DOWNEY − The Downey Calvary Chapel football team is busy preparing for their 2015 football season. 

First-year head coach Mike Nuno had to make the decision to return to 8-man football after only suiting up 15 players after the C.I.F. mandated “dead period” ended. Nuno felt it was unsafe for his kids to compete in 11-man football so he made the decision to change back to 8-man.

Coach Nuno had to call several other schools to cancel 11-man games for the fall that were previously scheduled. It certainly was not easy to do that so late in the scheduling process but it had to be done. The Grizzlies played 8-man football in 2012 and returned to 11-man football in 2013 and 2014.

DCC finished last season with an overall record of 5-4 and an Academy League record of 1-3. Downey Calvary Chapel did not qualify for postseason play. The Grizzlies will compete this year in the 8-man Freelance League and will be led by sophomore quarterback Jacob Escalante, senior running back Brian Holm and senior tight end Seth Baumann.

DCC’s new schedule has the Grizzlies traveling to play Faith Baptist in Canoga Park on September 5, traveling to play Orcutt Academy at Righetti High School on September 18, traveling to play Discovery Prep at El Cariso Park on September 25, traveling to play Lighthouse Christian in Santa Monica on October 3, hosting Lighthouse Christian on October 17, hosting Faith Baptist on October 23, and hosting St. Joseph Academy on October 31.
Coach Nuno, his staff and players are looking forward to the start of their 8-man football season.

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St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy will be starting their 2015-16 athletic schedules for the fall.
SPXSM offer both boys’ and girls’ sports for their respective student-athletes. The Warriors compete in higher divisions of C.I.F. competition due to their lower enrollment numbers. St. Pius X St. Matthias Academy is located at 7551 E. Gardendale Street in Downey. 

St. Pius X St. Matthias offers four boys’ teams and seven girls’ teams. The boy’s teams include cross country, basketball, soccer and track and field. The girl’s teams include cross country, volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball, track and field and cheer.

St. Pius X St. Matthias has 332 students in grades 9-12 and compete in the Santa Fe League. In boys’ soccer, the Warriors compete against Bell-Jeff, Verbum Dei, St. Anthony, St. Bernard and St. Paul. In boys’ basketball, the Warriors compete against St. Genevieve, St Paul, Mary Star of the Sea, Verbum Dei and Bosco Tech. 

In track and field, the Warriors compete against St. Anthony, Bell-Jeff, Verbum Dei, Mary Star of the Sea, St. Bernard and St. Genevieve.

In girls’ soccer, the Lady Warriors compete against Bishop Amat, Bishop Montgomery, St. Joseph and La Salle. In girls’ basketball, the Lady Warriors compete against St. Genevieve, Pomona Catholic, St. Bernard, Bell-Jeff and Mary Star of the Sea. 

In track and field, the Lady Warriors compete against St. Anthony, Bell-Jeff, Verbum Dei, Mary Star of the Sea, St. Bernard and St. Genevieve. 

In softball, the Lady Warriors compete against St. Mary’s, Mary Star of the Sea, Bell-Jeff, St. Bernard and St. Genevieve. In volleyball, the Lady Warriors compete against St. Mary’s, Mary Star of the Sea, Bell-Jeff, St. Bernard and St. Genevieve. 

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The Downey High School football team held a scrimmage against Orange Lutheran at 6 p.m. last Friday night at Downey High. It was an excellent opportunity for Coach Williams and his staff to get a gauge as to where his team is at. 

According to Williams, “the scrimmage showed we have a long way to go.” Williams continued by saying, “ it’s hard to replace guys like Jason Thomas, Jacob Cook, Chris Blanton, Eddie Preciado and Gio DeLoera.”

Williams liked the fact that his players got to finally hit someone else besides themselves. Downey is young this season on the defensive side of the ball and will take some time to gel as a team. Williams believes that his team is talented and headed in the right direction. 

Downey has a lot of guys on offense who played last year and will be returning this year. Those returning players did a nice job and competed well in the scrimmage. Williams said, “I believe we are very athletic this year with a variety of guys who can take it to the house at any given point.”

Williams concluded by saying, “our defense has some dudes that can bring it but will need to improve in the back end.” Williams further said, that “my job is to find the best 11 guys on the field as well as get them to play as one.” 

Williams believes that Warren and Lynwood will be improved and that Dominguez and Paramount will be solid once again. Williams maintains that there should be some exciting games in the S.G.V.L. this year. Downey kicks off their 2015 season tonight against San Pedro at home at 7 p.m.

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The Sweetwater Valley Little League advanced Monday night with a 10-3 win over Rhode Island. With the loss, Rhode Island has been eliminated, while Sweetwater moved on and defeated Kentucky on Tuesday 11-3. 

Sweetwater defeated Kentucky 14-2 in four innings last Friday in their first game of the Little League World Series. Since then, Kentucky defeated Oregon 7-5 on Saturday and South Carolina 4-3 on Monday to advance to Tuesday’s game.

Texas played Pennsylvania on Wednesday in a battle of 3-0 teams (score unavailable at press time). The winner of that game will advance to the U.S. Championship game Saturday while the loser played California yesterday (score unavailable at press time). Whomever wins that game, will play for the U.S. championship on Saturday.

In the international bracket, Latin America played Japan on Wednesday in a battle of 3-0 teams (score unavailable at press time). The winner of that game will advance to the international championship game on Saturday while the loser played Mexico yesterday (score unavailable at press time). Mexico defeated Asia-Pacific 11-1 in five innings on Tuesday to advance. Whomever wins that game, will play Saturday for the international championship.

The winner of the U.S. championship game will play the winner of the international championship game on Sunday. Sweetwater can still advance to the championship game but needs to beat the loser of the Texas/Pennsylvania game and then the winner of the Texas/Pennsylvania game. It will be difficult for Sweerwater to do this but it is very much possible.