Loyola tops Providence
By Mike Clark mclark@suntimes.com September 15, 2012 10:42PM
Updated: October 17, 2012 6:54AM
Providence did a lot of things right in its Catholic League Blue opener Saturday afternoon at Loyola.
The Celtics kept the Ramblers from running the ball early, allowing just 22 yards on 10 first-half rushes. They had a couple of touchdown catches by lanky sophomore Miles Boykin. And they hung tough with Loyola, trailing by just a touchdown heading into the fourth quarter.
Then it started to unravel for Providence, which gave up two scores in a 32-second span and eventually fell 41-21.
“They’re such a good team, you can’t make mistakes like we did,” Celtics coach Mark Coglianese said. “Our two turnovers led to touchdowns. ... We’ve got to get better in all phases.
“We’re close, but against Catholic Blue competition, that’s not going to be good enough.”
The No. 3 Celtics (3-1) fell behind 7-0 when Loyola quarterback Peter Pujals (20-of-26, 253 yards) hit Rich Wehman with a 5-yard touchdown pass at 7:03 of the first quarter.
Providence tied it at 7-7 when Dominic Lagone (11-of-22, 110 yards) found Boykin for an 11-yard score 5:19 before halftime.
Loyola (3-1) went back ahead 14-7 when Luke Ford turned a screen pass from Pujals into a 56-yard scoring play at 4:22 of the second.
Providence’s first turnover — an interception by Charlie Schatz — set up Julius Holley’s 6-yard TD run with 3:24 left in the half.
Lagone and Boykin hooked up on a 49-yard pass to set up Boykin’s second score, a 4-yarder with 11 seconds remaining in the half.
“That’s a mismatch that we need to take advantage of,” Coglianese said of the 6-foot-4, 195-pound Boykin.
The Providence receiver made an impression on Loyola coach John Holecek.
“I’m not looking forward to (facing) him the next two years,” Holecek said.
The third quarter was scoreless, but Loyola finally took control.
Pujals found a wide-open Kris Coker for a 49-yard TD with 10:08 left and the Ramblers’ Darby Goodwin recovered a fumble on Providence’s next offensive play.
One play after that, Pujals ran 16 yards for a score that made it 34-14 with 9:36 to play.
Each team added one more TD, Providence on Brandon Price’s 1-yard run with 5:13 remaining and Loyola on Holley’s 3-yard run at 1:35.
Boykin finished with three catches for 64 yards, Price ran 21 times for 56 yards and Lagone finished with 63 yards on 14 carries.
“He was under pressure all day,” Coglianese said of Lagone. “He didn’t have time to sit back there and pick out receivers. For the most part, he made good decisions. A couple bad ones, but he’s a competitor and that’s what we like. He’ll make things happen for us.”
