Calvary Chapel Downey football enters new league with optimism
Calvary Chapel Downey football head coach Kenny Rogers encourages players during conditioning at their practice field across from their campus on Wednesday.(Photo by Keith Durflinger)
DOWNEY – Don’t tell first-year Calvary Chapel Downey High School Football coach, Kenny Rogers, that this is a “rebuilding year.”
The Grizzlies, who have 18 players on the roster, will enter the Express League this season which includes Avalon, Vista Meridian, Legacy College Prep, Southlands Christian and Magnolia Science Academy.
Six players have graduated from last season.
“This year we don’t like to call it a rebuild year, because any year as a coach in high school sports, if you think about it, it is a rebuild year every year because you move up,” said Rogers, at practice Wednesday.
“We’re pretty excited about our season this year. We don’t like to compare seasons past. We just only want to look at the present and what we can be expecting in the future.”
They struggled last season with a 3-7 record as a freelance team.
“Despite last year’s record, we coaches and all the players have high hopes on greatly improving from the last season,” Rogers said. “Whatever happened last year, happened. The past is there for us to learn from, and we intend on doing so.”
Rogers, who has been busy coaching multiple sports, has also coached swimming, track and field, boys and girls soccer and cross country.
“I’m super blessed to be a part of this year’s team,” said Calvary Chapel athletic director Nathan Tachin, who recently had the “interim” tag removed from his name. “This will be my fifth year coaching football with the school. I'm excited to grow and learn more everyday with this team and coaching staff. We brought in this new culture that the boys bought into quick and that makes coaching this team easy and fun. I can't wait to see what the Lord plans on doing with this year's team.
Tachin is also a coach on the team as offensive coordinator.
Expected to lead the team this year is 6-3 sophomore quarterback Blake Roemheld.
“He is the leader of the team on and off the field, not only in his play but in his attitude and relationship with Jesus,” added Rogers, who was the quarterbacks coach as an assistant. “He now takes over the responsibility of starting quarterback and has a really strong arm. We’re going to be a throwing team for sure with him under the helm.”
Roemheld, who backed up senior Joshua Lennear last season, completed 31 of 50 passes for 505 yards (.620 completion percentage) and six touchdowns.
“I’m not going to be as fast as him,” said Roemheld, of Lennear’s speed. “I have some areas I think I can work on that can help the team. With the help of the Lord, I feel I can do something for this team.
“I’ve known these players for a long time, and I love every one of them and it’s going to be a fun season.”
Roemheld, who was also a big part of the volleyball team that was the CIF D9 Runnerup, has some experienced receivers.
“Uriah Figueroa is a receiver of mine and my very first pass (last season) was for 40 yards,” added Roemheld. “I feel like there’s a bond there. “Alejandro (Villarreal), hopefully a tight end, and I both played on the seventh grade flag team together. And I have a crazy lineman, Christian Craver, a big guy. We have some amazing players out there and I’m grateful for them.”
Figueroa led the team with 561 receiving yards on 37 catches for nine TDs.
Other key returners with coach Rogers comments:
Junior OL/DL Christian Craver: “Looking to continue to dominate the line on both sides of the ball.”
Junior OL/OLB Joseph Corpuz: “Truly the backbone of the team in attitude and play.”
Junior WR/DB Uriah Figueroa: “Looking to improve from his stellar 2024 season.”
Junior TE/MLB Jordan Soriano-Cruz: “Rising to the occasion on being the leader of the defense.”
Rogers was also excited about his receiving corps saying, “We’re not going to leave anything uncovered. We’re going to utilize everybody.”
“We are definitely excited to see what happens this season,” concluded Rogers. “So far, the culture we have been building up in these guys through devotionals and practices has been amazing. The chemistry compared to last season to now, is truly special.”
Assisting Rogers is offensive coordinator Nathan Tachin, defensive coordinator Trent Johnson, wide receiver/defensive back coach Christian Naaktgeboren, assistant defensive coordinator/running back, linebacker coach Nathan Cerebe, and offensive/defensive line coach Johnathan Featherstone.
The rest of the team: Gilbert Samano, WR/DB, Jr.; Alejandro Villarreal, RB/TE/LB, Jr.; Joseph Warth, OL/DL, Sr.; Edgar Talamantes, OL/DL, Sr.; Matthew Avila, WR/DB/K/P, Sr.; Jonathan Pacheco, RB/WR/DB, Jr.; Samuel Sandoval, RB/WR/DB, So.; Mark Maya, OL/TE/LB, So.; Jonathan Sanchez, QB/LB, Fr.; Kobe Santana, OL/DL, Fr.; Nathaniel Carrera, WR/DB, So.; Nathan Montiel, OL/LB, So.; Nathaniel Warth, OL/TE/LB, Jr.
Junior WR/DB Gilbert Samano had 117 receiving yards on 11 catches.
What they said:
Kenny Rogers, Calvary head coach: “We play football because we enjoy the game and the discipline it teaches—but our identity is in Christ, not in the sport. Football is something we do, not who we are. We use it as a platform to grow, build character, and even be a witness to others. As long as we’re putting God first, we all believe He can use football as part of our walk with Him.”
Uriah Figueroa, Jr. WR/DB: “I want to make playoffs, score 10-plus touchdowns and have over five interceptions. Team bonding is important, and I already know a lot of them. I want to have a more work ethic. My brother, Isaiah, is like my personal coach and is training me and pushing me and doing drills.”
Jordan Soriano-Cruz, Jr. TE/MLB: “The coaches saw that I perform better in the linebacker position and I’m working on getting stronger for my tight end position.
I also want to be a leader for my team and also help the team to do their best and to make touchdowns. I think we’re going to do great this year because most of our players are returners from the freshman year. They now are taking more leadership roles.”
Joseph Corpuz, Jr. OL/OLB: “I hope I’m going to do really good this year. I’ve been putting a lot more work in the weight room. The unity between me and my team seems really good this year.
Our quarterback (Roemheld) this year is a really good passing quarterback and a good kid. Our coaches are instilling a good culture, and it helps for team unity. They make sure our priorities are straight.
I’m excited because I love watching it and playing it for the longest time. I’m glad I get to do it with my friends.”