By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

Loyola sophomore wide receiver Charlie McKenzie has been feeling a little left out lately.

As part of the Flyers’ four-man wide receiving corps that came into Friday’s contest with a total of 30 catches, McKenzie led the group with 11 receptions through two games. But there was one place where he had been left out – the end zone.

The other three receivers had all scored touchdowns in the first two weeks, but McKenzie had yet to make it across the goal line.

“I’ve just been waiting to get into the end zone,” McKenzie said.

He didn’t have to wait long, nor did the entire Loyola offense, in a 64-13 rout of Cedar Creek at Messmer Stadium.

Late in the first quarter, after the Flyers had already scored on their first three possessions, McKenzie finally got a chance to ring the bell. He started the drive with a 24-yard reception and followed that two plays later when he caught a quick slant, made two nice moves, and walked into the zone.

Paydirt. Finally.

“It was awesome,” McKenzie said. “Coming into that drive, coach (John) Sella said we are going to get me one and I just went out and made a play.”

He liked that feeling so much that he followed it up the Loyola’s next possession with a 24-yard touchdown reception as part of a night in which he caught four passes for 84 yards.

No one got left out as the Flyers basically had a Homecoming celebration in the end zone as the other members of the receiving group – senior Jake Black, junior Brock Geter and sophomore Ty Walsworth – also caught touchdown passes. Walsworth had four catches for 136 yards.

It may be the best wide receiver group the Flyers have even had. Black and Geter return as starters from last year after they combined for 84 catches and have added Walsworth as a transfer and McKenzie, who was sidelined most of his freshman season after suffering a leg injury as a kick returner.

As Loyola concludes its non-district schedule at 3-0, the foursome has 44 catches for 722 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“It’s an awesome group,” McKenzie said. “We spread it around and share the ball. Nobody feels like they have to get all the yards or receptions because we’ve got four guys who can do it. We just feed off each other.”

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have a quarterback who has already gone over the career 3,000-yard mark throwing to them. Junior Bryce Restovich had a career-high 325 passing yards as part of a five-touchdown night.

Restovich completed 14 of 17 passes and was one incompletion away from setting the school record for single-game passing efficiency. Early in his junior year, he is already closing in on the school record for career touchdown passes (59).

The Flyers did a lot of the same things against the Cougars that they have done all year. One of those is seeing Mason Drake score touchdowns, as the senior running back upped his season total to eight with his second three-touchdown performances of the year.

Loyola’s defense also came up with four turnovers, raising the season total to 11.

The 166 points scored by Loyola is the most ever through three games in a season. The Flyers will attempt to get to 4-0 for the first time since 2019 when the open District 1-4A play against Southwood (2-0) Thursday at Independence Stadium.

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com