DETROIT, Mich — Detroit Loyola is known for its high powered rushing attack. Entering the 43rd Prep Bowl Championship on Saturday afternoon, the Bulldogs owned the yard with a 40-10 win over Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.
Detroit Loyola got on the board before a minute had gone by and the Bulldogs continued to score defeating Notre Dame Prep 40-10 in the first game at Ford Field this afternoon. (Timothy Arrick/ MIPrepZone)Loyola (7-2) collected 416 yards on the ground behind the feet of six ball carriers, and was led by senior running back Blaine Woodland who was the spark that lit the match.
Woodland broke away from the Fighting Irish defense and scored from 63 yards out for the first score with 11:07 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion was no good as Woodland was met at the line of scrimmage, which kept the game at 6-0.
The Fighting Irish (7-2) wasted no time finding a touchdown of their own. A 52-yard quarterback sneak from Matthew Durkin set up a one-yard jet sweep from Patrick Anger for Prep’s only lead of the game, 7-6, with 10:25 left after Bryce Baringer nailed the extra-point.
At the end of the first quarter, Durkin, who is also the punter, had a rough kick, which gave Loyola great field position. With 9:25 left in the second quarter, Nick Lee and the Bulldog offense took advantage with a quarterback sneak into the end zone. On the two-point conversion, Lee found Maurice Darling in the end zone for a 14-7 Loyola lead.
After Prep went three-and-out on the ensuing possession, the Bulldogs were back in control. Lee dropped back and found Hunter Harris down field for a 33-yard touchdown on a go-route with 6:25 left in the first half. Harris made a few men miss after the catch to give Loyola a 21-7 lead.
Neither teams could get any offensive production during the last few minutes and both squads hit the locker room, but the Bulldogs went in with a 21-7 lead.
Both the ND Prep and Loyola defenses made plays to start the second half.
Durkin fumbled the ball to open the second half and it was recovered by Darryl Jordan of the Bulldogs. On the next play from scrimmage, with 10:06 left in the third quarter, Lee fumbled and the ball went back to Prep.
The fumbled recovery from Graham Miller proved to be important, as it set up a 38-yard field from Berringer with 7:20 left in the third quarter. The field goal made it just an 11-point deficit for Prep, 21-10.
Loyola shut out NDP the rest of the way as they scored two touchdowns to end the third quarter and one in the fourth quarter. After the field goal from Prep, Loyola freshman D’Anthony Robinson took over the run game.
His 18-yard score with 5:15 left in the third quarter was set up by Demetrius Christian’s 53-yard carry. Robinson’s score increased the Bulldog’s lead, 27-10, after the extra-point from Claybron Allen was missed.
With 3:34 to go in the third, Robinson broke loose again for a 51-yard score to give Loyola a 33-10 lead over Prep. The freshman attempted the two-point conversion, but fell short as he was tackled at the 2-yard line. After the play, Robinson remained down with a leg injury and had to be carted off the field. He finished his first Prep Bowl appearance with nine carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
Prep never got a chance to make a comeback as they turned the ball over a few times and also were forced into multiple three-and-outs. Loyola got on the board for the final time in the Prep Bowl with a two-yard scamper from Lee to make it 40-10 with 2:48 left in the game.
Loyola won its first Division 7 state championship a year ago behind a heavy running attack. The quest for back-to-back state championships begins next week.
