Latest Vanis Leads Loyola Past St. Paul

Loyola High running back Mike Vanis followed in his family’s footsteps and made life difficult for St. Paul defenders.

Vanis and quarterback Ray Kasper led the Cubs to a 28-14 victory over Santa Fe Springs St. Paul in a Del Rey League opener before 5,500 Saturday night at Glendale High.

Vanis, the fourth member of his family to play football for Loyola, rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns in 16 carries and caught a two-point conversion.

Kasper completed 11 of 18 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns in his fourth start. Scott Walter, the Cubs’ designated starter at quarterback, played his second game at free safety after breaking his right wrist in the season opener.

Loyola, The Times’ ninth-ranked team, improved to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in league while No. 17 St. Paul (4-2, 0-1) suffered its second consecutive loss. It was also Loyola Coach Steve Grady’s first victory in five tries against Coach Marijon Ancich.

After squandering a 14-point lead, the Cubs scored a touchdown during the final minutes of the second quarter to take a 20-14 halftime lead and added another touchdown on their first possession of the third quarter. Kasper, who threw for two first-half touchdowns, ran right, turned and threw left to Matt LaBonge for a five-yard score with 19 seconds left in the first half. The score was set up by a 19-yard run by guard Robert Quigley who picked up a loose ball after Loyola faked a center snap.

Kasper also threw a 29-yard scoring pass to Matt Peterson for the Cubs’ first score in the first quarter. Loyola took a 14-0 lead when Vanis scored on a four-yard run and a 28-14 lead on Vanis’ two-yard run.

Quarterback Gerry Ceballos helped St. Paul avoid a rout by accounting for second-quarter touchdowns on a 10-yard run and a 28-yard pass to Josh Lough. Ceballos completed 12 of 25 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown.