Penalties doom Vikings in overtime loss against Paramount

DOWNEY -- The Downey High School football team was defeated by Paramount at Downey last Friday night, in overtime, 21-20. 

With the loss, the Vikings fell to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in S.G.V.L. play. With the win, the Pirates are now 5-1 overall and 1-0 in league play. 

Downey will travel to Dominguez (2-4, 0-1) Friday and Paramount will travel to Warren (5-1, 1-0) to face the Bears. Dominguez was defeated by Gahr (5-1, 1-0) last Friday 24-8 and Warren defeated Lynwood (3-3, 0-1) 41-20.

In the Downey/Paramount game, neither team scored in the first quarter. Paramount scored the first touchdown of the game in the second quarter and took a 7-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. 

Downey answered back in the third quarter and tied the game at 7. The Vikings took the lead in the fourth quarter and led 14-7 as the clock was winding down. 

Quarterback Kijjon Foots threw his only interception of the night in the fourth quarter and Paramount capitalized on the mistake when they scored a touchdown a few plays later. The extra point was good and the Pirates tied the score at 14. The score remained tied at 14 as regulation ended.

Downey had possession first in overtime and scored a touchdown. The extra point was wide left and Downey led, 20-14. 

The Pirates answered back with a touchdown of their own after converting on a 4th and 12 a few plays earlier. The Pirates converted the extra point and claimed the hard fought, 21-20 win. 
In the game, Downey committed 17 penalties for 132 yards. I am certain Coach Williams and his staff will address that this week.

Foots completed 10/19 pass attempts for 93 yards and had one interception. Foots also ran the ball nine times for 54 yards. 

The Downey ground game was led by Baraq Ross’ 30 carries for 204 yards and three touchdowns. 

The Viking receiving corps were led by Jack Chapman’s three catches for 18 yards, Baraq Ross’ two catches for 27 yards and Christopher Atkins’ two catches for 24 yards.

WARREN FOOTBALL: The Warren High School football team defeated Lynwood at Warren last Friday night, 41-20, improving to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in SGVL play. 

Warren will host Paramount (5-1, 1-0) Friday and Lynwood will host Gahr (5-1, 1-0). Paramount defeated Downey at Downey last Friday night, 21-20, in overtime and Gahr defeated Dominguez (2-4, 0-1) at Dominguez, 24-8.

In the Warren/Lynwood game, Warren scored the first touchdown and led 14-7 as the first quarter came to an end. Both teams scored touchdowns and converted on extra points in the second quarter and the Bears led, 21-14, going into the locker room at halftime. 

The Bears picked up in the second half where they left off. Warren scored 13 unanswered points in the third quarter and took a commanding 34-14 lead as the quarter came to an end. 

Warren scored another touchdown in the fourth quarter and came away with the 41-20 win.

Bear quarterback Chris Venegas completed 6/7 pass attempts for 101 yards and a touchdown and Warren back-up quarterback Jared Gonzalez completed 6/9 pass attempts for 121 yards. 

The Warren ground game was led by Nikko Fierro-Tuala’s eight carries for 116 yards and one touchdown and Justin Mendoza’s 13 carries for 77 yards and two touchdowns. The Bear receiving corps were led by Desmond Carnes’ four catches for 78 yards and one touchdown, Nikko Fierro-Tuala’s three catches for 58 yards and Robbie Colenzo’s three catches for 25 yards.  

Coach Lara, his staff and players are all looking forward to the Paramount game later today. The winner of this game will have the inside track to the San Gabriel Valley League title. 

Warren will host cross-town rival Downey on Oct. 27. That game will certainly play a big role in determining not only who the league champion is but who will qualify for postseason play.

GIRLS TENNIS: The Downey/Warren girls’ tennis rivalry continued at Downey High School last Thursday afternoon as Downey came away with the 12-6 win. 

The two teams played to a 9-9 tie at Warren on Sept. 22. Matches have been close each meeting and several have been decided on tiebreaker criteria.

Warren has been playing well. The Bears are currently 7-3-1 overall and 5-1-1 in San Gabriel Valley League play. 

Downey has also been playing well, compiling a 4-3-2 overall record and 3-1-2 in league play. 
The two teams are scheduled to meet again at Warren on Oct. 17. This matchup will most likely determine the league champion. I am certain there will be an “expect the unexpected” feel to the match as so many of the Downey/Warren rivalries do.

In recent San Gabriel Valley League action Warren defeated Paramount 12-6 on 9/19, defeated Gahr 12-6 on 9/21, defeated Lynwood 11-7 on 9/28, defeated Paramount 9-9 (criteria) on 9/29 and defeated Gahr 10-8 on 10/3.

Downey defeated Lynwood 11-7 on 9/21, tied Gahr on 9/26 and defeated Paramount 12-6 on 9/28. Coach Starksen of Warren and Coach Diego of Downey and all of their players are looking forward to the third and final match at Warren later this month. 

The league title is up for grabs and whoever plays better that day will claim league champion honors.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: The Downey and Warren girls’ volleyball teams squared off on Oct. 3 at Warren and the Lady Vikings came away with the hard-fought 3-1 win. 

Downey lost the first set 22-25 but rallied to win the next three sets 25-22, 25-19 and 26-24 to claim the victory. 

With the win, Downey is now 11-9 overall and 5-0 in San Gabriel Valley League play and has the inside track to the S.G.V.L. title. With the loss, Warren is now 6-4 overall and 3-2 in league play. 
The cross-town rivals will meet again Oct. 19 at Downey.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: The first rotation of middle school sports concluded last Wednesday and six city championships were claimed. 

In 8th grade football, Doty and Stauffer were city co-champions with records of 4-2, Griffiths was third with a record of 3-3 and Sussman was fourth with a record of 1-5. 

In 7th grade football, Stauffer was the city champion with a record of 6-0, Sussman was second with a record of 3-3, Doty was third with a record of 2-4 and Griffiths was fourth with a record of 1-5. In 6th grade football, Stauffer was the city champion with a record of 6-0, Doty and Griffiths tied for second with records of 3-3 and Sussman was fourth with a record of 0-6.

In 8th grade girls’ volleyball, Doty was the city champion with a record of 6-0, Griffiths was second with a record of 3-3, Sussman was third with a record of 2-4 and Stauffer was fourth with a record of 1-5. In 7th grade girls’ volleyball, Griffiths was the city champion with a record of 6-0, Doty and Sussman tied for second with records of 3-3 and Stauffer was fourth with a record of 0-6. In 6th grade girls’ volleyball, Doty was the city champion with a record of 6-0, Griffiths was second with a record of 4-2 and Stauffer and Sussman tied for third with records of 1-5.

The next rotation will feature boys’ volleyball for each of the three grade levels and girls’ varsity (8th grade) and junior varsity (6th and 7th grade) soccer.