The fourth-ranked Rams steamrolled District 7-B foe Florence 48-0 behind a balanced and potent offensive attack that had its way all evening.
Toss in a shutout by the defense, and not a whole lot went wrong for Loyola (6-1).
Added Weber: “The kids came out and played hard. Luke started off and set the house on fire. We've got our offensive line squared away now.”
Loyola rushed for 265 yards and four touchdowns, the longest a 51-yard scamper by senior running back Brandt Dahlen to end the third quarter that lifted his team to a 42-0 lead.
Dahlen led all running backs with 84 yards. Billy Chilton chipped in 71 yards and Andy Smith added 63 and another score. The Rams rushed 39 times and had nine runners contribute positive yardage.
The passing attack wasn't shabby, either. Mitzel started the game 5 for 5 for 49 yards and a pair of TDs. He connected with wide receivers Adam Hollenback and Mac Cuffe to give Loyola a 14-0 lead after the first quarter.
After Florence fumbled and lost the ensuing kickoff, Mitzel took it in from 5 yards out to put the Rams in front 21-0 just 5 seconds into the second quarter.
Mitzel connected with his receivers six times in the first half, half of them going for scores. Cuffe added his second TD reception of the evening on a nice leaping grab in the end zone from 12 yards out to close the first-half scoring and make it 27-0 in favor of the Rams.
“The receivers were running good routes and the running game was on tonight,” Mitzel said. “It's nice. You can have an off game but you know everyone else is going to have a good game. The pressure isn't on me.”
The first half was dominated by the offense - which scored 27 points and had the ball for nearly 15 minutes.
But the defense had its share of highlights as well.
Loyola sacked Florence quarterback Damon Moe four times, intercepted him once and forced a fumble. In all, the Falcons turned the ball over three times in the first half. And each time the result was a touchdown for the Rams.
“The defense, the last couple weeks, we've given up some points,” Loyola defensive back Mac Cuffe said. “We've all been talking, and it was nice to not give anything up tonight.”
Loyola's junior varsity offense took the field in the fourth and didn't miss a beat. It abruptly marched 36 yards and scored the game's final touchdown on a 4-yard run off the right side by Kyle Todd.
The Falcons' offense was limited to 87 yards rushing and 29 yards receiving. Moe registered 59 yards rushing to lead his team.
Loyola travels to play Darby in its final regular-season game Friday at 7 p.m. The Rams could be without running back John D. Robertson.
The senior, who came in still feeling the effects of an ankle injury, took a handoff on the fourth play of the game and didn't return to the field. He suffered an injury to his right knee; no additional information was available.
Florence (3-4) visits Seeley-Swan for a 1:30 p.m. game Friday.
Florence 0 0 0 0 - 0
Loyola 14 13 15 6 - 48
L - Adam Hollenback 5 pass from Luke Mitzel (Mike Brown kick)
L - Mac Cuffe 6 pass from Mitzel (Brown kick)
L - Mitzel 5 run (Brown kick)
L - Cuffe 12 pass from Mitzel (kick failed)
L - Andy Smith 1 run (Hollenback pass from Mitzel)
L - Brandt Dahlen 51 run (Brown kick)
L - Kyle Todd 4 run (kick failed)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - Florence (21-87): Damon Moe 9-59, Josh Ziegler 7-17, Luke Topp 3-7, Trevar Johnson 2-4. Loyola (39-265): Dahlen 6-84, Billy Chilton 10-71, Smith 12-63, Kyle Todd 3-18, Brandon Haggarty 1-14, L. Mitzel 2-9, J. Mitzel 1-3, John Robertson 1-2, Kevin Berland 2-1, Jacob Winegart 1-0.
Passing - Florence, Moe 3-8-1-29, Johnson 0-1-0. Loyola, L. Mitzel 7-11-3-1-71.
Receiving - Florence, Tyler Lind 1-13, Luke Topp 1-13, Johnson 1-3. Loyola, Cuffe 4-41, Hollenback 2-20, Dahlen 1-10.
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