Downey High girls flag football quarterback, Madeline Garcia (32), center, led the team in passing with players, from left, Kayla Garcia, (21), Chloe Cotton, (1), Adrianna Maldonado, (16) and Delilah Navarro, (25) who advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF playoffs. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

DOWNEY – The Downey High School flag football team recently completed a record-setting season with an overall record of 23-5, a CIF-Southern Section Quarterfinal appearance and a second place in the Gateway League.

Leading the way was sophomore quarterback Madeline Garcia, along with seniors Chloe Cotton (WR, DB), Delilah Navarro (WR, DB), Adriana Maldonado (WR) and Kayla Garcia (MLB) and juniors Melanie Sanchez (WR) and Caroline Cortez (LB).

Combined, they put up some astonishing figures – 74 passing touchdowns, 977 yards rushing and 6,375 receiving yards.

Leading the way was second-year co-coaches Chuck Lozano and Bonnie Nishioka.

“I think the one thing in the culture of our program is what we try to instill is we take everybody serious, we respect every opponent but more so we want to show up and compete every single time we play,” Lozano said. “The big thing that really helped us was having a Spring this year and were able to put in practices and also in the summer.

“We want to try and play the best. We’re already trying to be aggressive next year, scheduling-wise and we have JSerra already, who went undefeated and won the (CIF) DI Championship.

“We’re going to do our best and to go and swing and play the big dogs as best we can and be battle-tested.

“I thought our staff members did a really good job of mentoring our girls and kind of talking them through some of those challenges and helping them prepare for certain life aspects that they will encounter.”

Named to the All-CIF team were Navarro and Cotton.

After starting the season with three losses in their first four games, the Vikings reeled off an area-best 17 consecutive wins before losing to cross-town rival Warren to break the streak.

They finished the season with five wins in their last six games. It ended with a marathon, five overtime 18-12 loss to Westlake in the CIF Division 2 Quarterfinals.

“Without a doubt, we were both two even teams,” said Lozano, of the quarterfinal game. “Five overtimes and we had an opportunity where we had chances to win. Honestly, when we left the facility, I was dead, just drained.

“But more so because of watching our girls going out there to compete and having a chance to win, I don’t fault them and sometimes that’s they way the ball rolls. Our girls were that close to winning that game and I know that we prepared the right way. They approached that game like it was the Super Bowl and unfortunately the chips didn’t fall where we wanted them to. They battled after every quarter (and OT).”

In the nine-quarter marathon quarterfinal game, Madeline Garcia threw for 350 yards (44 for 68) and two TDs.

Navarro led with 153 yards (15 catches) and a touchdown, while Maldonado (14 catches for 83 yards and Cotton had six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Sophomore WR/DB Sophia Hernandez added five catches for 38 yards.

Westlake opened the scoring in the first quarter for the 6-0 lead, but Navarro got the Vikings even at 6-6 with a score in the second quarter.

Then for the next six quarters both defenses came through time after time before Cotton came though

“It was back and forth for both defense and offense for both teams and we just wanted to make a play,” said Cotton, of the overtime thriller.

Cotton came through with a go-ahead score in the third overtime to take the 12-6 lead.

“With the help of Adriana (Maldonado), she tipped it and I was open in the end zone, and I made the snag and scored the touchdown,” Cotton said. “The ball was going over to me, but Adriana ended up in front of me, and she tipped it off of her fingers and I happened to be right behind her.

“That tip was big and made a difference and brought the girls momentum up to keep going.”

Westlake scored a touchdown to tie it, 12-6, to send it into the fourth overtime.

Neither team scored in the fourth OT, but Westlake ended it with a score in the fifth to send them to the semifinals.

Westlake lost in the championship game to Corona del Mar.

Highlighting the first playoff game (32-6 win over San Dimas), Maldonado (11 catches, 90 yds.) and Sanchez (4 catches, 88 yards) each scored two receiving touchdowns.

Madeline Garcia had a monster game with 363 yards passing (31 for 40) and five TDs. She also ran the ball seven times for 67 yards.

Cotton (3 catches) and sophomore receiver Leila Paz (3 catches) had 63 and 42 yards receiving, respectively for the Vikings.

Navarro added 33 yards on three catches.

Defensively, sophomore wide receiver/defensive backs Carissa Rodriguez and Leanna Rodriguez each led five solo tackles, while Navarro led with four interceptions.

In the second-round win (25-6 over San Clemente), Cotton led with two touchdowns, while Maldonado had one score.

With the fledging California flag football sport in its third season, Downey started up its program in the second season and became an immediate success.

They began their first season in 2024 and finished up with a 17-8 overall record and finished second to Warren in Gateway League action. Both Downey and Warren advanced to the second round before they both lost.

“I thought we had a tremendous leap from year one to year two,” Lozano added. “A lot of that can be contributed to the fact that we had Spring football, and the girls in our program were extremely committed throughout the process.

“They showed a tremendous amount of maturity and mental growth.

“I think the thing that we are most proud of is how much of a passion and fire These girls have to develop for the sport of flag football. Their eagerness to learn and want to get better is infectious and it makes coaching a pleasure.”

“Even though we fell short in our five-overtime game, it truly revealed the character of our team.” added Lozano. “Never at one point did we hang our heads. Never at one point at did people point fingers. There was no blame being passed around. We competed as a family and we lost as a family, but we also learned as a family and will apply those lessons to our future.”

We have a tremendous group of core players coming back, and we are excited for the opportunity to continue to practice, compete and play.”

Also on Lozano’s staff is co-head Coach Bonnie Nishioka, Jesse Ferguson (defensive coordinator), Jonathon Giles (defense), Domonick Cortez (offensive assistant), Yazmin Mendoza (JV Assistant) and Jerrell Bradford (defensive assistant).

A conversation with the players

Madeline Garcia, sophomore QB: “I worked very hard over the summer to get better from where I was last year. I know there was a lot of things that I needed to work on. I knew I could be way better. It definitely showed this year.

I guess I didn’t have the love for the sport last year as much as I do this year. That helped me to want to do better for myself and the team. Everybody, overall, got better too.

(Lozano) and I created a bond and I had a lot of trust in what he was saying.”

Season stats – 551 for 766 passing, 6,859 yards, 74 TDs, 13 Int., 136 carries for 939 yards, 18 TDs.

Chloe Cotton, senior WR/DB: “It was the team chemistry and really wanted to make an impact on the team, being the players we are and wanting to be the leader. I feel like it was a big role being a senior and put my foot down and get us a win. It took a lot of confidence and courage and work from last season.

Our chemistry (Maddy Garcia) and timing all match up perfectly. Maddy has that arm and I have the speed, so we can just build on that connection.

We put in a lot of work and proved to ourselves we’re here for a reason and showing it on the field. The wins are speaking for themselves.

The rivalry (between Warren) was tough and you want to take that win home, but it was definitely fuel for the fire and got us riled up and this season and going into this season it gave us a push to want to be better.”

Season stats – 118 catches, 2,126 yards, 23 TDs.

Delilah Navarro, senior WR/DB: “It was fun, but I didn’t even want to play to begin with, but I joined because my friends were playing. The coaches were so nice both years and I fell in love with (the sport).

It was special to be in the end zone (20 TDs in the last two seasons). It felt special after catching the ball in the end zone. One time they had the lights flashing on and going crazy when I scored a touchdown. Once I seen myself cross the line into the end zone, it feels good.

I hope the other girls (underclassmen) get inspired by us and just hope I showed people how flag football could change their perspective for flag. For me it’s my comfort zone. All of my friends were there. I love my team.

Season stats – 138 catches for 2,021, 12 TDs.

Kayla Garcia, senior MLB: “In my junior year they had a powder puff football game and I just joined for my senior year and I just loved the sport. I like the physical activity and showing my athletic abilities. I grew up doing gymnastics and soccer and I recently did volleyball, but I just wanted to play flag football.

The 17 wins in a row were amazing.

To see how passionate the coaches are for the game, it brings passion to me too.

After we lost to Warren, it definitely had a reality check after it. It definitely motivated me to not feel that again.

(The OT) was definitely new to me. It was the first time I ever played overtime.

The game was definitely very suspenseful and we just wanted to win. We put all of our hearts into the season and that game. Even though it wasn’t the outcome we came for, I’m just proud of the journey.”

Adriana Maldonado, senior QB, LB: “I feel the difference (between last season and this season) we collectively had more time together with the girls that had been here prior. We all just were able to bond more and get more time together to become one.

It was very special to play for (Lozano) and the coaches. It helped to develop overall all of us.

After all of our wins (17 in a row) it (Warren loss) did knock us down, but that motivated us to get right back up and go on from where we left off.”

Season stats – 122 catches for 959 yards, 11 TDs, 59 for 116 passing, 883 yards, 4 Ints., 9 TDs.

Caroline Cortez, junior LB: “Our defense was really good and shutting down other teams, weather it was first down or the very last down.

In the five overtimes, I liked that our defense didn’t give up and w just kept fighting. If they scored, then we scored and kept going. It was very nerve-racking because none of us were scoring at all and it was just back-and-forth defense. The defense had a good game that day.

Season stats - Melanie Sanchez – 90 catches for 1,269 yards, 19 TDs.

Downey High flag football shines in sophomore season