Loyola’s Ben LeRoy admitted he started thinking about the Ramblers’ Week 2 game against Maine South before the first game of the season was even over.
Loyola beat Marquette (Wisconsin) 35-0 on Saturday, Aug. 29. The Ramblers led by that same score at the half, and by the end of the second half, LeRoy was looking ahead to the showdown against the Hawks.
“I’m ready for them,” said LeRoy, a Northern Illinois recruit. “But it’s just like any other big game we play.”
The two area powerhouses have played each other six times in the state playoffs. The last meeting came in the 2013 Class 8A quarterfinals, and the Ramblers won 35-0. The Hawks won the previous three meetings (2008, 2009, 2010) on their way to three consecutive Class 8A state championships. The first meeting between the two teams occurred in the 1975 playoffs, with Loyola earning the win. The other game came in the 1992 Class 6A playoffs. Loyola won that game as well.
But Friday is the first time they will meet during the regular season. Both coaches said in February they struggled to find a nonconference opponent, which is how this game came to fruition. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Park Ridge.
Maine South coach Dave Inserra said he embraces the idea of big games early in the season. The Hawks have played Montini in Week 1 three years in a row. The Broncos finished second in Class 5A the last two years after winning the Class 5A state title four years in a row.
But like LeRoy, Inserra tried to keep the game against Loyola in perspective.
“It’s going to be an awesome and electric atmosphere, and we are not downplaying it at all,” Inserra said. “But it is a Week 2 game. Win or lose, we still have more games to play.”
While Loyola had no trouble at home in Week 1, the Hawks lost to Montini 20-17 on the road. Inserra said his team was its own worst enemy at times, making early-season mistakes that he said are correctable.
“Guys going the wrong way in the backfield is one example,” he said. “There was an option run that [senior quarterback Brian] Collis threw to nobody because the running back wasn’t there. Another time near the goal line, a running back ran into him and caused a sack. Those are things we can watch on film and practice and not do again.
“We are a younger team that is not that experienced right now. But we will get better.”
After watching film of Maine South’s first game, Loyola senior quarterback Emmett Clifford said he has no doubt the Hawks will present a challenge to the Ramblers.
“They have some big guys and look fast,” said Clifford, who was called up to varsity as a sophomore for the 2013 playoff game. “They look like a good Maine South defense usually looks.”
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Players and coaches from both teams are excited for the regular-season rivalry to begin. Next year, the game will be played at Loyola.
“If you can’t get up for a game like this, you will have trouble getting up for anybody you play,” Inserra said.
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