SPORTS BRIEFS: Downey shuts out rival Paramount, 23-0

DOWNEY – The Downey High School football team defeated Paramount at Paramount last Thursday night 23-0. With the win, Downey improved to 6-3 overall and 4-0 in S.G.V.L. play. With the loss, Paramount fell to 5-4 overall and 2-2 in S.G.V.L. play. Paramount will host Warren this evening to settle the final S.G.V.L. playoff spot. Warren is also 5-4 overall and 2-2 in S.G.V.L. play.

Downey will host Dominguez tonight for the S.G.V.L. title. Dominguez is 7-2 overall and also 4-0 in S.G.V.L. play. Dominguez defeated Gahr last Friday night 56-19. Tonight’s game is the first game in the last four years that will not end in a tri-league championship.

For the past three years, Downey, Dominguez and Paramount all finished league play with identical 4-1 records. Interestingly, the formulas were precisely the same each year. Paramount would beat Downey, Dominguez would beat Paramount and Downey would beat Dominguez. After tonight’s game, there will be one S.G.V.L. champion.

In the Paramount game, the Vikings rushed the ball 39 times for 248 yards and scored one rushing touchdown. Downey’s passing game featured 12 receptions for 239 yards and two touchdowns. The Vikings averaged 19.9 yards per reception. Downey accumulated 487 yards of total offense in their 23-0 win.

Downey will be led in tonight’s game on offense by sophomore quarterback Trevor Hill. Hill has completed 47/79 pass attempts for 858 yards in six games (broken hand). Hill has thrown six touchdown passes and four interceptions. Hill has averaged 143.1 yards passing per game.

The Viking rushing attack will be led by the tandem machine of Daevon Vigilant and Justin Huff. Vigilant has 139 carries for 1227 yards and six touchdowns while Huff has 89 carries for 926 yards and nine touchdowns. Vigilant averages 8.8 yards per carry and Huff averages 10.4 yards per carry, respectively.

The Viking receiving corps is led by Jalen Thompson’s 15 receptions for 331 yards and four touchdowns, Stacy Chukwumezie’s 11 receptions for 243 yards and two touchdowns and Jason Thomas’ seven receptions for 221 yards and one touchdown. Darrian Franklin has 12 receptions for 184 yards and Eddie Preciado has 10 receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

The Viking defense has 105 tackles for loss including an average of 4.7 sacks per game. Downey has recovered 10 fumbles and intercepted opposing quarterbacks nine times. The Viking defense has steadily improved and will need to play well tonight in order to stop the potent Dominguez running game. Tonight’s game should be extremely competitive and fun to watch.

•••

The Warren High School football team defeated Lynwood at Lynwood last Friday night 17-14. With the win, the Bears are now 5-4 overall and 2-2 in S.G.V.L. play. With the loss, the Knights are 5-4 overall and 0-4 in S.G.V.L. play.

Lynwood has been eliminated from postseason play.

Warren will travel to Paramount this evening and play the Pirates. Paramount is also 5-4 and 2-2 in S.G.V.L. play. The game tonight will determine the third and final playoff team from the San Gabriel Valley League for the C.I.F. Southeast Division playoffs.

In the Lynwood game, the score was tied 0-0 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Lynwood scored two touchdowns and converted the extra points before Warren found the endzone. Warren did score a touchdown and converted the extra point in the second quarter to cut the Knight lead to 14-7. The score at halftime was 14-7 Lynwood.

The Bears scored a touchdown in the third quarter and converted the extra point. The score at the end of the third quarter was 14-14. Warren’s defense stepped up in the fourth quarter and held the Knight offense scoreless. The Bears kicked a field goal in the fourth quarter and held on for the hard fought, 17-14 win.

The Bears have steadily improved on offense this season. Warren has completed 41/131 pass attempts for 529 yards and eight touchdowns. The Bears are averaging 58.8 yards passing per game. The Bears have rushed the ball 258 times for 1699 yards and 18 touchdowns. Warren is averaging 188.8 yards rushing per game and 6.6 yards per rush attempt.

The Warren defense has steadily improved as well. The Bears have accumulated 17 sacks and have four interceptions. Coach Lara, his staff and players are looking forward to playing for a playoff spot in Raul Lara’s first season as head coach at Warren.

•••

The Downey High School boys’ water polo team lost to Cerritos Tuesday 18-6 at the Cerritos Swim Center.

With the win, Cerritos improved to 20-8 overall and 5-0 in S.G.V.L. play. With the loss, the Vikings dropped to 9-12 overall and 4-1 in S.G.V.L. play. Cerritos clinched their 10th straight San Gabriel Valley League title. Cerritos is currently ranked second in Division 4.

Downey struggled to recover from being down 8-0 in the first period. Frankie Gonzalez scored the first Downey goal and Nick Apodaca added the second. The score at halftime was 10-2 Cerritos. Cerritos played suffocating defense and Downey struggled to compete. Cerritos’ sophomore standouts Alex and Angel Alcala recorded three goals each as did senior Dominick Nevarez. Downey’s Luis Valencia added three second half goals to pace the Vikings.

•••

The Downey High School girls’ volleyball team concluded their regular season schedule with a three game sweep of Dominguez at Dominguez on Tuesday. The Lady Vikings currently have an overall record of 25-4 and an undefeated San Gabriel Valley League record of 10-0. The Lady Vikings are currently on an 11 game winning streak and playing well. Downey’s last loss was in four sets to Valley Christian on September 25.

Downey will now wait for the C.I.F. playoff brackets to be released this Sunday morning. The Lady Vikings will host a first round game. Coach Sims, her staff and players are once again looking forward to making a deep run in the C.I.F. Division 2-AA playoffs.

•••

In girls’ volleyball, Downey is the S.G.V.L. champion with an overall record of 25-4 and 10-0 in league play. Paramount was second with an overall record of 12-12 and 6-4 in league play. Gahr was third with an overall record of 9-16 and 6-4 in league play and Warren finished fourth with an overall record of 6-16 and league record of 5-5.

Rounding out the S.G.V.L. standings, Lynwood finished their season with an overall record of 10-9 and 3-7 in league play and Dominguez finished their season with an overall and league record of 0-10.

•••

The Warren High School girls’ tennis team is currently ranked 10th in C.I.F. The Bears hosted San Gabriel Valley League Finals last week and had several standout performances. Warren finished first and second at league finals in individual competition.

Isabella Lopez is the S.G.V.L. individual champion and Bohesa Won took second. Both girls qualified for C.I.F. individual competition with their efforts. Warren’s top doubles team of Victoria Echevarria and Diana Castrejon placed second.

Warren hosted Lompoc in the first round of C.I.F. team competition on Wednesday and defeated the Braves 14-4. Warren improved their overall record to 18-1 and now await their second round opponent.

The Warren High School girls’ volleyball team saw their season come to an end at Warren on Tuesday with a five set loss to Paramount. The Lady Bears had a chance to clinch the number two S.G.V.L. playoff entry with a win or would be eliminated from postseason competition altogether with a loss. The Lady Bears lost in five, hard fought sets.

**********

Published: Nov. 6, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 30