DOWNEY - The Warren High School football team improved to 3-1 last week with a hard-fought 31-24 win against Mayfair.

Warren will now host an undefeated La Serna (5-0) team later tonight at Warren. The game against La Serna later tonight will mark the end of preseason play.

La Serna defeated Murrieta Mesa, 49-19, on Aug. 23, defeated Eisenhower, 42-14, on Aug. 29, defeated Arcadia 56-16 on Sept. 6, defeated Colony 32-19 on Sept. 13 and defeated Montebello 49-14 last week.

The Lancers are undefeated and on a five-game winning street. Interestingly, none of La Serna’s victories have been closer than 13 points.

In the Warren/Mayfair game, the Monsoons took a 6-0 lead and led by that score as the first quarter concluded.

The Bears exploded for 21 points in the second quarter and the Monsoons were limited to a field goal. Warren led 21-9 going into the locker room at halftime.

Mayfair scored 12 points in the third quarter and tied the score at 21. Warren did not score in the third quarter and the score was tied at 21 entering the fourth quarter.

The Bears outscored the Monsoons 10-3 in the fourth quarter and won the game 31-24.

Coach Pearson, his staff and players are all looking forward to the start of league play and competing for a league title as well as a postseason playoff spot.

Warren will travel to Dominguez next Friday, Oct. 4, for their league opener.

DOWNEY FOOTBALL: The Downey High School football team was defeated by Bishop Alemany at Downey last Friday night, 37-0.

With the loss, the Vikings fell to 1-3 on the season and with the win, the Warriors improved to 5-0.

Downey will travel to Hart of Newhall later today to play the Indians (2-2). The game against Hart will conclude preseason play for Downey. The Vikings will begin San Gabriel Valley League play next Friday night when they travel to Gahr to play the Gladiators.

In the Downey/Bishop Alemany game, Viking quarterback Pedro De anda completed 9/33 pass attempts for 62 yards and one interception. The Viking rushing attack was led by Antonio Ruiz’s 15 carries for 81 yards, Jayden Hollis’ seven carries for 56 yards, Pedro De anda’s three carries for 21 yards and Mateo Rico’s three carries for 9 yards.

The Viking receiving corps were led by Issiah Apodaca’s three catches for 18 yards, Xander Orozco’s two catches for 26 yards, JoJo Robinson’s two catches for 14 yards and Jonny Fernandez’s one catch for three yards.

The Downey defense was led by Anthony Lopez’s ten solo and one assisted tackles, Mateo Rico’s four solo and five assisted tackles, Alex Rodriguez’s two solo and seven assisted tackles, Andrew Garcia’s four solo and four assisted tackles and Aaron Espinoza’s four solo and four assisted tackles.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: The Downey/Warren girls’ volleyball game was played Thursday night (score unavailable at press time).

Downey went into the game with an overall record of 12-7 and a San Gabriel Valley League record of 3-1.

Warren came into the game with an overall record of 6-5 and a San Gabriel Valley League record of 3-0.

Downey was defeated by Gahr, 3-0, on Sept. 12, defeated Paramount at Downey 3-0 on Sept. 17, defeated Dominguez, 3-0, on Sept. 19 and defeated Lynwood, 3-0, on Sept. 24.

Warren defeated Dominguez, 3-0, on Sept. 12, defeated Lynwood. 3-0. on Sept. 17, defeated Paramount, 3-1, on Sept. 19 and hosted Gahr on Tuesday (results unavailable).

The Downey/Warren volleyball game is always a big deal. Coaches McCarthy of Downey and Lane of Warren are both competing for a league title as well as a postseason playoff spot.

The second round of league play will determine a league champion as well as where each team is seeded in their respective C.I.F. postseason bracket. Things are certainly starting to heat up in S.G.V.L. play as both teams try to catch Gahr.

MIDDLE SCHOOLS: The Downey Unified School District middle school sports program is mid-way through its first rotation of football and girls’ volleyball and several teams have emerged as the best in their respective gender and grade levels.

The season began Monday, Sept. 16, and concludes Oct. 2.

The 8th grade football standings currently have a three-way tie for first place. Doty, Griffiths and Stauffer are all 2-1 and Sussman is 0-3. The 7th grade football standings currently have Doty at 3-0, Sussman at 2-1, Stauffer at 1-2 and Griffiths at 0-3. The 6th grade football standings currently have Doty at 3-0, Sussman at 2-1, Stauffer at 1-2 and Griffiths at 0-3.

The 8th grade girls’ volleyball standings currently have Doty at 3-0, Griffiths at 2-1, Stauffer at 1-2 and Sussman at 0-3.

The 7th grade girls’ volleyball standings currently have Stauffer at 3-0, Doty at 2-1, Griffiths at 1-2 and Sussman at 0-3.

The 6th grade girls’ volleyball standings currently have Stauffer at 3-0, Doty at 2-1, Griffiths at 1-2 and Sussman at 0-3.

Schools played their fourth game on Wednesday (scores unavailable). Griffiths played Stauffer and Doty traveled to Sussman.

Monday’s games will include Sussman vs. Stauffer and Doty hosting Griffiths. The last games next Wednesday will feature Sussman vs. Griffiths and Doty traveling to Stauffer.

Six city championships are currently up for grabs. The next rotation will feature boys’ volleyball and girls’ soccer.