position proved key throughout the second half.
The fourth quarter turned into a stalemate defined by tense third-down stops and strategic timeouts. Bonita crossed midfield with just over four minutes remaining, but Loyola’s defense held firm, forcing a turnover on downs at the Cubs’ 38-yard line.Bonita burned their remaining timeouts in hopes of getting the ball back, but Loyola’s clock management was strong. After another defensive stop that forced Bonita to turn it over on downs again—this time at their own 20—the Cubs were able to kneel out the clock.
In a night affected heavily by rain, Loyola found success on the ground and relied on a tough, opportunistic defense to earn a hard-fought win. Key plays—two interceptions, a blocked field goal, and several clutch red-zone stops—made the difference.With the victory, Loyola showed resilience, overcoming an early deficit and controlling the game’s second half. Bonita flashed big-play ability but couldn’t recover after Loyola seized momentum in the third quarter.
Final Score: Loyola 21, Bonita 14
