Phillips’ miraculous goal-line stand beats Loyola

Phillips quarterback J’Bore Gibbs couldn’t do anything but watch. His teammates on defense were tasked with a near-impossible task: stop Loyola from scoring on a first-and-goal from the 3. The No. 8 Wildcats needed to stop the No. 3 Ramblers on four downs. They did it.

“Whew, that was beautiful,” Gibbs said. “The best thing ever to be honest. I absolutely thought they could do it, they’ve been working on that in practice. I had no doubt they were going to stop them, I knew that was going to happen.”

On first-and-goal Loyola running back Vernon Green was stopped at the 1. Loyola quarterback Quinn Boyle ran on second down and fumbled back to the 3. On third down Boyle gained two yards to set up fourth-and-goal from the 1. Phillips tied up Green for a two-yard loss and a 20-14 win.

“It was amazing to win that game,” Phillips running back/linebacker Craig Elmore said. “They were ranked nationally, so that really says something about our program.”

Elmore carried the ball 16 times for 57 yards.

“Their defense was very strong,” Elmore said. Their safeties really hit. The beginning of the game was tough on offense. Halftime we made some adjustment and things worked.”

Gibbs’ numbers aren’t pretty, but he stepped up in the key moments. The senior quarterback was 9-for-22 for 132 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

“It was a little frustrating for me,” Gibbs said. “Just some things were off a little bit. We will come back and watch the film and learn from it. You are always going to have mistakes in the first game, you have to learn from them.”

Gibbs’ 30-yard touchdown pass to Jaiquon Banks with 3:58 to play in the third quarter turned out to be the game-winner. Joe Thompson caught a 26-yard touchdown pass earlier in the third quarter and Fabian McCray caught a 21-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

“It’s a statement win for our program,” Phillips coach Troy McAllister said. “[Loyola] was shorthanded tonight and it showed at times but it is still a Class 8A team and arguably the best program in the state of Illinois over the last few years. It’s the next step forward for our program and where we want to get to. It’s a great win and we are excited and happy but it is Week 1.”

Senior quarterback Quinn Boyle provided most of the offense for the Ramblers. He rushed 19 times for 90 yards and was 11-for-17 passing for 178 yards. Boyle scored a five-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter to open the scoring.

Phillips defensive back Anthony Davis had two sacks, the Wildcats sacked Boyle five times total.

“We wanted it, we just wanted it,” Davis said. “Coach told me to use my speed. I think I’m one of the fastest in the state so I got back there.”

Phillips celebrated after the game, but the Wildcats don’t act like underdogs anymore. A quiet confidence has seeped into the program.

“We need to keep our poise and stay humble,” Gibbs said. “This is a great win but the season isn’t over with.”