Downey teams ready for kickoff
Quarterback Jordan Malikin passes to receivers as they practice for the first game of the season at Warren High School on Tuesday August 18, 2026. Warren will play Serrano at home on Friday. Photo by Keith Durflinger
DOWNEY — With the 2026 high school football season upon us, the four local Downey area schools are preparing for a season with some changes in their respective leagues.
But first, non-league action kicks off Friday (August 21) at home for two of the four schools – Warren and Downey. Warren will host Serrano, while Downey, which won the Gateway League last year, will play Long Beach Poly.
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (PMA), which reached the CIF Finals for the second year in a row, sits out week O, but will begin the season next Friday (August 28) at home versus St. Bonaventure, while Calvary Chapel Downey will also start its season next week on Thursday August 27 at Valley Oaks in Sun Valley.
Warren third-year coach Adam Leonard has high goals set for this season.
“Our goal is to raise the first (championship) banner here at Warren High School,” Leonard said. “I think this team has what it takes to play long into November and the goal is to play until December.
“I always felt like we have one of the premier public school leagues with Mayfair and La Mirada in the mix, but La Serna has been part of our nonleague schedule for I want to say six-plus years. That’s always going to be a great challenge for our program to get us ready for league. For them to be part of the league it gives a little more meaning for the game. We have a great respect for the coach (Andy George) there.
“Every game counts now. It’s tough this year as we start off with La Serna and Downey in league. I’m looking forward to the challenge and it’s exciting to play meaningful football against top talent.”
Players to watch: Senior quarterback Jordan Malikin, who starts the season as a 16-year old, threw for 2,327 yards (206 for 336) and 15 TDs.
“I’m really excited for the season,” Malikin said. “Obviously I’m a senior and it will be my last year here at Warren as I’ve been here all four years. We’ve been growing under coach Leonard. He took over during my sophomore year. He’s a great guy and a great coach.
I love what the coaching staff has been bringing. I’m excited. We’re going to win a lot of games.”
Senior wide receiver Julian Padin will be one of Malikin’s targets as he caught 48 passes for 642 yards last season.
Jr. RB Martis Thomas and Sr. Brandon Shade - “They are really stepping into their own,” added Leonard. “They’ve done a lot of great things. We expect them to have a really big year.
“One big get for us was senior receiver Hassan Williams (Transfer from Gardena). He’s very explosive for us and a playmaker. We feel really confident with those guys, as well as junior Dylan Thompson (32 catches for 387 yards). Thompson goes and makes plays. 50-50 balls are more like 80-20.”
Leonard had high praise for his defense saying, “On the defensive end we have returning starter junior DB Armon Long on the back end at safety who’s kind of like our general. He’s the quarterback of the defense.
“I believe junior Michael Thomas is going to have a great year at linebacker.”
Leonard continued, “Senior Karson Forge is a returning starter at cornerback, who had about two or three picks last year and is really going to be a lockdown guy for us this year.
“We have a lot of guys who are going to be flying around making plays.
“One guy that’s going to sit five games (transfer rule) is sophomore running back George Diggs. He’s a load. He’s coming from St. John Bosco.”
Leonard talked about their first opponent – Serrano: “They are a tough, hard-nosed team. They’re going to run the ball and have a hard-nosed defense. I’m excited for the challenge and telling our guys they got to be prepared to take on blocks and get off blocks for four quarters.”
Warren High
Head coach: Adam Leonard
2025 results: (4-8 overall, 3-2 league) – CIF L 2nd Rnd.
8/21 – vs. Serrano
8/28 - @ Scripps Ranch
9/4 – vs. South Gate
9/11 - @ Orange Vista
9/18 – vs. Culver City – 2025 (4-6, 1-4) – No CIF
10/2 – vs. La Serna*
10/9 – vs. Downey*
10/16 – H vs. Mayfair*
10/23 - @ La Mirada*
10/30 - @ Cerritos*
Downey High
Head coach: Jack Williams
2025 results: (9-2, 5-0) CIF – L 1st Rd.
8/21 – vs. Long Beach Poly
8/28 - @ Capistrano Valley
9/4 – vs. Millikan
9/11 – vs. Los Alamitos
9/25 - @ Inglewood
10/2 – vs. Mayfair*
10/9 - @ Warren*
10/16 - @ La Mirada*
10/30 – vs. La Serna*
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy
Head coach: Devah Thomas
“I’m excited for another year of PMA football,” PMA athletic Director James Covell said. “We’re accomplishing things on the football field that haven’t been done at a school our size in more than a decade,” he said. “Reaching back-to-back CIF championship games is no small feat, and this year we’re taking on an even tougher non-league schedule. Coach Thomas does an outstanding job leading and developing our young men. He has transformed this program from simply an option into a destination, a place where student-athletes can turn their D1 dreams into D1 reality.”
Coach Thomas is in his sixth year
“We’ll just keep coaching,” Thomas said, after the graduation of a multitude of experienced players this past year. “I have some great assistants. We’re big on development and this is a big year to show our proof of development. We are a lot younger, but are still are a well-oiled machine.
“We want to see what the product does out there on Friday nights.”
On the six players that are headed to division I colleges, Thomas said, “To get those type of numbers from a small school like this (PMA), which has had football for only the last nine years is a blessing. Our schedule is tough times ten.”
On the first game at St. Bonaventure Thomas said, “They are a great team coached by Troy Hill, a retired L.A. Rams player. Hill is an alum of Salesian. “He has an older team and will be good and competitive this year.
“Our young guys have to go out there and rise to the occasion. I just know we’re young and getting myself prepared mentally. We got to gradually build them in.”
Players to watch: QB – Jr. Tyreq Conley - “He’s been in the fire a little bit with the lights under him last year. Also we have a freshman quarterback, Romere (RJ) Jones. He’s very good and a lot of high schools were after him.”
WR’s – Francisco (June) Meza, Jr. – “He’s a phenom and one of our better guys on offense,” said Thomas.
Three big time offensive linemen – Sr. Patrick Washington, Sr. Kasen Poole-Hughes and also center Caleb Mendoza. “Those three are our returning seniors.
We also have a young up and coming guy (Antron Brown, Jr.) that’s replacing Malik (Brooks) and wearing his number (99).
Freshman receivers – Jayden Booker and Davon Jones, along with sophomore receiver Mason Sovern . ”He’s a great athlete. He’s tough as nails. He’ll come in and help us on Friday nights.”
“We have a lot of shoes to fill on that defensive line,” Thomas added.
Sr. RB Le’Allyn (AJ) Monroe has lots of interests from DI schools, with the defensive line. San Francisco 49ers corner Deommodore Lenoir, a Salesian alum played under Thomas when he was an assistant there. He is the big brother of Jr. Comarion Lenoir. “He’s going to be a monster. He’s like a Warren Sapp (Former NFL player with Tampa Bay) type of player.
Elijah Hamilton – “A linebacker that started for us last year is coming back,” said Thomas. “Senior Geremya Hood is a tackle sensation, along with our defensive back and Oregon State commit, Johnny McNeil III.
Senior wide receiver Edward “Spaghetti” Spriggs is a University of San Diego commt. Other players to watch - Freshman Skyler Townsend, senior safety returner Jordan Stacy and senior D-lineman Isaiah Wheeler.
2025 results: (7-7, 2-3) CIF – Runner-up
8/28 – vs. St. Bonaventure
9/4 – vs. Muir 2025
9/11 @ San Juan Hills
9/18 – vs. Chino Hills
9/25 – vs. Valhalla
10/2 - @ Bishop Montgomery*
10/9 - @ St. Francis*
10/16 - @ Paraclete*
10/23 – vs. St. Paul*
10/30 – vs. Cathedral*
Calvary Chapel Downey
Head coach: Kenny Rogers
Asssistant coaches: Offensive coordinator, Nathan Tachin, Defensive coordinator, Trent Johnson, Assistant coach Nathan Cerebe. Asst. coach Christian Naaktgeboren.
“We are excited about our first game of the season,” Rogers said. “Our leaders on offense are sophomore QB Johnny Sanchez, returning from last year and freshman QB Samuel Gonzales. So. running back Samuel Del Valle. Tight end Alejandro Villarreal. Wide receivers, senior Gilbert Samano and freshman Noah Nunez.
“We will heavily rely on our offensive line anchored by Christian Craver,” Rogers added. “On defense we will have a few newcomers - freshman defensive back Jacob Harth and junior linebacker Mark Maya will be busy in the middle and Jonathan Pacheco surveying in the defensive backfield. “While again we rely heavily on our defensive line, we are excited about our young team that have the right attitude, deep core values, while allowing the Holy Spirit to guide them with freshman players such as Isaac Galvan, Elijah Hernandez, Jeremiah Luna and Aaron Bonilla,” said Rogers.
2025 results (4-6, 2-3) No CIF
8/27 - @ Valley Oaks
9/5 - vs. Cal Lutheran, 6 pm
9/12 - vs. Polytechnic, 6 pm
9/19 - @ Calvary Baptist
10/2 - @ Malibu, 6 pm
10/9 - vs. Legacy College Prep*
10/16 - @ Avalon*
10/23 - @ Vista Meridian*, 6 pm
10/31 – vs. Southlands Christian*, 12 pm
* Denotes league game
All games at 7 pm unless noted