SPORTS BRIEFS: Warren football beats Downey for first time since 2009
DOWNEY – The Warren High School football team defeated cross-town rival Downey at Warren Friday night 23-6.
With the win, Warren improved to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in San Gabriel Valley League play, while Downey dropped to 4-4 overall and 2-1 in S.G.V.L. play.
Both Downey and Warren went into Friday’s game ranked in the C.I.F. Southeast Division poll. Downey was ranked 2nd and Warren was ranked 8th. That poll changed on Monday.
Downey took an early 6-0 lead on a Daevon Vigilant four yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked but the Vikings were on the scoreboard first. Warren answered back on their ensuing drive with a Marquise Lowe 10 yard touchdown run. The Bear extra point was good and Warren took a 7-6 lead to end the first quarter.
The two teams exchanged the ball and field position during the second quarter and neither team scored. The score remained 7-6 Warren at halftime.
The third quarter was much like the second quarter until the last few minutes. Warren quarterback Jordan Yancy connected with receiver Darnay Harris on a 16 yard touchdown pass. The extra point was good and Warren took a 14-6 lead.
As the third quarter came to a close, a low snap deep in Downey territory rolled into the end zone. Viking quarterback Trevor Hill recovered the ball in the end zone but Warren got the two points for the safety and the ball back. Warren took a 16-6 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Bears tacked on another touchdown when Yancy scored on an eight yard touchdown run on fourth down. The extra point was good and Warren led 23-6. The score stayed that way and Warren took the 23-6 win.
The win for Warren marked the first Bear victory against Downey since the Jesse Callier led Bears of 2009. Warren will travel to Dominguez (5-3, 2-1) to face the Dons later today and Downey will travel to Gahr (3-5, 1-2) to face the Gladiators.
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The Downey-Warren football rivalry goes way back. In fact, the game played last Friday night at Warren High School marked the 58th meeting between the schools on the gridiron. Warren has won 31 to Downey’s 27.
Of the 58 games played, 23 have been decided by seven points or less. Warren’s longest winning streak has been eight games and it has been done twice. The first time was between 1963-70 and the second time was between 1972-79. Downey’s longest winning streak has been five years and that was done between 2010-14. That streak was ended Friday night.
Warren has had 14 head coaches with current coach Raul Lara being number 14. Lara has coached the Bears for two seasons and is 1-1 against Downey. Downey has had 12 head coaches with current coach Jack Williams being number 12. Williams has coached the Vikings for the past six seasons and is 5-1 against Warren.
Warren’s longest tenured coach was Jeff Welch. Welch coached the Bears twice. His first stint was from 1993-01 and his second stint was from 2006-07. Welch was 6-5 against Downey between his two stints. Randy Drake was head coach for the Bears from 1976-84 and was 5-4 against Downey.
Downey’s longest tenured coach was Grant Warhurst. Warhurst was head coach from 1993-06 and was 8-6 against Warren. Allen Layne was Downey’s second longest tenured head coach. Layne was head coach from 1970-78 and was 1-8 against Warren. The stadium at Downey High School is named after Allen Layne. Layne went on to become principal at Downey after his coaching days.
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The Downey Calvary Chapel football team currently has an overall record of 4-2 and will conclude their season tomorrow night against St. Joseph Academy of San Marcos at Downey High School.
The Grizzlies defeated Faith Baptist of Canoga Park at Faith Baptist 52-12 on 9/5, were defeated by Orcutt Academy at Orcutt Academy 37-8 on 9/18 and defeated Discovery of Pacoima at Downey 62-8 on 9/26.
DCC defeated Lighthouse Christian of Santa Monica at Lighthouse Christian 48-6 on 10/3, defeated California Lutheran of Widomar at Downey 42-36 on 10/17 and defeated Faith Baptist Academy of Wildomar at Downey 78-54 on 10/23.
The Grizzlies have been led this season on offense by sophomore quarterback Jacob Escalante’s 10/28 passing and two touchdowns. The running backs have been led by senior Brian Holm’s 425 yards on 46 carries and six touchdowns and the receiving corps have been led by senior Jared Welch’s three receptions for 70 yards and one touchdown (stats through first four games).
The DCC defense has been led by Holm’s 25 solo and 5 assisted tackles, senior Caleb Burciaga’s 18 solo and three assisted tackles and senior Seth Baumann’s 17 solo and one assisted tackles (stats through first four games).
First year head coach Mike Nuno has done a nice job transitioning from 11-man to 8-man football. This season has certainly been one of change for Coach Nuno and his staff. Nuno, his staff and players are looking forward to finishing their season on a positive note and defeating St. Joseph Academy tomorrow night.
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The Warren High School girl’s cross country team finished 10th overall at the Mt. SAC Team Sweepstakes last Saturday. The Lady Bears competed in Race 61 and finished with a score of 246.
Great Oak took first place with 37, Davis took second place with 126, Arcadia took third place with 141, Saugus took fourth place with 170 and Serrano took fifth place with 184.
Rounding out the top ten, Bella Vista took sixth place with 212, Claremont took seventh place with 218, Long Beach Poly took eighth place with 229, Dana Hills took ninth place with 234 and Warren took tenth place with 246.
The Lady Bears placed 14th, 29th, 56th, 67th, 80th, 85th and 114th and finished with a team time of 1:34:08 and an average runner time of 18:50.
Senior Samantha Tabares finished 14th in a time of 17:54, senior Gwendolyn Hurtado finished 29th in a time of 18:27, junior Trinity Gomez finished 56th in a time 19:01, senior Janeane Hernandez finished 67th in a time of 19:13. Junior Carlota Conant finished 80th in a time of 19:33, junior Blanca Robles finished 85th in a time 19:39 and junior Rosie Santana finished 114th in a time of 22:11 to round out the seven runner lineup.
Coach Waldron is pleased with the effort of his runners. Waldron maintains that this year’s squad “is hard working and consistent.” The Lady Bears have won both S.G.V.L. cluster meets on 9/24 and 10/15 and look to secure a league championship at the final cluster meet and league finals on November 4.