Thompkins Leads Eisenhower, 37-19

Loyola High Coach Steve Grady became the latest Glenn Thompkins admirer after the Rialto Eisenhower quarterback engineered a rare thrashing of Grady’s Cubs.

Thompkins rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown and threw for 77 yards and a score in the Eagles’ 37-19 victory in a Southern Section Division I quarterfinal Friday at Glendale High in front of 6,000 fans.

Eisenhower advanced to the semifinals, where it will play Crespi.

“I don’t know if anyone can stop him,” Grady said of Thompkins, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound senior. “They’re a good team, but he makes them something special.”

Thompkins led the No. 2-ranked Eagles (12-0) back from a 7-0 deficit in the second quarter, throwing a 40-yard scoring pass to Demond Birks to tie the score.

Thompkins, who also plays safety, then ended a Loyola scoring threat by intercepting a pass at his 13-yard line on the Cubs’ next possession.

“He is the most valuable player anywhere around,” Eisenhower Coach Tom Hoak said. “Certainly in California, and there isn’t a state better (football-wise) than California. I wouldn’t trade him for anyone.”

Three plays after Thompkins’ interception, Eisenhower running back Julius McChristian scored on a 64-yard touchdown run. The Eagles added a two-point conversion to lead, 15-7, at halftime.

“I just saw the open field and took it to the end zone--my house,” said McChristian, who rushed for 110 yards in 11 carries.

Thompkins put the game out of reach on the opening drive of the second half, capping an 80-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run.

He also continually frustrated the Loyola defense with his open-field running.

“He can take a lot of the heart out of you when he takes a busted play and scrambles for a first down,” Grady said.

Eisenhower’s Marlon Farlow rushed for 132 yards in 21 carries and scored on a 49-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Loyola (8-4) failed to reach the semifinals for the first time since 1987.