The game against St. Augustine was a tough one for the Cubs, ending in a final score of 5-48. While Loyola had potential going into the game, when it came to execution, Loyola struggled to move the ball and was bogged down by penalties. Getting off after a long bus ride and coming off of a 38-0 win, the Cubs may have gotten too comfortable. Facing the reigning CIF-SDS Division 1 Champions showed the competitiveness of teams on our schedule. The Cubs had opportunities to make game-changing plays but were never able to execute. Notable players during the game include punter Diego Burgos ‘20 with a 20-yard field goal to end the first quarter and inside linebacker Steven Arellano with a fumble recovery putting the Cubs on their own 15-yard line.

The Cubs have now seen the level they at which they need to play, and the loss seems to have fueled the players’ attitudes. DB Ceyair Wright ‘21 explains, “This was a wake-up call for us. We know where we need to be, and now, we are going to do whatever we need to get there.” With the stiff competition in the league, Loyola will face challenging opponents this entire season; hopefully, the Cubs will be able to bounce back and draw from this defeat to fuel a successful season.