Loyola Academy finished the 2023 season with a perfect 14-0 record and repeated as the Illinois 8A State Champions. The Ramblers beat Lincoln Way East in the finals 26-15. This is the second year in a row that the Ramblers have knocked out Lincoln Way East in the championship game.
The new coaching staff under Beau Desherow picked up where John Holecek left off in 2022. No one knows Loyola Academy and its football program better than him. Desherow has been an assistant coach at Loyola since 2004, and he played for the Ramblers in the early 1990s. In 2016, he was inducted into the Loyola Athletic Hall of Fame. He was the perfect choice to lead this program and community.
The Ramblers won their big rivalry game during the regular season against the 7A State Champions Chicago Mount Carmel. The Mount Carmel win solidified a Catholic League Championship and snapped their 22-game win streak. Since 2020, Loyola Academy has a 103-13 overall record with 5 State Championships. They are 45-2 since 2020.
As a result of their success, Loyola will enter the 2024 season on a 19-game win streak. They will be the team to beat in Illinois.
Offense
In 2023, the offense was explosive, averaging 34.6 points per game. They could beat you with the passing game and on the ground. The Ramblers lose Joe Kelly (Colgate) and Kyle Baltazar (Army) on the offensive line. They also graduated 6’3” wide receiver Nick Arongundale. This year, they have an experienced offense with 8 out of 11 returners.
Everything starts with quarterback and University of Iowa commit Ryan Fitzgerald. The 6’3”, 205-pound senior was awesome in the state championship game. Fitzgerald was 17-for-21 passing for 203 yards and two touchdowns and ran 16 times for 89 yards and a score. For the season, he threw for 2,056 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also ran for 715 yards and scored 14 rushing touchdowns. He earned Offensive Player of the Year honors in the Chicago Catholic League. Fitzgerald is the son of former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Pat is also a volunteer coach for Loyola on Desherow’s staff.
Fitzgerald’s right-hand man is Drew MacPherson, another University of Iowa commit and 1st Team All-Chicago Catholic League performer. MacPherson, a 6’2”, 195-pound senior, can do it all for the Ramblers. He is a great running back who rushed for 855 yards (5.5 avg.) and scored nine touchdowns. He is equally as good as a receiver, catching 28 balls for 515 yards and two more touchdowns.
Outside Fitzgerald and MacPherson, the Ramblers are loaded at the receiver position. The top one coming back is tight-end Brendan Loftus. At 6’7” and 215 pounds, Loftus is an exceptional athlete who is a big target over the middle in the passing game. He caught 19 passes for 240 yards, and we expect him to play a larger role this year in the offensive game plan. Loftus is committed to Miami (Ohio).
Joining Loftus will be seniors William Carlson, Conlon Kane (6’4”, 205), and 2026 receiver Owen Joyce. Carlson did well last season, catching 29 passes for 515 yards. Kane is another big receiver with tons of potential and will get a lot of college opportunities before the season ends. A two-way player for the Ramblers is senior Donovan Robinson. The 6’3”, 215-pound University of Washington commit is a special talent who will have his number called often to help the offense.
The offensive line has three returning starters: Joe Herbert (6’3, 270), Tyler Isaacson (6’2”, 265), and Theo Koulianos (6’1”, 275). All three are interior linemen who excelled last season. Herbert is one of the Team Captains.
Defense
The Ramblers held their opponents to 9.1 points per game and recorded two shutouts last season. Desherow relied on his veteran defense, and they were a big reason they hoisted the state championship trophy.
Currently, the defense has four returning players committed to Division 1 colleges. Donovan Robinson (Washington), Connor Sullivan (South Dakota State), Charlie Daly (West Point), and Thomas Ghislandi (West Point).
On the defensive line, Sullivan (6’4”, 270) and Ghislandi (6’5”, 235) are big, fast, and relentless pass rushers.
The Ramblers’ linebackers are big and have an intimidating presence on the field. Daly is a 6’2”, 230-pound senior. Max Mendoza is a 6’3”, 230-pound inside linebacker. Tommy Stack (6’2”, 200) had a great sophomore year with 40 tackles and five sacks.
At Safety, Robinson (6’3”, 215) and Charlie Prior (6’3”, 210) have size, speed, and can cover. Robinson is arguably Loyola’s best all-around player on the team. Both safeties are excellent against the run and future linebackers at the next level. Gabe Brooks (6’3”, 180) is another young 2026 defensive back who is projected to play a lot for the Ramblers’ defense.
2024 Schedule
Loyola Academy has two classic matchups in 2024. In week one, the Ramblers will play East St. Louis on August 31 at Illinois State University. The Flyers are among the best in the state and the entire Midwest. This game will be for bragging rights, and the outcome will affect the final state polls after the playoffs. On October 25, Loyola Academy will get their rival Mount Carmel (2022 & 2023 Division 7 Champs). They have split the last two years, and both have won back-to-back state championships. Wheaton St.Francis will be a tough non-conference opponent in week 3. The Chicago Catholic League is the toughest in the state. St. Rita and Chicago Brother Rice are always physical games on the schedule.
2024 Outlook
As mentioned above, Loyola Academy is the team to beat in Illinois. They have a strong senior class that wants to win their third state title. A win in week one against East St. Louis would give them huge momentum and confidence early in the season. The offense should be even more productive in 2024, with 8 out of 11 starters returning. Fitzgerald, MacPherson, and Loftus are three elite players who still don’t get the recognition they deserve from national media outlets.
The defense will dominate again; they are big on all three levels. Regardless of position, Donovan Robinson is one of the best in the Midwest.
Looking past the regular season, the Ramblers will likely meet up again with Lincoln Way East. This has become a playoff rivalry in Division 8A. They have played each other in the playoffs five times since 2017. Lincoln Way East could have its best team; this will be another must-see game for all the die-hard high school football junkies.
