Malcolm Weaver leads Loyola past Lyons

Not even a stiff wind could stop Malcolm Weaver and No. 1-ranked Loyola on Saturday afternoon.

The senior quarterback threw for more than 300 yards in the first half as the Ramblers raced past Lyons for a 33-10 win in Wilmette to advance to the Class 8A semifinals for the third season in a row.

Weaver connected with Charlie Dowdle for a 59-yard touchdown toss on the game’s fourth play to start a scoring spree that lifted Loyola (12-0) to a 33-3 lead by the half. Weaver threw three TD passes to three receivers and ran for another in the first two quarters.

Willie Palivos scored the Ramblers’ other touchdown in the first half on a 41-yard run, giving the team three scores of at least 40 yards.

“We haven’t been able to get over the hump in the last few years, but we will try to do it again next week,” the senior running back said of Loyola’s consecutive season-ending losses to Maine South in the semifinals. “We want to keep this dream season going.”

Often overlooked on an explosive offense, Palivos once again got the job done on the ground, running 12 times for 128 yards.

“It’s fine with me,” said Palivos. “The offense we run is the spread, and it’s been working. We will stick with it.”

Weaver went 25-for-37 for 356 yards. He threw three TDs and one interception. Dowdle caught 10 balls for 185 yards. read more >>

Malcolm Weaver was the quarterback for TEAM ILLINOIS during the 2011 spring 7-on-7 fottball season.

Weaver helps propel Loyola past Montini

WILMETTE, Ill. -- Loyola coach John Holecek doesn’t believe the common assumption that smaller quarterbacks can’t be as effective at the Division I level or beyond.

“I played with Doug Flutie,” said Holecek, who was Flutie’s teammate on the Buffalo Bills. “I know about small quarterbacks.”

Flutie taught Holecek that size only matters if you’re not moving the ball or scoring points. Flutie had no trouble doing just that, despite his 5-foot-10 size, at every level he played, and Holecek has witnessed his own 6-foot quarterback Malcolm Weaver prove he’s just as capable.

Weaver hopes after college coaches see Saturday’s film of No. 10 Loyola’s 41-24 win over No. 4 Montini that more of them will become believers as well. Weaver accounted for all of Loyola’s scores in the home victory, throwing for five touchdowns and rushing for another.

“I enjoy proving people wrong when they say I’m too small to play quarterback,” Weaver said. “It’s my dream to play college football. I’m going to do everything I can to do it.”

Weaver used his arm and his legs to beat Montini’s defense on Saturday. He threw for 257 yards and rushed for 98, including a 28-yard touchdown. He connected with three different receivers for scores. read more >>

Malcolm Weaver (QB) and Marquese Martin-Hayes (WR/DB) from Loyola both participated on the 2011 TEAM ILLINOIS 7on7 all-star travel team last spring.

Football | Weaver, Loyola cruise past Evanston

By Bob Hurst
Special to the Tribune
10:34 p.m. CDT, August 26, 2011

Loyola's experienced offense scored early and often in the first half of the season opener at Evanston on Friday night.

The No. 4 Ramblers scored on five of their first six possessions and breezed to a 40-0 win over the Wildkits. Quarterback Malcolm Weaver threw three touchdown passes in the opening half, two going to Charlie Dowdle from 24 and 33 yards out.

The Ramblers (1-0) outgained Evanston 296 yards to 62 in the opening two quarters.

Weaver was effective through the air, going 11-for-15 for 128 yards before giving way to backup Peter Pujals in the second half. Weaver lofted a 24-yard pass to Dowdle in the right corner for a touchdown and 13-0 lead with 5:03 left in the first quarter. He found Dowdle for a 33-yarder on a post pattern with 7:58 left in the second for a 20-0 advantage.

"A lot of jump balls, he's going to go get it," Weaver said of Dowdle. "I expected us to come out here and have a fast-paced offense. We kept the ball moving and executed well."

Player of the game: Malcolm Weaver, Loyola, 11-for-15, 128 yards, 3 TDs.  read more >>

Malcolm Weaver was the QB for the TEAM ILLINOIS 7on7 spring all-star travel team.

The Ramblers (1-0) outgained Evanston 296 yards to 62 in the opening two quarters.

Elite 11 - Malcolm Weaver

Malcolm Weaver from Loyola Academy participated in the ESPN RISE's Elite 11 quarterback competition at Ohio State University on May 20.  The Elite 11 event is the nation's premier quarterback competition for prep athletes.

As a junior last fall, Weaver led the Loyola Ramblers to the Illinois state 8A semifinals.  This spring, he has been demonstrating his talents in 7-on-7 tournaments as the quarterback of the TEAM ILLINOIS all-star team. 

It's been a very productive spring/summer for Weaver.  The rising senior lead TEAM ILLINOIS to the championship at the Eastern Michigan University 7-on-7 event on April 30 and spent last weekend participating in the Chi-town Invitational tournament in Lake Barrington, Illinois. The Chi-town Invite hosts all-star 7-on-7 teams from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Pennsylvania.