DOWNEY -- The Downey High School football program will begin their summer practices on Monday. 

The Vikings are finishing up their C.I.F. mandated “dead period” and are preparing for the fall football season.

Downey (10-4) will open up their season against San Pedro (11-2) at home on August 28. The Vikings will then host Hart (8-4) on September 4, will host Alemany (7-3) on September 11 and will host Millikan (6-4) on September 18. Downey will travel to Chino Hills (8-3) on September 25 to close out their preseason schedule.

Downey will begin San Gabriel Valley League play when they host Dominguez (7-4) on October 9. The Vikings will then host Lynwood (6-4) on October 16, will travel to cross-town rival Warren (5-5) on October 23, will host Gahr (3-7) on October 30 and will travel to Paramount (7-5) on October 30 to finish out their regular season.

Downey was defeated by Crescenta Valley 21-14 at Crescenta Valley in the C.I.F. Southeast Division championship game last season. The Vikings lost on an extremely controversial call when a completed pass was ruled incomplete in the endzone during the fourth quarter. Downey has appeared in two title games in the last three years and look to get back to the championship game this season.

The Vikings will be led this season by senior captains DB/WR Jalen Thompson, OL Andrew Gonzalez and OL Alan Gomez. Coach Williams, his staff and players are looking forward to the start of the 2015 football season. 

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The Warren High School football program will kick off its unofficial 2015 football season with a scrimmage against Burroughs (6-4) on Aug. 28 at Warren. 

Both schools observed their bye week during the first week of the prep season and decided to have a scrimmage before both teams played in their respective season openers on September 4. 

The Bears finished last season with an overall record of 5-5 and a S.G.V.L. record of 2-3. Warren narrowly missed making the playoffs after a week ten loss to Paramount at Paramount 42-34. Paramount claimed the last S.G.V.L. playoff spot with the win. Warren will be led this season by returning standout senior quarterback Jordan Yancy.

Warren has been working hard this spring and summer preparing for their upcoming season. The Bears will have their C.I.F. mandated “dead period” July 18-August 10 and prepare for Burroughs when they return from their break.

The Bears’ first game will be against St. Paul (4-6) at home on September 4. Warren will then travel to Buena Park (11-2) on September 10, host Firebaugh (1-9) on September 18, travel to Western (1-9) on September 25 and host Gardena (2-8) on October 2. The game against Gardena will conclude Warren’s preseason schedule.

The Bears will begin San Gabriel Valley League play when they host Paramount (7-5)on October 9. Warren will then travel to Gahr (3-7) on October 16 and then host cross-town rival Downey (10-4) on October 23. The Bears will travel to Dominguez (7-4) on October 30 and then host Lynwood (6-4) in their last regular season game on November 6.

Coach Lara, his staff and players are excited to kick off the 2015 football season and are looking forward to competing for the S.G.V.L. title and making the playoffs.

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Warren High School will be hosting the Summer Nights Track Series this July and August. 
There are currently four dates of competitions scheduled. Dates are scheduled for July 22, July 29, August 5 and August 12. Both running and field events will start at 6 p.m. 

There will be a total of four divisions competing at Summer Nights. These divisions which will include: Youth, High School, Open and Masters. Everyone will receive a hand time or mark for their effort. 

The entry fee is $10 per athlete and features unlimited entries for events. It will be $3 for spectators who want to watch from the stands. 

Track events will include the 400m relay, 1600m, 100/110 hurdles, 400m, 50m (8 years and under), 100m, 800m, 300h, 200m and 1600m relay. Field events will include the long jump, triple jump, high jump and shot put. 

Questions can be directed to coach Vanessa Juarez at (714) 402-5681 or by e-mail at Faith1234540@yahoo.com.