1965 Football Team (1999)

Loyola Academy will never win the Catholic League championship because those North Shore boys are not willing to pay the price. Such was the re g a rd of rival St. Rita Coach Pat Cronin on the Ramblers' chances to bring a title to Wilmette. Loyola, however, did pay the price - beginning with spring practice the previous April and again in the grueling days of late August. Primed and eager, the Ramblers met that same St. Rita team in a preseason showdown. In probably the hardest fought opener in years, St. Rita edged Loyola, 20-18. Rather than sulk, the team pledged that it would not lose again. The promise proved more than mere lip service as on subsequent Sundays the Ramblers dispatched Mendel (27-6), Fenwick (14-0), Holy Trinity (25-0), DePaul (52-14), St. Philip (49-0), and Gordon Tech (18-0). Still, the Gordon victory brought mixed reactions as star quarterback Tim Foley (and future NFL All-Pro) suffered a season-ending injury, leaving back-up Bill O'Donnell to lead the way. One week later, O'Donnell sparked a 26-2 win over Weber, but disaster struck again when All-State halfback Randy Marksfell victim to a severe ankle sprain. The crippled Ramblers then took on Brother Rice in the first round of the Catholic League playoffs. After failing to penetrate Loyola's goal-line defense, Rice yielded a first-half touchdown that ultimately settled the game 6-0. Again, however, victory proved costly when O'Donnell suffered a broken collarbone. Third-team quarterback Ken Krajchovich thus was called on in the second half to control the ball and preserve the win. Hobbled by injuries, Loyola entered dark, rain-soaked Soldier Field as clear underdogs in the Catholic League championship game against the Leo Lions. Nonetheless, "those North Shore boys" defied the naysayers to fashion a one-sided 32-8 win, courtesy of gritty defense and the spectacular passing game of Krajchovich and wide-out Phil Wells. After thirty-four years, the Catholic League crown was again Loyola's. All that remained was the City championship. The following week, on a cold winter afternoon in Soldier Field, 75,000 spectators saw Loyola take apart Chicago Vocational in the Prep Bowl. The Ramblers dominated early and often, crushing the Cavaliers, 33-13, and the title was theirs. Loyola 's coaching staff, ranked the best in the area, reflected the excellence on the field. The names of Naughton, Spoo, Powers, Graf, Wright, and Blackmore resound as inspiration to the players they coached en route to a 10-1 reco rd and the 1965 League and City championships. The players themselves were blessed with quickness, ability, and purpose. Individuals they were, but theirs was not a season for individuals. It was a season for teams, and Loyola's was the best. 1965 Football Team (left to right) Coaches: Robert Spoo, Frederick Wright, Robert Naughton, Richard Blackmore, William Graf. First Row: John Crowley, Pete Fox, Mark Lahey, Ken Krajchovich, Dave Grossfeld, John Sheridan, Gerald Mack, Dennis O'Shaughnessy. Second Row: Jim Rupp, Mike Oosten, Mike Jettner, Mike Sparough, John Nugent, Joe Caparros, Mike Fauls, Paul Prikos. Third Row: Bob O'Brien, George McCarthy, Kevin Crisham, Bob Collins, Mike O'Brien, Jim Tracy, Randy Marks, Bill O'Donnell. Fourth Row: Phil Wells, Carl Camastro, Luke Matthews, Jim Crowley, Tony Mitchell, Bud Grafft, John Dwyer, Bill Devine. Fifth Row: John Metzger, John Ostry, Paul Gebuhr, Dick Potter, Dan Paschen, Dick Barret, Dave O'Donovan, Chris Markey. Sixth Row: John Heller, Jim Rianoshek, Brad Edwards, Marty McNulty, Jim Sweeney, Jim Schiller, John Veeneman , Terry O'Shaughnessy. Seventh Row: Mark Matthews, Ed Gibbs, Gene Koeune, Mike Silver, Tom Igliori, Tom Nieman, Mario Marchese, Steve Fox. Eighth Row: Joe Marino, Mike Mals, Ron Smith, Skip Stark, Don Kaiser, Chris Stephan, Bob O'Brien, Tim Foley. Not pictured: Coach Tom Powers.