The IC Catholic Prep football team gave Loyola Academy all it could handle and then some in a Week 8 matchup that saw the Ramblers score a 45-35 come-from-behind win in a battle of two of the state’s top-ranked teams at Lewis Stadium at Plunkett Athletic Complex in Elmhurst on Friday, Oct. 9.
The loss dropped Class 3A No. 1 IC Catholic Prep to 7-1 overall, while Loyola, the top-ranked team in the state in Class 8A by Illinois Media, moved to 8-0.
IC Catholic Prep held a 35-18 lead at one point in the contest.
Quarterback Nate Lang hit Grant Bowen with a 20-yard scoring strike to put the Knights up 7-0. Loyola tied it at 7-7 before Lang threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Carroccio to make it 14-7 after a quarter.
Loyola cut the lead to 14-10 on a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter before Lang threw his third touchdown pass of the night, a 20-yarder to Carroccio to put ICCP up 21-10. A 5-yard rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion by Loyola made it 21-18.
Lang’s fourth touchdown pass was a 15-yarder to Will Schmidt that put the Knights up 28-18 and touchdown pass No. 5 to Bowen (30 yards) made it 35-18. Loyola cut the lead to 35-21 with a 35-yard field goal.
In the second half, Loyola scored on touchdown passes of five and 13 yards, had a 50-yard touchdown run and kicked a 30-yard field goal to pull out the win.
