Ground attack paces Loyola past Providence

Updated: September 17, 2011 4:13PM

Running the no-huddle offense for Loyola, senior quarterback Malcolm Weaver isn’t picky.

If an opposing defense is going to allow him to pass in the pocket, he plans on taking advantage through the air. As was the case Friday in Loyola’s League Blue opener against Providence, it was the ground game that set the tone.

Weaver and William Palivos rushed for two touchdowns each in Loyola’s 32-6 road win in New Lenox.

“We couldn’t capitalize passing on the goal line so we stuck to running,” Weaver said with a smile. “It worked so we’ll take it.”

Weaver finished 17 of 28 passing for 152 yards while rushing for 47 yards on 10 carries. Palivos ended with 15 carries for 122 yards for Loyola (4-0, 1-0).

Looking to open the scoring though, it was Weaver throwing an interception (just his second of the year) in the end zone on Loyola’s first possession. Providence was unable to capitalize on a three-and-out.

Weaver and his Ramblers teammates responded, scoring on the team’s next three possessions. Will Kushwa drilled a 27-yard field goal, Palivos ran it in from five yards out, and Weaver found the end zone on a two-yard keeper. Providence answered with 13 seconds left in the first half on an Andy Hoffmeister score for a 16-6 halftime deficit.

“You’ve got to have a short term memory,” Weaver said. “You can’t put your head down (after the interception). I shook it off, and we came back and played some good ball.”

The offensive momentum carried over into the second half as Weaver (7-yard run) and Palivos (32-yard run) again reached the end zone in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

“The no huddle offense causes a little bit of a problem,” Providence coach Mark Coglianese said. “Loyola executes so well, and they got us back on our heels. They’ve got several guys who can make plays. They are definitely not a one-man team (Weaver).”

Providence (3-1, 0-1) was never able to get into an offensive rhythm as the typically run-heavy Celtics were forced to throw. Hoffmeister finished with 63 yards on 14 carries. Quarterback Chris Salazar completed 15 of 29 passes for 143 yards with an interception.

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