Call it a miniature quarterback controversy.
Loyola Academy coach John Hoerster started senior quarterback Chris Proesel in Saturday’s matchup against No. 9-ranked Bishop McNamara. He then went to junior Josh Dunn in the second quarter and rotated the two for the rest of the game.
The system obviously is working. Proesel’s 22-yard pass to senior running back Vincent Duet set up Jon Schwabe’s second field goal of the game to give the 4-1 Ramblers a 13-10 upset victory.
“(Proesel and Dunn) both played well,” Hoerster said. “I don’t see any reason to change. That’s the way we’ve been doing it (all season).”
Bishop McNamara quarterback Ryan Magruder managed to hit wideout Jon Laurenti with a pass to the Loyola 36 with 26 seconds left in the game, but Ramblers linebacker Cary Costello broke up a desperation pass at the goal line to preserve the victory.
“(The Ramblers) believed in themselves,” Hoerster said. “Bishop Mac played a great game. I saw two great teams today.”
Bishop McNamara (4-1) took an early 3-0 lead on Magruder’s 23-yard field goal, set up in part by the running of Johnny Short, who gained 52 yards on nine carries during the 80-yard drive.
Loyola finally scored with 36 seconds left in the first half after driving 75 yards on just two plays.
Dunn connected with Jeremy Hillenbrand on passes of 32 and 39 yards, respectively, to set up a Schwabe field goal from the 4, tying the game at the half.
“I was disappointed in the way we executed in the first half,” Irish head coach Rich Zinanni said. “We had two chances to score, and we fell apart. We missed some key blocks.”
After the Ramblers’ defense forced and recovered a fumble on fourth and inches at the Fightin’ Irish 34, Proesel hit wideout Matthew Cherry for a 24-yard touchdown.
Bishop McNamara tied the game again with 9:03 left in the fourth quarter when a Magruder pass went through the fingers of a Ramblers defender and into Laurenti’s hands in the end zone.
“We have a little advantage (with our large roster),” Hoerster said. “We don’t have that many people playing both ways.”
