Loyola seized control of Friday’s historic Bishop’s Cup showdown with explosive special teams, a downhill run game, and a poised night from quarterback Bryce Restovich.
The Flyers rolled past St. Frederick, 55-21, to open the season with a victory and regain momentum in the series after a muddy loss in 2024.
Early drives traded punts as both defenses settled in, but Restovich found rhythm late in the first quarter and hit returning starter, senior receiver Jake Black for a 33-yard strike to open the scoring after a series of timing throws that included a key completion to junior wide receiver Charlie Mackenzie.
The Warriors flashed back with a 48-yard burst from junior running back Darrell Cooper. But the drive stalled, and St. Fred lined up for a field goal that sailed wide left to keep Loyola in front.
Pinned at their own 20, Restovich extended a play on a scramble drill to junior wide receiver Brock Geter before senior running back Mason Drake took over, capping the drive with a 46-yard touchdown for a 13-0 lead.
Loyola’s defense forced another punt, and Restovich showed elusiveness in the pocket before dropping a 36-yard dime to sophomore athlete Ty Wallsworth for the freshman’s first career touchdown, stretching the edge to 20-0 with three minutes left in the half.
“Felt good!” Wallsworth said. “Haven’t got a touchdown since eighth grade. Been ineligible for past a year and a half now. So, feels great to get in the end zone again.”
St. Frederick’s ground-and-pound finally cashed in as sophomore athlete Luke Ricconi ripped a 52-yard run to set up junior running back Archer Ashbrook’s 10-yard touchdown to make it 20-7 just before the break.
But Loyola snatched momentum right back as Wallsworth housed the ensuing kickoff 79 yards to stretch the margin back to 27-7 before the break.
The second half opened with fireworks as junior quarterback Matthew Malloy sprinted 76 yards on the first snap to cut the margin, briefly giving the Warriors a jolt and pull back within 27-14.
But déjà vu struck again. Wallsworth answered immediately with a 75-yard kick return, his school-record second kick-return touchdown of the night, and the Flyers never looked back.
With a 34-14 cushion, the Loyola defense tightened, and the offense rode Drake behind a physical offensive line to close it down the stretch on the senior back’s way to a hat trick on the ground.
