Alemany defeats Loyola, 21-16

Daily News

10/25/2008

A week after its most disappointing loss of the season, Alemany of Mission Hills responded with its most impressive victory.

David Metcalf ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to lead visiting Alemany to a 21-16 nonleague victory over Loyola of Los Angeles at Glendale High, the Warriors' first in the rivalry since 1985.

Metcalf completed 6 of 11 passes, including a 3-yard first-quarter score to Kevin Lenik. Chris Gant led Alemany (6-1) with five catches for 204 yards, including receptions of 40, 59 and 80 yards.

Although none of the catches resulted in touchdowns, with four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Metcalf converted the 80-yard pass on a second-and-15 play from his own 9-yard line.

Four plays later, Metcalf plunged in on a quarterback sneak from a yard out to increase the Warriors' lead to 21-7 at the opening of the fourth quarter.

Loyola responded with a 32-yard touchdown run by Justyn Williams, then cut the deficit to five points with eight minutes left when a fumbled Alemany punt snap rolled out of the end zone.

But the Warriors gambled with an onsides kick and Gant recovered the ball at their own 36-yard line. Alemany then ran 15 plays and moved the ball inside the Loyola 10-yard line, before turning it over on downs with less than a minute to play.

The Cubs (4-3) ran seven plays on the drive, but didn't cross midfield before time expired. Highly touted Loyola running back Anthony Barr rushed for 25 yards on seven carries, all in the first half.

- Shawn Clingan