CIF Playoffs: Downey advances to round two, Warren's season comes to an end

The Downey High School football team advanced to the second round of the C.I.F. Division 4 playoffs last Friday night with a 12-7 win against La Mirada at Excelsior Adult School in Norwalk. With the win, Downey improved to 5-6 on the season and with the loss, La Mirada has been eliminated and finished their season at 7-4.

The Downey/La Mirada game was certainly a defensive contest. The Vikings took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter and that is how the game stayed until halftime. The Matadors scored a touchdown with an extra point in the third quarter and led 7-6 after three quarters of play. Downey managed to score another touchdown in the fourth quarter but could not score on the two-point conversion. The second touchdown proved to be the game winner with Downey holding on for the 12-7 win.

Viking quarterback Chris Hernandez completed 10/18 pass attempts for 81 yards. Downey running back Jacob Skobis carried the ball ten times for 124 yards, Jaden Allen carried the ball 11 times for 52 yards and Mateo Rico carried the ball eight times for 44 yards.

The receiving corps were led by Dillon Laurer’s seven catches for 68 yards. The stout Downey defense was led by Aiden Chapman’s five solo and five assisted tackles, Andrew Garcia’s three solo and two assisted tackles, Daniel Mena’s two solo and three assisted tackles, Alex Rodriguez’s two solo and one assisted tackle and Justin Sanchez’s one solo and two assisted tackles.

Downey will host Cabrillo at Downey later tonight in their second-round game. Cabrillo defeated Damien 34-28 last week in their first-round game to advance. Coach Williams, his staff and players are all looking forward to moving on to the semi-final round of postseason play with a win tonight.

The Warren High School football team saw their season come to an end with a 56-29 loss at Sandy Thortenson Stadium on the campus of California High School last Friday night. The Bears finished their season with an overall record of 7-4 and a S.G.V.L. record of 4-1. The Bears were previously defeated by La Serna 50-6 in the regular season at Warren on Sept. 27. With the win, La Serna improved to 11-0 on the season and will now move on to the second round of the C.I.F. Division 6 playoffs.

The Warren/La Serna game was competitive for the first 2 1/2 quarters with La Serna taking a 29-15 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Bears pulled to within 29-21 with about five minutes left to play in the third quarter, but that is as close as it would get. The second half of the third quarter is when the Lancers pulled away for good.

La Serna scored to make it 36-21, and then intercepted a Dylan Guerra pass attempt and ran it back for a touchdown to make it 43-21. La Serna scored again in the fourth quarter to make it 49-21. The extra point attempt was no good. The Lancers then tacked on another touchdown and led 56-21 with two minutes remaining in the game. The Bears added a late touchdown on a Dylan Guerra 55-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion but it proved too little, too late. La Serna won the game 56-29 to advance.

First year Warren head coach Scott Pearson finished his season with a C.I.F. playoff berth and a win against cross-town rival Downey 39-35 two weeks-ago. It is now time for Coach Pearson, his staff and underclassmen to start preparing for next season. 

CROSS COUNTRY: The Downey and Warren cross country prelims were held last Friday afternoon at La Mirada Regional Park. The third cluster meet of the season also marked the San Gabriel Valley League Finals. In boys’ competition, Warren finished first with 35 points, Downey finished second with 54 points, Paramount finished third with 59 points, Gahr finished fourth with 83 points, Dominguez finished fifth with 141 points and Lynwood finished sixth with 185 points, respectively.

Warren senior Leonardo Acevedo finished third overall in a time of 16:27.7, senior Fabian Gomez finished fourth overall in a time of 16:30.4, senior Owen Franco finished seventh overall in a time of 16:52.2, senior Gerardo Rubio finished ninth overall in a time of 17:08.5 and sophomore Emanuel Corona finished 12th overall in a time of 17:25.6.

Warren ran this morning in Division One, Heat Three at 11:15 a.m. in Riverside at the Riverside City Cross Country Course (times and results unavailable at press time). Official results will be available in next week’s Downey Patriot.  

Downey sophomore James Guerrero finished fifth overall in a time of 16:32.3, senior Mohamed Elshehawy finished 10th overall in a time of 17:12.4, senior Brian Jimenez finished 11th overall in a time of 17:21.0, senior Brandon Murillo finished 13th overall in a time of 17:28.1 and senior Cyrus Gutierrez finished 15th overall in a time of 17:35.3.

Downey also ran this morning in Division One, Heat Three at 11:15 a.m. in Riverside at the Riverside City Cross Country Course (times and results unavailable at press time). Official results will be available next week.

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY: The Downey and Warren cross country prelims were held last Friday afternoon at La Mirada Regional Park. The third cluster meet of the season also marked the San Gabriel Valley League Finals. In girls’ competition, Warren finished first with 29 points, Paramount finished second with 49 points, Downey finished third with 53 points, Gahr finished fourth with 97 points and Lynwood finished fifth with 154 points, respectively.

Warren senior Nadine Gomez finished second overall in a time of 18:36.8, freshman Michelle Huerta finished fourth overall in a time of 19:17.8, junior Natalie Esparza finished sixth overall in a time of 19:46.4, junior Skye Gutierrez finished eighth overall in a time of 20:08.8 and senior Alicia Liera finished ninth overall in a time of 20:24.0.

Warren ran this morning in Division One, Heat Three at 10:25 a.m. in Riverside at the Riverside City Cross Country Course (times and results unavailable at press time). Official results will be available in next week’s Downey Patriot.  

Downey sophomore Alyssa Tapanes finished third overall in a time of 18:56.4, sophomore Emma Vitela finished seventh overall in a time of 19:47.2, freshman Alisha Alvarado finished 11th overall in a time of 20:36.3, senior Mia Neuman finished 13th overall in a time of 21:18.6 and freshman Camila Neuman finished 19th overall in a time of 22:17.0.

Downey also ran this morning in Division One, Heat One at 10:05 a.m. in Riverside at the Riverside City Cross Country Course (times and results unavailable at press time). Official results will be available next week.