Fenwick won five of its first six games, but the Friars did so against a schedule that gave them little indication of how they might stack up against playoff competition.
Potential Class 7A playoff opponents should be on notice after Fenwick played No. 2 Loyola even for more than three quarters Saturday.
The Ramblers pulled away with three touchdowns in the final nine minutes to post a deceiving 49-28 victory, but Loyola struggled all afternoon to separate itself from the Friars. The score was tied at 7, 14, 21 and 28.
“They are a good football team,” Loyola coach John Holecek said. “Watching them on film, they’re big, solid and they don’t make mistakes. They are well-coached. I knew this was going to be a tough game.”
After going through a difficult 4-6 season that led to the hiring of first-year coach Gene Nudo, Fenwick (5-2, 2-0) can capture the Catholic League White championship with a victory against De La Salle on Oct. 19.
The best part for Nudo is the age of his players.
Keshaun Smith, who scooped up a blocked field goal and sprinted 90 yards to give the Friars a 7-0 lead against Loyola, is a junior. Aaron Garland, a fast and physical 6-foot-1, 180-pound running back/defensive back, is a sophomore. And Robert Spillane, a 6-2, 215-pound running back/linebacker who gave Loyola fits, is a junior.
“Spillane is a real good player,” Nudo said. “He has a great career ahead of him. He is going to be a big, bruising back by the time he’s a senior. People need to start paying attention to him.”
