Big plays from Drew MacPherson and Donovan Robinson spark Loyola past Maine South
Loyola vs. Maine South doesn’t need any hyping up—two of the state’s premier programs matching up in a Class 8A state quarterfinal.But after almost two full quarters of clunky football, the game needed some juice. Donovan Robinson was there to provide it. The Loyola senior intercepted a pass from Hawks sophomore quarterback Jameson Purcell and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown to tie the score just before halftime.“We read it right,” Robinson said. “I saw it and then I just had to execute. It felt good making a play for my team.”Running back Drew MacPherson and the Ramblers’ stagnant offense came to life in the second half and Loyola beat Maine South 35-14 on Saturday in Wilmette.“[The interception] got everyone’s juices going,” Ramblers coach Beau Desherow said. “We were able to go in at halftime and make the adjustments we needed and the offense came out clicking”.Robinson’s touchdown tied the score at 7. MacPherson gave Loyola (10-2) a 14-7 lead on his 81-yard TD run with 8:35 left in the third quarter.“I have decent trust in my speed so when I didn’t see anyone in front of me I thought I’d be able to house it,” MacPherson said.Purcell connected with Joey Naughton for a 30-yard TD later in the third quarter to tie it at 14. But it was all Loyola from then on.“We had a key injury in the second half and that really hurt us,” Maine South coach Dave Inserra said. “We showed up ready for a fight and gave it to them. That was an earned victory. The final score was not indicative of the game.”MacPherson had 24 carries for 191 yards and two TDs.“When you give Drew a little bit of space he is dangerous,” Desherow said. “He’s so patient.”Loyola quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald played through an injury most of the season. He's been running the ball more in the last two games, a key feature of the Ramblers’ offense. The Iowa recruit had 10 carries for 56 yards. He was 10 of 16 for 68 yards with one interception and a one-yard TD pass to Conlon Kane in the third quarter.“We were sleeping in the first half,” MacPherson said. “The coaches definitely let us know. That was a wake-up call.” Ryan Fitzgerald to Conlon Kane for a TD. Loyola leads Maine South 21-14 very late in the 3Q. pic.twitter.com/qIQeBQIvOF— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) November 16, 2024 Maine South (8-4) entered on a seven-game win streak behind Purcell, who torched defenses throughout the playoffs. Loyola ended both streaks.“We wanted to make him uncomfortable,” Ramblers linebacker Max Mendoza said. “Just pressure him, get him scrambling, and make sure he throws it out in space.”Purcell was 13 of 33 for 142 yards with two interceptions.“[Maine South] got us on a couple of things,” Desherow said. “But for the most part, our defense played pretty well.”Loyola will travel to Frankfort to face undefeated, top-ranked Lincoln-Way East in the semifinals next weekend.The Ramblers have ended Lincoln-Way East’s last three seasons. Loyola defeated the Griffins in the Class 8A championship game the last two years and beat them in the quarterfinals in 2021.“[Maine South] is also a huge rivalry for us,” Desherow said. “This playoff atmosphere was a good taste for our kids to get ready to head down there.”
Loyola vs. Maine South doesn’t need any hyping up—two of the state’s premier programs matching up in a Class 8A state quarterfinal.
But after almost two full quarters of clunky football, the game needed some juice. Donovan Robinson was there to provide it. The Loyola senior intercepted a pass from Hawks sophomore quarterback Jameson Purcell and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown to tie the score just before halftime.
“We read it right,” Robinson said. “I saw it and then I just had to execute. It felt good making a play for my team.”
Running back Drew MacPherson and the Ramblers’ stagnant offense came to life in the second half and Loyola beat Maine South 35-14 on Saturday in Wilmette.
“[The interception] got everyone’s juices going,” Ramblers coach Beau Desherow said. “We were able to go in at halftime and make the adjustments we needed and the offense came out clicking”.
Robinson’s touchdown tied the score at 7. MacPherson gave Loyola (10-2) a 14-7 lead on his 81-yard TD run with 8:35 left in the third quarter.
“I have decent trust in my speed so when I didn’t see anyone in front of me I thought I’d be able to house it,” MacPherson said.
Purcell connected with Joey Naughton for a 30-yard TD later in the third quarter to tie it at 14. But it was all Loyola from then on.
“We had a key injury in the second half and that really hurt us,” Maine South coach Dave Inserra said. “We showed up ready for a fight and gave it to them. That was an earned victory. The final score was not indicative of the game.”
MacPherson had 24 carries for 191 yards and two TDs.
“When you give Drew a little bit of space he is dangerous,” Desherow said. “He’s so patient.”
Loyola quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald played through an injury most of the season. He's been running the ball more in the last two games, a key feature of the Ramblers’ offense. The Iowa recruit had 10 carries for 56 yards. He was 10 of 16 for 68 yards with one interception and a one-yard TD pass to Conlon Kane in the third quarter.
“We were sleeping in the first half,” MacPherson said. “The coaches definitely let us know. That was a wake-up call.”
Ryan Fitzgerald to Conlon Kane for a TD. Loyola leads Maine South 21-14 very late in the 3Q. pic.twitter.com/qIQeBQIvOF— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) November 16, 2024
Maine South (8-4) entered on a seven-game win streak behind Purcell, who torched defenses throughout the playoffs. Loyola ended both streaks.
“We wanted to make him uncomfortable,” Ramblers linebacker Max Mendoza said. “Just pressure him, get him scrambling, and make sure he throws it out in space.”
Purcell was 13 of 33 for 142 yards with two interceptions.
“[Maine South] got us on a couple of things,” Desherow said. “But for the most part, our defense played pretty well.”
Loyola will travel to Frankfort to face undefeated, top-ranked Lincoln-Way East in the semifinals next weekend.
The Ramblers have ended Lincoln-Way East’s last three seasons. Loyola defeated the Griffins in the Class 8A championship game the last two years and beat them in the quarterfinals in 2021.
“[Maine South] is also a huge rivalry for us,” Desherow said. “This playoff atmosphere was a good taste for our kids to get ready to head down there.”
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