2003 EAGLES

Loyola - Game Notes

With a 7-1 record Santa Margarita is off top their best start since 1998 when they were also 7-1 after seven weeks.

This is the third game between Santa Margarita and the Loyola Cubs and the series is tied 1-1. It is also their second meeting at Saddleback College where the Eagles are 1-0 vs. Loyola.

Last year, Cub running back Bo Renaud rushed for 140 yards and scored the games only touchdown from one yard out as the Loyola Cubs avenged their 2001 defeat at the hands of the Eagles with a 7-0 win before 3,500 at Glendale High School. In 2001, the Eagles forced three turnovers and blocked a punt, and QB Marshall Tharpe threw two touchdown passes as the Eagles registered an impressive 21-14 win over the previously unbeaten and nationally ranked Loyola Cubs at Saddleback College. (Full recaps of both the 2001 and 2002 games are included herein.)

Loyola is 5-3 and they are coming off an exciting 29-24 win over St. John Bosco. Last year they finished 9-4 and advanced to the CIF-SS Division I Semi-Finals where they fell 31-7 to eventual Division I Champion Los Alamitos. The Cubs are ranked 6th in this weeks CIF-SS Division I poll, and are one of the most storied programs in California history winning 36 league titles, four CIF Championships and one national title while going 557-230-36 since 1924. Their 557 documented wins are fifth best in California history; however, it is believed that they have actually won at least 21 more games due to incomplete records between 1897 and 1923. They are led by legendary coach Steve Grady who is 247-69-5 (.777) in 28 seasons at Loyola including a 1-1 mark against the Eagles.

The Eagles are ranked 4th in Orange County, 3rd in CIF-SS Division I, and 14th in Southern California per the Los Angeles Times. They have been ranked in the Orange County Top 10 for 88 of the last 98 weekly polls, and in the CIF Division I Top 10 for 43 of the 49 weekly polls since joining Division I in 1999.

Eagle - Cub History (Series tied 1-1)
2001 SM 21, Loyola 14 @ Saddleback College
2002 Loyola 7, SM 0 @ Glendale High School

Situational Record – Loyola Game
Varsity Game No. and all-time record: 178 129-45-3 (.737)
Home Game No. and all-time record: 93 71-18-3 (.788)
Record at Saddleback College: 63-15-2 (.800)
Week 9 Record: 9-5 (.643)
Record vs. Loyola: 1-1 (2003 is 2nd Mtg)
Record vs. Los Angeles County Schools: 28-9 (.757)
Record vs. Serra League Schools: 17-8-1 (.673)
Record on Friday: 108-37-3 (.740)
Record as a Division I team (since 1999): 35-16-2 (.679)
Record vs. Division I teams (since 1991): 40-19-1 (.675)

By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director