Loyola 31
Fenwick 7
The Catholic League Blue Division just keeps making the Fenwick football team bluer. The Friars took another hit on Friday night, falling to Loyola Academy 31-7 at Benedictine University.
The Friars (2-5, 0-4) held their own against the Ramblers through the first quarter and took a 7-0 lead in the second when quarterback Joe Romano (10-of-15, 141 yards) tossed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Vergara (4 receptions, 55 yards). But that would be the only score of the game for the Friars.
After a 27-yard field goal by Leo Sheridan and a 2-yard run by Addison Perry, Loyola (6-1, 3-1) took a 10-7 lead by halftime.
Perry went on to rush for two more touchdowns in the second half, from four and 34 yards out.
“I was pleased with the way we played in the first half,” said Fenwick head coach Joe DiCanio. “We controlled things for the most part. Our team played physical, but we had some breakdowns.”
One lapse for Fenwick came at a pivotal moment before halftime. On third and 16, the Friars allowed the Ramblers to convert a first down.
“It was a momentum breaker,” said DiCanio of the play. “Had we stopped them, we would have gone into halftime with the lead.”
Loyola doubled Fenwick’s total offense with 413 yards on the night. Perry ended up with 164 yards rushing on 16 carries.
“This has been the most physical conference I’ve ever coached in,” said DiCanio. “Our bumps and bruises are real.”
The Friars step away from taking on an opponent from the Blue Division when they host Hales Franciscan on Senior Day at Morton West High School this Saturday afternoon (1:30 p.m.).
“We’re just going to look forward to the next game and focus on finishing strong,” added DiCanio.
