DOWNEY – The Warren High School football team defeated Gardena last Friday night at Gardena, 42-16, improving their record to 3-2. With the loss, the Panthers dropped to 0-5.

The win against Gardena marks the end of preseason play for Warren. The Bears will now turn their attention to the San Gabriel Valley League opener tonight against Gahr at home. Gahr comes into tonight’s game with an identical 3-2 non-league record.

In the Gardena game, the Warren defense had 14 different players make tackles. Linebacker Steven Zepeda led the Bears with nine solo and two assisted tackles. Valentine Ramos had seven solo and two assisted tackles, Eric Rodriguez had six solo and one assisted tackle, Benjamin Donerson had five solo tackles and Kainoa Fuiava had two solo and three assisted tackles.

Gabriel Salazar-Ortiz had three tackles and Mason Marquez, Tyrone Singleton, Andrew Granados, Marcus Nuno and Darnay Harris had two tackles each. Harris also had two interceptions to help the Bear cause. Warren also recovered three fumbles. One fumble was recovered by Ulises Cota and Steven Cepeda recovered the other two.

On offense, Warren will continue to rely on junior quarterback Jordan Yancy and sophomore running back Jordan Mayes. The Bears have scored 114 points in their last three games while only giving up 28 on defense.

After Gahr tonight, the Bears will travel to cross-town rival Downey next Friday and will then play Dominguez, Lynwood and Paramount in successive weeks. Coach Lara, his staff and players are looking forward to the start of league play.

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The Downey High School girls’ volleyball team defeated cross-town rival Warren at Downey Tuesday night 25-10, 25-15 and 25-11. With the win, the Lady Vikings improved to 17-4 overall and 2-0 in S.G.V.L. play.

The volleyball match represented the annual “Dig Pink” for breast cancer awareness. The Donna Boose Gymnasium at Downey High School was packed with fans wearing pink. According to Downey head coach Andrea Sims, “it was the most packed I have ever seen it for the game.” Senior captain Kimberly Schnars did not disappoint the Downey faithful and led the Lady Vikings with 22 kills and five digs.

Downey played Gahr at Downey yesterday (results unavailable at press time). Downey will travel to Paramount to play the Lady Pirates next Tuesday before hosting the Dominguez Lady Dons Thursday. Coach Sims, her staff and players have gotten off to an excellent start and are playing with  a lot of confidence right now. The Lady Vikings have currently won 16 of their last 17 matches.

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The Downey High School football team did not play last week.

The Vikings are currently 2-3 and will travel to Lynwood later this evening for their S.G.V.L. opener against the Knights. The Knights are 5-0 after defeating Hawthorne, Angelou, Lancaster, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel and Firebaugh. These five teams have a combined record of 5-22.

Downey Head Coach Jack Williams, his staff and players are looking forward to the start of S.G.V.L. play and handing Lynwood their first loss of the season.

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Monday’s football results included Griffiths defeating West, 20-15, and Doty defeating Sussman, 19-0.

Girls’ varsity volleyball results included Stauffer defeating Griffiths in three sets 25-16, 17-25 and 15-4. Doty defeated Sussman 25-20 and 25-15. Girls’ junior varsity volleyball results included Stauffer defeating Griffiths 22-25, 25-17 and 15-9. Doty defeated Sussman 25-16 and 25-18.

Wednesday’s football results included Sussman defeating Griffiths, 52-18, and Stauffer beating Doty, 14-12, in a nail-biter at Stauffer.

Girls’ varsity volleyball results included Sussman defeating Griffiths in three sets 27-29, 25-18 and 15-8. Doty defeated Stauffer 25-14 and 25-20. Girls’ junior varsity volleyball results included Griffiths defeating Sussman 25-12 and 25-12. Doty defeated Stauffer in three sets 25-23, 25-27 and 15-6.

In Sussman’s 52-18 win against Griffiths on Wednesday, Sussman quarterback Angel Ochoa threw five touchdown passes. Justin Cardenas of Sussman caught two touchdown passes while Jonathan Gonzalez and Alejandro Rodriguez each had one touchdown reception and conversion. Francisco Banuelos of Sussman had four interceptions and caught three touchdown passes.

In Stauffer’s 14-12 win against Doty on Wednesday, Robbie Colenzo of Doty completed a pass to Noah Skobis on the final play of regulation for a touchdown and a 14-12 score. The Knights went for two and the tie to force overtime. The two-point conversion pass was completed at the goal line but was ruled short.

Stauffer held on for the 14-12 win.

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Middle School sports just finished the midway point of their football and girls’ volleyball schedules. Boys’ football has the Doty Knights and Stauffer Spartans tied for the city lead with 2-1 records. The Griffiths Indians and Sussman Pioneers are one game back at 1-2.

The varsity girls’ volleyball standings have Doty at 3-0, Sussman at 2-1, Stauffer at 1-2 and Griffiths at 0-3. The girls’ junior varsity volleyball standings have Doty at 3-0, while Griffiths, Stauffer and Sussman are all two games back at 1-2.

The games have been exciting and action packed as middle school athletes compete against athletes from Downey’s four middle schools.

As the first round of games and matches have concluded, each school will now play a second round of competition. Schools will play each school at their home site in random order and will then play that team on the road. Teams will play a total of six games; one at home and one at the other school. Whichever team has the best record at the end of the six game schedule is declared the city champion.

Boys’ volleyball and girls’ soccer will follow football and girls’ volleyball. Basketball for boys’ and girls’ varsity and junior varsity and boy’s soccer will then follow boys’ volleyball and girls’ soccer. Baseball and softball will then follow basketball and boys’ soccer. Boys’ and girls’ track and field will conclude the school year with dual meets in May followed by the city championship in early June.

 

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Published: Oct. 9, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 26