Two factors largely determine preseason rankings: returning starters and program history. And a star quarterback always helps.
Loyola has the program history. The Ramblers are going for a fourth consecutive Class 8A state championship. But this is an entirely new team. Loyola returns only a handful of starters, so the No. 2 ranking might seem like a stretch. To live up to it, the Ramblers will need massive contributions from some talented sophomores who have yet to play a varsity game.
“The last couple of years, we’ve been very fortunate where we’ve had a lot of returning starters back,” Ramblers coach Beau Desherow said. “This year, we’re young. We have some really good young talent. We’re coaching them hard and throwing a lot at them.”
Colin Vardijan and Tommy Fraumann return on the offensive line. Nick Richter and Kai Calcutt return on the defensive line and linebacker Gavin King is back. That’s it for starters. Linebacker Henry Newton and receiver Robert Clingan played significant minutes last year.
“There are definitely a lot of new guys filling really big shoes,” King said. “But the coaching that we have is easily the best in the state. Anyone who has not played in a varsity game can be ready on the first snap in the first week.”
Matthew Lee, a 6-4, 200-pound sophomore quarterback, has received the most early hype. He already has an offer from Wisconsin and interest from Notre Dame and Michigan. Desherow says junior Dom Maloney is also in the mix at quarterback.
“We are fortunate that we have two good quarterbacks,” Desherow said. “Dom Maloney played quite a bit last year as a sophomore. He was able to start a game for us.”
Sophomore wide receiver Jordan McKinley has offers from Iowa State, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Like Lee, he has not played in a varsity game.
Desherow is excited about sophomore running backs Carmelo Maldonado and Jayden Garrett.
“Those two are very talented,” Desherow said. “Maldonado’s brother played for us. We have a nice history with their family. We also have a good senior running back in Owen Lamb. He’s a bigger kid, a nice change-of-pace type.”
Former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is back as a volunteer coach for another season. His youngest son, Brendan, is a sophomore wide receiver on the varsity.
“We’ve been building a brotherhood throughout the summer,” Calcutt said. “It’s a really special group of guys. I can’t wait to see what the season brings us.”
Loyola doesn’t have a Week 2 game scheduled, and Desherow didn’t seem confident he would find one. Teams don’t see much upside in playing the Ramblers, even when the team is full of sophomores. That’s certainly a compliment to the program’s coaching staff and successful history.
“Going for a four-peat is historic,” Calcutt said.
“But those last three seasons are behind us. We can’t think anything is going to be handed to us because of the past. We have to go out and earn it.”
@michaelsobriensports No. 2 Loyola will rely on a handful of returning starters and several star sophomores this season. #ihsa #football #loyolaacademy ♬ original sound – michaelsobriensports