Loyola runs away from Maine South and into the 8A semifinals – The Record

Loyola’s sluggish start felt like a distant memory by the time Luke Foster plunged into the end zone late in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon.

Foster’s touchdown put the finishing touches on the Ramblers’ 35-14 victory over Maine South in an IHSA Class 8A quarterfinal on Nov. 16 in Wilmette.

Tied 14-14 with the Hawks in the third quarter, Loyola scored the final 21 points of the contest on a touchdown apiece from Conlon Kane (1-yard catch), Drew MacPherson (6-yard run) and Luke Foster (1-yard run).

The Ramblers defense held the Hawks at bay in the second half. Outside of their one touchdown drive, Maine South could not advance into Loyola territory.

Donovan Robinson’s 60-plus yard interception return for a score gave his Ramblers a much-needed first-half boost, tying the game at 7-7 in the second quarter.

Loyola took its first lead early in the second half when MacPherson broke free for an 81-yard scoring sprint.

The victory pushes Loyola into the 8A semifinals on its quest for a third straight state championship. Awaiting the Ramblers is Lincoln-Way East (12-0), the tournament’s top seed and Loyola’s opponent in its 2023 and 2024 championship victories.

Stay tuned to TheRecordNorthShore.org for a full report with quotes, more game action and statistics.