Father knew best for CdM’s Loyd

In order for Corona del Mar High senior Matt Loyd to discover the

full extent of what he could do on the football field, he had to be

told, ordered in fact, what he could not.

So, after the 5-foot-10, 175-pounder produced a breakout

performance -- rushing for 187 yards on 23 carries and intercepting a

pass in the Sea Kings’ 26-6 season-opening win over Estancia Friday

-- Loyd had someone special to thank.

“My dad [Edward] has helped me be thankful for everything I have,”

said Loyd, who started last season at cornerback. He also played some

at receiver last season, but had never touched the ball on offense in

a varsity game, before Friday.

Indeed, the overnight success that was nearly 10 years in the

making, including several years in Junior All-American football

before becoming a Sea King, would not have occurred had Edward not

intervened last season.

“A lot of my good friends quit [football] and there were times

when I wanted to quit, too,” Loyd said. “During last season, I was

just playing defense and not doing much on offense and I felt like

quitting. But my dad wouldn’t have any of it. It’s not like he talked

me out of it; he just put his foot down and told me I had to stick it

out.”

Loyd said the little confab with his father did anything but

inspire a new commitment. But, slowly, as he began working toward his

senior season, he started enjoying the game, once again. And, for the

first time in years, perhaps his entire career, the results are there

for everyone to see.

“I got a lot of comments from people after [Friday’s] game,” said

Loyd, who became the starting tailback when expected senior returner

Brett Crowley was lost for the season with a recurring knee problem.

“My coaches tell me I have a problem believing in myself, but that

game gave me a lot of confidence,” Loyd said.

Loyd, whom Coach Dick Freeman praised before the season for his

speed and elusiveness, had 100 yards by halftime against the Eagles.

He piked up 18 yards on his first carry and also produced gains of 31

and 28 yards.

“The holes were huge,” said Loyd, who also plays basketball and

ran the 100 meters for the track and field team last spring (his best

time, he said, was 11.5). “I couldn’t have gotten any of those yards

without the offensive line doing what it did. It was 95% their

accomplishment.”

Bolstered by his dynamic tailback debut, Loyd said he has

reconfigured his expectations for this season.

“I’m hoping I can get 1,500 rushing yards,” said Loyd, who

admitted that would not have been a goal of his before last week.

Loyd said he has also begun to consider the possibility of playing

football beyond high school, though that would most likely be at

cornerback.

It was on defense that Loyd made, perhaps, his most impressive

play against Estancia.

“That was a very athletic play,” Freeman said of Loyd’s leaping

interception on a deep sideline pass at the CdM 16-yard line. “When

we saw it on film, we all thought it was a great catch.”

Loyd also delivered one of the game’s biggest hits, driving his

helmet into the midsection of an Estancia receiver, who remained on

the turf for several moments late in the game, the wind knocked out

of him.

Freeman said a deep group of talented and experienced players at

the skill positions last season helped limit Loyd’s offensive

opportunities to spot duty at receiver.

But, clearly, Loyd could be the center of attention in an offense

that should rely most heavily on the running game.

“We know he can do it and, now, he knows it too,” Freeman said.

It appears Loyd’s dad knew it all along.

MATT LOYD

Born: Feb. 26, 1988

Hometown: Newport Beach

Height: 6-0

Weight: 180

Sport: Football

Position: Tailback, cornerback

Coach: Dick Freeman

Favorite food: Pasta

Favorite movie: “Man on Fire”

Favorite athletic moment: “Starting at cornerback last year as a

junior.”

Week in review: The senior rushed for 187 yards on 23 carries and

also intercepted a pass in the Sea Kings’ 26-6 season-opening

nonleague victory over Estancia Friday at Orange Coast College.

Daily Pilot

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