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Loyola Academy wins 8A title by landslide

DeKALB — After close calls in the state quarterfinals and semifinals, it was back to winning by landslide for Loyola Academy's football team on Saturday night.

The Ramblers wrapped up a perfect season, finishing 14-0 after a 41-0 victory over Marist in the Class 8A state championship game at NIU's Huskie Stadium on Saturday night.

Loyola had essentially gone unchallenged through the regular season and the first two weeks of the playoffs. Things got tougher in the quarterfinals, a 34-28 win against Homewood-Flossmoor, and in the semifinals, a 24-22 win at Palatine.

It's the first state championship for coach John Holecek, who in a 10-year span has amassed a record of 110-25. The Ramblers have qualified for the playoffs in each of his seasons and earned state runner-up finishes in 2011 and 2013.

Loyola's Dara Laja, a Mt. Prospect resident, rushed for touchdowns of 9 and 6 yards in the second quarter. He finished with 152 yards on 24 carries, giving him season totals of 1,857 yards on 279 carries.

Defensively, Loyola allowed Marist 174 yards — but that included a minus-2 in rushing.

Loyola quarterback Emmett Clifford completed 16 of 24 passes for 195 yards 1 touchdown, with 1 interception.

Coach Pat Dunne's team from Marist (9-5) lost close games to Mt. Carmel, Benet, Nazareth and Joliet Catholic during the regular season.

After topping Notre Dame by 3 points in the first round of the postseason, the RedHawks edged Barrington 59-56 in the highest-scoring Class 8A playoff game in state history.

Marist went on to top Oswego and then Waubonsie Valley to earn its spot in the championship game.

It's the second state runner-up finish for Marist, which has not yet won a state championship. The RedHawks lost to Naperville Central in the 2009 state title game.

Images: Loyola Academy vs. Marist football

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