Strong second half gets Ramblers past Warren

Chance Carter (85) leads a swarm of Loyola defenders as he brings down Warren running back Greg Kennedy.
(Ralph Greenslade/Sun-Times)

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An amazing second half for Loyola’s defense was the difference.

The Ramblers pitched a second-half shutout and Will Forsyth threw three touchdown passes as the No. 6 Ramblers knocked off visiting Warren 21-7 Saturday in a Class 8A second-round playoff game at Hoerster Field in Wilmette.

“At halftime, we just go over plays and the coaches always change to the right thing,” Loyola linebacker Thomas Kelly said. “Coach H [head coach John Holecek] is so good at defensive game planning.”

Loyola (10-1) broke a tie at 7 in the third quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Forsyth to Brian Luna.

Then the defense came up with a huge play when Jim Ford hit Warren quarterback Patrick Oliver, who fumbled and Kyle Guziec recovered at the Warren 1. On third down, Forsyth completed a scoring pass to Joseph Gross for about six inches and a 21-7 lead.

“We’ve got great coaches in coach Holecek, [Marty] Jennings and [Ed] Flynn,” Loyola's Northwestern-bound defensive end Chance Carter said. “They pay attention big-time and have remarkable, great defensive minds. And the offense helped us out a lot.”

A 12-play Loyola drive late in the first quarter ended with a five-yard scoring pass from Forsyth to Robbie Wennington for a 7-0 lead with 1:35 remaining. But Warren (8-3) answered in two plays with a 74-yard scoring run by Greg Kennedy (15 carries, 117 yards).

“Warren’s a great team but our defense only gave up one big play,” said Forsyth, who believes that his three touchdown passes were a season best. “The o-line gave me a lot of time and we took advantage of turnover. And coach Holecek made great adjustments.”

“We’re pretty flexible and have players with the talent to execute,” Holecek said. “On their touchdown, they caught us on a weak-side blitz. But our kids are smart. They know as much as I do.”

Loyola, which played without running back Addison Perry and center Quinn Kaiser, who are both expected back next week, will travel to the South Side for a quarterfinal matchup against Catholic League Blue rival Mount Carmel, which will play its third playoff game, and second as host at Gately Stadium.

“That kid’s acceleration was amazing,” Holecek said of Kennedy. “Mount Carmel’s guys accelerate, but that was like nothing we’ve seen.

“It’s horrible to have to play a team that good that is clicking. It’s a heck of a challenge. You can’t do the same things against them and it becomes a chess match.”