HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Loyola Holds Off Mater Dei

Mater Dei’s Billy Blanton, the state’s second-leading passer, could not pull off a comeback Saturday night against Loyola at Glendale High.

Loyola took a 20-6 halftime lead and held on to win, 28-20, in an Angelus League game before 6,500 at Glendale High.

Blanton led two second-half touchdown drives but was sacked twice on Mater Dei’s final scoring bid.

Blanton, who finished with 255 yards passing and two touchdowns, drove Mater Dei (8-1, 1-1) to a first down at Loyola’s 31-yard line with 4:30 remaining, but consecutive sacks by Loyola’s Chris Eccon and Paul Rodarte ended the threat.

Loyola (5-2, 1-1) was led by running back Michael Brown’s 76 yards in 18 carries and two touchdowns.

“We tried to change our defensive coverage to confuse Blanton,” said Loyola Coach Steve Grady. “He’s something special. . . . the best pure passer I’ve ever seen. Every time he went back to pass, you held your breath. He’s just deadly.”