Nate Van Zelst’s 49-yard field goal ignites Loyola’s victory against St. Rita

A high school junior doesn’t just get lucky and make a 49-yard field goal. The work starts years before the actual moment arrives.

‘‘I’ve been preparing since fifth grade,’’ Loyola kicker Nate Van Zelst said. ‘‘Just a ton of practice, kicking and stretching and lifting.’’

Van Zelst isn’t a converted soccer player. He’s a football kicker, one of the best in the country. He was a MaxPreps preseason All-American and is considered one of the 20 best kickers in the United States.

Loyola coach John Holecek said he has ‘‘complete confidence’’ in Van Zelst, and his coaching staff told him Van Zelst was good to go for any kick inside 50 yards Saturday.

‘‘[I worry about] if our protection can be there on a long one on a lower trajectory,’’ Holecek said. ‘‘Especially when [St. Rita] blocked one earlier.’’

Van Zelst’s 49-yard field goal cleared the bar by several feet, split the uprights and completely changed the complexion of the game. A low-scoring contest turned into a 24-7 victory for the No. 2 Ramblers.

‘‘Wow, Nate Van Zelst was something,’’ Loyola junior running back Vaughn Pemberton said. ‘‘That definitely got the momentum going. That was amazing.’’

The field goal came late in the third quarter and was followed by a Ramblers touchdown shortly thereafter. Then St. Rita threw an interception, leading to another Loyola touchdown. Then a fumble ended any chance the Mustangs had at an upset.

‘‘It was a very choppy, weird first half,’’ Holecek said. ‘‘It fell to our side [after the field goal]. Our defense played a little better. A couple of turnovers helped.’’

Pemberton was the other major factor for Loyola (2-1). He didn’t have a carry last week against New Trier and shared carries with Trevor Cabanban, Tyler Flores and Marco Maldonado in the first half. Pemberton took over in the second half and finished with 18 carries for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

Loyola’s Vaughn Pemberton (14) shakes a defender and picks up a few more yards. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Loyola’s Vaughn Pemberton (14) runs straight ahead against St. Rita. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Loyola’s Nate Van Zelst (15) kicks a 49-yard field goal out of the hold of John Grogan (2). | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Loyola’s Nate Van Zelst (15) kicks a 49-yard field goal out of the hold of John Grogan (2). | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Loyola’s Aidan Brownlee (5) holds on to a pass for a first down during the Ramblers 24-7 win over St. Rita. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Loyola’s Daniel O’Flaherty (20) and Liam Conaghan (56) wrap up St. Rita’s Kaleb Brown. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Christo Kelly (76), Loyola’s long snapper and weekend giant, retrieves his gloves after the Ramblers kick an extra point. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Loyola’s Christo Kelly (76) gets fired up after the Ramblers score their final touchdown. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Loyola coach John Holocek addresses his players after the Ramblers’ 24-7 win over St. Rita. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Loyola’s Luke Desherow (85) recovers a fumble and signals the Rambers’ first down. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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St. Rita’s Kaleb Brown (35) runs around Loyola’s Art Benjamin (3) and breaks a 41-yard run for a touchdown. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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‘‘Our running game was stagnant early,’’ Holecek said. ‘‘But we stuck with it, even when they were loading the box. We should learn from this film a lot.’’

Loyola junior quarterback Perrion McClinton was 8-for-15 for 40 yards and a touchdown. Junior JT Thomas took the reins for a few drives late in the second half and was 3-for-7 for 25 yards.

St. Rita sophomore Kaleb Brown, one of the top prospects in the state, ripped off a 41-yard touchdown run to give the Mustangs (1-2) a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter. He finished with 16 carries for 89 yards.

‘‘The long touchdown run he had, we were in the right position but didn’t tackle real well,’’ Holecek said. ‘‘That kid is so special. He breaks a lot of tackles and doesn’t go down easily.’’

St. Rita beat Joliet Catholic in Week 1 and lost to Richards in Week 2. Things don’t get any easier for the Mustangs, who have Montini on the road in Week 4.

Loyola will be on the South Side for a high-profile showdown Friday against undefeated Mount Carmel. Van Zelst is looking forward to his personal matchup against Caravan kicker Julian Patino, who made two long field goals against Montini.

‘‘He’s good,’’ Van Zelst said. ‘‘That should be a fun one.’’