DOWNEY -- The Downey High School football team defeated Lynwood last Friday night, 62-6, improving their record to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in San Gabriel Valley League play. 

Downey travels to cross-town rival Warren on Friday for their annual showdown.

In the Downey/Lynwood game, the Vikings led 8-0 at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw a scoring onslaught that has not been seen in recent history. Downey scored 41 points in the second quarter and led 49-6 going into the locker room at halftime. 

The Vikings added 13 points in the third quarter and led 62-6 as the quarter ended. Neither team scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter and Downey claimed the 62-6 win.

Viking quarterback Kijjon Foots completed 10/14 pass attempts for 243 yards and three touchdowns. Foots also ran the ball six times for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Kijjon Foots’ quarterback rating was 153.3. 

The Viking ground game was led by Baraq Ross’ seven carries for 119 yards and three touchdowns. Shane Olden had five carries for 94 yards and Alex Cortez had five carries for 31 yards and one touchdown.

The Downey receiving corps were led by Baraq Ross’ two catches for 61 yards and one touchdown, Noah Skobis’ two catches for 51 yards and one touchdown and Christopher Atkins’ one catch for 60 yards and one touchdown.

The Viking defense was led by Malcom Perry’s five solo and six assisted tackles, Jack Chapman’s four solo and four assisted tackles, Robert Barron’s five solo and three assisted tackles, Noah Skobis’ five solo and two assisted tackles and Tijeer Bryant’s five solo and two assisted tackles. 
 

WARREN FOOTBALL: The Warren High School football team was defeated at Gahr last Friday night, 46-42. 

With the loss, the Bears fell to 5-3 overall and 1-2 in San Gabriel Valley League play. Warren will host cross-town rival Downey Friday for their annual showdown and Gahr will travel to Paramount (7-1, 3-0). 

The Gahr/Paramount game will determine this year’s league champion. If Paramount wins, the Pirates will be the outright league champion if they can also beat Lynwood (3-5, 0-3) next week. 
If Gahr wins, Downey can still earn a piece of a tri-league title with Paramount and Gahr if they can beat Warren on Friday and Gahr next week.

In the Warren/Gahr game, the Bears took an early lead and led, 7-6, at the end of the first quarter. Gahr answered back, outscoring Warren 19-14 in the second quarter to take a 25-21 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Both teams scored touchdowns in the third quarter and Gahr maintained their four-point lead, 32-28, as the third quarter ended. That four-point lead would turn out to be the difference in the game. 

Both teams scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and Gahr held on for the hard-fought 46-42 win. 

At the time of this writing, no Warren game stats were made available. 
 

WARREN CROSS COUNTRY: The Warren High School girls’ cross country team returned from Washington D.C. two weeks ago after competing in the Glory Days Invite on October 7, finishing fifth overall in the Elite Division. 

Warren sent 19 runners to compete against 25 other teams from Maryland and Virginia. 
The actual running event took place in Manassas, Virginia. For history buffs, that is where the Battle of Bull Run took place during the American Civil War. The girls took a tour of Bull Run while visiting our nation’s capital, as well as Georgetown University and other historical venues. 

In recent years, Warren has also competed in Canada, Washington, and Texas and visited historical sites at each location.

The Warren girls’ cross country team has narrowly won both San Gabriel Valley League cluster meets. The girls will try to win the league title when they compete at La Mirada Regional Park next Wednesday. Warren has been challenged by Paramount and cross-town rival Downey. 

Coach Waldron mentioned that this is the most competitive girls’ cross country team Paramount has had in his 26 years of coaching and that Downey’s Laura Velasco is an outstanding runner. 

Warren has been led by this season by sophomore Nadine Gomez, senior Vilma Alvarez, junior Arianna Cervantes, senior Leann Pavana and freshman Natalie Esparza. Coach Waldron is very pleased with the dedication, hard work and continued improvement this year’s team has made. 

Waldron, his staff and runners are all looking forward to competing for the league title at S.G.V.L. Finals next week.