DOWNEY — With the 2024 season upon us, the Downey-area football teams (Downey, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy, Warren and Calvary Chapel Downey) look to improve on their 2023 season results.

Highlighting the 2023 season, Warren (11-3) led the way with a CIF-Southern Section D3 championship game appearance

Downey, which was the defending CIF D4 champ from the 2022 season, finished 8-3 overall last year, while St. Pius X finished at 6-6.

St. Pius X, in only its eighth year of 11-man football, advanced to its second CIF Semifinal last season, losing to eventual D8 champ Jurupa Hills.

By the slimmest of margins, Warren fell just short in last year’s D3 title game, 24-21 to St. Bonaventure. The Bears won their three playoff games - the first round, quarterfinals and semifinals by one point.

It’s a new season with a new coach, Adam Leonard, who followed Kevin Pearson, who stepped down this year.

However, the Bears return 4-star commit Madden Iamaleava, who had a monster season last year. He is looking to return to the championship game with a different result

Iamaleava, who committed to UCLA had a marvelous ’23 season, with an area-best 43 touchdowns and threw for 3,626 yards (196 for 311). All of that with a mere four interceptions. He also ran the ball 78 times for 305 yards and scored three TDs.

“You could tell, especially with the leadership from Madden, we made no qualms about it that we’re competing for a CIF title, being so close knowing the work we put in and we fell short,” first-year coach Adam Leonard said.

“A big part of this past Spring and Summer was building upon all of the great things that coach Pearson established and built a culture and then just improving on things that we need to improve.

“It’s been really successful with the kids buying in knowing how close it was and how we got to fix the little things.”

Iamaleava, who is in his second year as the Bears starter, is the younger brother of current Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava.

Coach Leonard has been around Madden since his freshman year while he was backing up his brother Nico and has noticed that more than his ability is what has made him a success.

“Ability is one thing, but leadership has always been the thing,” Leonard said. “Despite all of the success he had last year and especially going into this year, he leads in a way saying, ‘I’ll do it’.

We plan on building on that (his numbers from last year).”

Madden is surrounded by multiple talented players in junior wide receiver Jalen Ross, whose brother Jordan Ross caught 27 touchdowns last season as a senior.

UCLA commit, 6-4 senior wide receiver Jace Brown will also be a big target for Iamaleava.

“Honestly, it was great to have a blueprint in front of me for those two years and be able to take over in my third year and get to the championship (’23 season),” said Madden of his brother Nico at the helm at quarterback his freshman and sophomore years.

“To be able to start this whole new season with coach Chris Brown, our offensive coordinator and excited to open up the playbook. I’m just really excited for this whole season and Friday we’ll get it crackin’”.

Madden let out a big smile when his dad, Nick, was mentioned as the defensive coordinator.

“My pops, man,” he said. “He really helped me develop and taking it back to the house and getting it up on the board (at home).”

Iamaleava also gave props to his wide receiver, Jace Brown, saying, “he definitely brings everyone’s spirits up and energy up.”

As for that future UCLA connection, Iamaleava added, “That’s the exciting part, after I committed, I had to get my guy (Brown) up on the board. It’s something that I had to take this connection to the next level.”

Three more players to watch for are sophomore defensive back Andre Pommells, 6-4 350-pound senior offensive tackle Matai Jefferson (Arizona State Commit), who transferred from St. John Bosco, and sophomore running back Kelton Strickland.

Strickland also had a big year as the primary back, rushing for a team-high 201 carries for 1,290 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Warren opens with a home game Friday against Kamehameha Kapalama from Hawaii.

What they said:

Senior wide receiver Jace Brown: “This is a huge year, coming off of last year, not getting a ring. We wanted it so bad, and we just fell short. This year really means a whole lot to the whole team to make sure we get that ring this year.

“The key is to believe in one another, and everyone does their job and be selfless and that’s how you win championships.”

Junior wide receiver Jalen Ross: “Growing up with my brother (Jordan Ross), he taught me some things and some things not to do. I watched everything he did. This year is very important. I’ve watched my brother since I was a freshman (at Warren). It just gave me the heart to grind harder.”

Sophomore defensive back Andre Pommells: “I wish big things for this team this year. We want to go all the way and win the ‘chip. In the defense, we’re looking good in the back seven and our interior is great. I feel like we’re going to have a great season.”

■ St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (PMA) finished 6-6 overall and was 3-1 in the Del Rey League last season. After opening the ’23 D8 playoffs with an easy win over host Barstow, the Warriors faced league champion St. Anthony and easily defeated the Saints, 35-7 in the quarterfinals. St. Pius fell to St. Anthony earlier in the season in OT, 21-14.

PMA, in only its eighth season, has advanced to two CIF championship games and two CIF Semifinal games. Two other years they lost in first round games.

It’s a new beginning this season for the Warriors, as they enter the always tough Angelus League with six teams and will compete against the likes of Bishop Alemany, Cathedral, Paraclete, St. Francis and St. Paul

St. Pius opened up on the road with a nonleague game at Clovis against Buchanan, Thursday Aug. 22 (Results unavailable at press time). St. Pius lost to Buchanan in last years’ nonleague game, 38-18.

Fourth-year head coach Devah Thomas said his team will, “try to find its identity this year and is an all-around good team.

“Our guys are skilled and can play with anybody,” said Thomas. “We have a lot of young linemen.

The Warriors are led by junior quarterback Jassi Williams, who transferred in from Narbonne. “He works hard every day, and he has an athletic ability to extend the play,” Thomas said.

“This football season at PMA we’re very young and we have some good key returners in junior Jaylen Stokes (WR/DB), Jr. Malik Brooks (DL/OL), Jr. Marcus Ball (DL/OL), Jr. wide receiver Andre Melgar, and Jr. Gregory Taylor. Two others came in from Inglewood – wide receiver/defensive back Kenneth Peavy and wide receiver/defensive back wide receiver/defensive back Tracy Mallard

A current player with ties to the NFL is freshman DL/.OL Comarion Lenoir, whose older brother Deommodore Lenoir is a cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers.

Thomas was an assistant coach at Salesian while Deommodore Lenoir was playing.

■ Downey is led by longtime coach Jack Williams, who is entering his 16th year. Downey finished 8-3 last year, second (4-1) in the Gateway League.

“With our preseason schedule, we will be tested early and will definitely get us ready for league,” Williams said. “We will take some early lumps, but this group is determined to be great and will find ways to win games. This definitely will be a team that will swarm to the ball and deliver some pain. The defense has a lot of speed.”

Prior to 2023, the Vikings won a CIF D4 championship in the 2022 season and fell just short in the CIF State Regional Semifinal game, 22-21 to Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista). The also have two other CIF-SS titles – 1957 and 2012.

In this years look ahead, the Vikings return a handful of starters on both the offensive side and defensive side of the ball.

The offense will be led by junior Purdue University commit, quarterback Oscar Rios. The 6-4 signal caller threw for 2,633 yards with 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions.

Williams is looking for Rios to have a better year than he did last year, where he has improved as a leader and knowledge of the offense. “He does some really amazing things with his arm and feet,” Williams said. “The skilled guys will be special.

Rios will have a list of targets to throw to with the addition of seniors Jayden Thomas and Desmin Joshway-Fairley, to go along with returners sophomore Damani Porras and seniors Jesse Albidrez and Caleb Jauregui.

With the loss of offensive linemen David Perez and Demetrio Sandavol (’24 graduates), there will be holes to fill. The current five offensive linemen have started at least two games last year. It will be led by our junior center Alex Zavala and sophomore guard Miguel Andrade.

“The O’ line will have some growing pains as they are young and lack a lot of experience,” Williams added. “But it is a good group who are coachable and will get things going after they get some live snaps.”

As for the running backs, Williams said: “The running back spot will be a two-headed horse as we return starter Xavier Rivas, who broke his collar bone in week four last year and is back for his junior season. With the addition of senior Bernardo Blanco, it should be a good group.”

On the defensive side of the ball Downey lost most of the secondary.

“We will be led by junior outside linebacker Oscar Aguilar (’23 returning All-CIF player),” Williams said. “Our defensive line returners senior Chris Lopez, junior Ivan Jimenez and junior Damien Martinez will anchor our defense.”

Williams continued, “Returning inside junior linebacker Aidan Gomez will need to help sophomore youngster Gavin Chapman to lead the defense with checks and swarming to the ball. Our other outside linebacker will be junior Jordan Castenada and senior Taevion Clair. The secondary will be a bunch of two-way guys rotating in corners Thomas, Joshway-Fairley, and Porras. Safeties will be two returners, Albidres and Rivas, and we will throw in freshman safety Kingston Fasavalu.”

Downey opens at home against Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks Friday.

■ Calvary Chapel Downey opens its 8-man football season with a nonleague home game against Blair Saturday, August 31 at 6:00 pm.

The Grizzlies, who are guided by coach Ennis Lennear Sr., finished the ’23 season at 5-5 overall and were second in the Tri-County Premier League.

Girls Flag Football

Downey, in its first year of competition, is currently 3-1 after defeating Lakewood, 13-6, Wednesday in nonleague action.

“We are a work in progress,” Downey co-coach Chuck Lozano said. “As we gain more game experience we’ll continue to grow and make gradual progress.

“Our girls are extremely eager to learn, hard-working, and team oriented.”

The Vikings continue nonleague action with two road games – Monday August 26 at St. Joseph (3:15 pm) and Wednesday August 28 at Millikan (3:30 pm).

Warren, which won the Gateway League in the inaugural year last season for flag football, is currently, 2-0.

“We are the returning league champions and have some significant returners from last years’ team,” Warren coach Felipe Aguilar said.

Two standout players from last years’ inaugural team were senior quarterback Anahi Morales, who was the league MVP, with 1,677 yards, 38 touchdowns and rushed for 848 yards and sophomore QB Isabella Gonzalez (953 yards and19 TDs).

Look for the feature on Girls Flag Football in next week’s edition.