Ramblers storm past second-ranked St. Rita

Loyola coach John Holecek described his team’s 24-0 lashing of second-ranked St. Rita as a ‘‘perfect storm.’’

And his defense, anchored by Pat Hickey, Chance Carter, Joe Walsh, Pat Dougherty, Steve Conway and Jan Struhar, provided the thunder and lightning.

‘‘It was a perfect storm for them,’’ Holecek said. ‘‘Our offensive coaches caught them at first. They dug holes. And we had some plays go our way.’’

In a matchup of Catholic League Blue rivals Saturday in Wilmette, the Ramblers (5-1, 2-1) scored on the first play from scrimmage, a 55-yard pass from quarterback Lucas Ruske to Jack Begley, and the defense allowed only 13 yards rushing. St. Rita (5-1, 2-1) never recovered.

‘‘That’s the best team we’ve played all year, the most complete team,’’ St. Rita coach Todd Kuska said. ‘‘We didn’t get any breaks. We didn’t make big plays on offense, defense or special teams.’’

Loyola made plenty. The Ramblers recorded their third shutout in a row against a team that had averaged 31 points per game. Hickey recovered a fumble, and Dan Badovinac and Luke Lopatka had interceptions. They encircled St. Rita running backs Dan Dispensa and Dave Marciano and never allowed them to break away.

Ruske, who completed 5 of 13 passes for 127 yards in the first half, also scored on a 28-yard run in the third quarter. Begley’s 30-yard run set up Leo Sheridan’s 22-yard field goal, and Ruske’s 28-yard pass to Begley on fourth-and-11 set up Begley’s three-yard scoring run as No. 16 Loyola went up 17-0 at halftime.

‘‘All week, we looked at Dispensa and Marciano on film,’’ said Hickey, a 6-foot, 240-pound senior noseman whom Holecek describes as his best player. ‘‘We keyed on them. We tried to engulf them and keep them from making plays.

‘‘We knew they were an excellent team. But our defense came through big time. My job is to eat up double- and triple-teams and leave the linebackers open to make tackles. Then I try to make plays.

‘‘Early, some people ranked us last in the Catholic League Blue. I didn’t think we would shut out St. Rita. But this game gives us momentum. It tells us that we were underrated at the beginning of the year but now we can play with anyone.’’

Unable to run, St. Rita tried to pass. But quarterback Larry Garrett completed only 18 of 45 passes for 209 yards, most in the second half. The Mustangs got inside Loyola’s 10-yard line twice in the fourth quarter but couldn’t score.

‘‘We knew where Dispensa was at all times. He’s the most talented player, the fastest player I’ve seen in my six years of coaching,’’ Holecek said. ‘‘We knew there was a chance we could limit them.’’