Maybe Gordon Tech wasn’t quite the warmup game that Loyola would have preferred before clashing with fellow Catholic Blue power Mount Carmel next Friday, but at least the Ramblers reserve running backs got to strut their stuff on Saturday due to the absence of injured feature back Ryan Ribordy.
On visiting Loyola’s first play from scrimmage after the defense forced a three-and-out, Peter Pujals took a play-action keeper up the middle for a 66-yard touchdown run en route to a 42-0 victory.
Pujals left the rest to running back’s Colin Skinner and Julius Holley.
The pair picked up the slack for Ribordy, combining for the next four touchdowns for Loyola (4-1) and a 35-0 halftime lead. Skinner scored on runs of six and nine yards, finishing with 75 yards on eight carries. Holley had nine carries for 53 yards, including touchdown runs of 21 and one yards.
“Our starter Ryan is out but I think he can bust it down their throats when he wants to,” Skinner said. “We picked it up for him today and did what we had to do. It think Ribo will be back next week.”
Skinner, a senior, and Holley, a junior, are hoping for the same success next week after the return of Ribordy, who is nursing an upper body injury he suffered last week.
They know things aren’t going to be quite as easy when they square up against a Caravan defense that hasn’t allowed much of anything this season.
“We knew Ribo was injured and we had to pick it up today for him,” Holley said. “We focused more on Mount Carmel during practice last week and took care of business this week. We have to do the same next week.”
The Rams (2-3) were held to 36 total yards of offense in the first half.
