DOWNEY – The Downey High School football team traveled to Newport Harbor last Friday night and defeated Corona del Mar, 49-42. Downey improved to 10-2 on the season and will face an undefeated Capistrano Valley team (12-0) at Capistrano Valley on Friday.

In the Downey/Corona del Mar game, both offenses showcased their talent. Both teams scored two touchdowns and converted their PAT’s early in the game. The score was tied at 14 at the end of the first quarter. 

Downey gained the advantage in the second quarter when they scored two more touchdowns. Corona del Mar only scored one touchdown in the second quarter and the Vikings took a 28-21 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The two teams continued battling in the third quarter and each scored a touchdown. The score was 35-28 at the end of the third quarter. 

Both teams scored traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter and Downey held on for their hard-fought, 49-42 win.

Downey quarterback Kijjon Foots completed 19/25 pass attempts for 309 yards and five touchdowns. Foots’ passer rating was an impressive 156.5. Kijjon also ran the ball 20 times for 102 yards.

The Viking ground game was led by Baraq Ross’ 22 carries for 156 yards and one touchdown.

The Downey receiving corps were led by Chris Atkins’ highlight reel performance of 10 catches for 206 yards and four touchdowns. Baraq Ross also had four catches for 41 yards in the winning effort.

The Downey defense was led by Nicholas Whitney’s four solo and four assisted tackles, Brenden Hodge’s six solo and one assisted tackle, Tijeer Bryant’s five solo and two assisted tackles, Noah Skobis’ five solo and one assisted tackle and Malcom Perry’s two solo and four assisted tackles.

Coach Williams, his staff and players are all looking forward to their game against Capistrano Valley later today. A win tonight will get the Vikings into the C.I.F. Division 4 championship game against the winner of the Cajon/Murrieta Mesa game.

WARREN GIRLS' CROSS-COUNTRY: The Warren High School girls’ cross-country team saw their season come to an end last Saturday morning at the Riverside Course in Riverside. 

The Lady Bears ran at 8:05 a.m. and finished 18th in the Division One Race with 421 points. Warren finished in a team time of 1:35.10 and an individual runner’s time of 19:02. 

The Lady Bears finished in seventh place last week in their respective heat at C.I.F. Prelims to advance to the C.I.F. Final Saturday.

Great Oak finished in first place with 56 points, Vista Murrieta finished in second place with 138 points, Arcadia finished in third place with 164 points, El Toro finished in fourth place with 207 points and M.L. King finished in fifth place with 230 points. California High finished in 17th place with 416 points and Roosevelt finished in 19th place with 447 points.

Warren’s sophomore standout Nadine Gomez was the first Lady Bear to finish. Gomez finished 53rd overall with a time of 18:28.4. 

Senior Leann Pavana finished 60th overall in a time of 18:34.6 and senior Vilma Alvarez finished 106th overall in a time of 19:13.7. Freshman Natalie Esparza finished 119th overall in a time of 19:20.8 and junior Arianna Cervantes finished 129th overall in a time of 19:33.4.

Coach Waldron is extremely proud of this year’s team. This team has improved steadily throughout the season due to their hard work and determination. The Warren girls’ cross-country team was the only Downey or Warren team to advance to C.I.F. Finals. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS: Downey’s middle school sports program has concluded its second rotation and five city championships were up for grabs in boys’ volleyball and girls’ soccer. 

There were three grade level championships in boys’ volleyball and two championships for girls’ varsity and junior varsity soccer.

In 8th grade boys’ volleyball, Griffiths finished first with a record of 6-0, Doty finished second with a record of 4-2, Stauffer finished third with a record of 2-4 and Sussman finished fourth with a record of 0-6.

In 7th grade boys’ volleyball, Griffiths finished first with a record of 6-0, Stauffer finished second with a record of 4-2 and Doty and Sussman finished tied for third with records of 1-5.

In 6th grade boys’ volleyball, Doty, Griffiths and Stauffer finished in a three-way tie for first with a record of 4-2 and Sussman finished in fourth place with a record of 0-6.

In girls’ varsity soccer, Doty and Griffiths were co-champions with records of 5-1, Stauffer finished in third place with a record of 2-4 and Sussman finished in fourth place with a record of 0-6.

In girls’ junior varsity soccer, Doty and Sussman were co-champions with records of 5-1 and Griffiths and Stauffer finished tied for third place with records of 1-5.

After two rotations, Doty and Griffiths are tied with 3.8 championships each, Stauffer has 2.8 championships and Sussman has .5 championship(s). Outright championships are one point, co-championships are .5 point(s) and tri-championships are .3 point(s), respectively.

Doty was a co-champion in 8th grade football, won 8th and 6th grade girls’ volleyball outright, were a tri-champion in 6th grade boys’ volleyball and were co-champions in girls’ varsity and junior varsity soccer.

Griffiths won 7th grade girls’ volleyball outright, won 8th and 7th grade boys’ volleyball outright and were tri-champions in boys’ 6th grade volleyball. Griffiths was also a co-champion in 8th grade girls’ soccer.

Stauffer was a co-champion in 8th grade boys’ football and won 7th and 6th grade football outright. Stauffer was also a tri-champion in 6th grade boys’ volleyball. Sussman was a co-champion in girls’ junior varsity soccer.

Coaches and players are all looking forward to competing for more city championships after the Christmas Break.
The third rotation will begin in January and feature three grade level teams each for boys’ and girls’ basketball as well as two boys’ soccer teams consisting of a varsity and junior varsity team.

Tryouts and practices at each school site will begin before the Christmas Break and games will begin on Jan. 9.