Downey, Warren, Calvary Chapel all qualify for postseason play

DOWNEY – The Downey High School football team defeated Gahr at Downey last Thursday night in their league and regular season finale, 42-27.


With the win the Vikings improved to 5-5 on the season and 3-2 in league play. The win knocked Gahr out of postseason contention.


Downey will travel to La Mirada later today to face the Matadores in their first-round playoff matchup. La Mirada finished their season with an overall record of 2-8 but were 2-1 in Suburban League play and qualified as the number two entry from the Suburban League, behind Mayfair (8-2, 4-0).


In the Downey/Gahr game the score was tied after the first quarter of play 7-7. Downey scored 14 points in the second quarter and took a 21-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.


The teams scored a touchdown and converted the extra point each in the third quarter and Downey held on to that 14-point lead at 28-14. The Vikings outscored Gahr 14-13 in the fourth quarter and took the 42-27 decision.


Viking quarterback Kijjon Foots completed 8/11 pass attempts for 216 yards and three touchdowns. Foots finished the game with an impressive quarterback rating of 154.4.


The Viking ground game was led by Malcom Perry’s 18 carries for 119 yards and two touchdowns, Alex Cortez’s 10 carries for 82 yards, Danny Ruiz’s four carries for 17 yards and one touchdown and Antonio Ruiz’s five carries for 36 yards. Downey accumulated 266 yards rushing the football.


The Viking receiving corps were led by Brenden Hodge’s two catches for 61 yards and one touchdown, Xander Orozco’s two receptions for 41 yards, Kevin Caldwell’s one catch for 72 yards and one touchdown and Alex Cortez’s one catch for 28 yards and a touchdown.


The Viking defense was led by Anthony Lopez’s five solo and five assisted tackles, Vincent Willis’ five solo and three assisted tackles, Daniel Mena’s four solo and four assisted tackles and Danny Ruiz’s five solo and two assisted tackles.


Coach Williams, his staff and players are all looking forward to making a run in the C.I.F. Division 3 playoffs.

WARREN FOOTBALL: The Warren High School football team finished their league and regular season schedule last Thursday night against Dominguez with a convincing, 49-18 win.


With the win, the Bears improved to 7-3 overall and 4-1 in league play. With the loss the Dons fell to 3-7 overall and 1-4 in league play.


The Bears finished second in San Gabriel Valley League play behind league champion Paramount.


Warren will host Crescenta Valley later today in their first-round matchup. Crescenta Valley finished their regular season with an overall record of 8-2 and a Pacific League record of 5-2. Crescenta Valley is the number three league entry from the Pacific League.


In the Warren/Dominguez game the Bears trailed early and were down 10-7 at the end of the first quarter. Warren came to life in the second quarter and outscored the Dons 14-0. The Bears took that 21-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.


The Bears picked up in the third quarter where they left off in the second quarter by scoring another 21 points. Warren led 42-18 after three quarters of play. The Bears tacked on a fourth quarter touchdown and came away with the 49-18 win.


Bear quarterback Chris Venegas completed 9/13 pass attempts for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Venegas also carried the ball seven times for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Venegas finished the game with an impressive quarterback rating of 127.6.


The Bears ground game was led by Arvionte Sheffield’s 12 carries for 155 yards and three touchdowns, Carlos Pena’s 10 carries for 31 yards and Eimajah Hunter’s five carries for 31 yards.


The Bear receiving corps were led by Keison Evans’ two catches for 38 yards and one touchdown, Robbie Colenzo’s two catches for 15 yards and Eimajah Hunter’s two catches for 15 yards. There were no defensive statistics available at press time.


Coach Lara, his staff and players are all looking forward to making a run in the C.I.F. Division 7 postseason playoffs.

CALVARY CHAPEL FOOTBALL: The Downey Calvary Chapel football team finished their season with an overall record of 6-2 and a third-place finish in the Express League (2-1).


The Grizzlies were defeated by Sage Hill of Newport Beach, 28-12, last Saturday night in their league and regular season finale. For their efforts, the Grizzlies qualified for postseason play.


The Grizzlies will travel to Windward High School of Los Angeles later today for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff. The Windward Wildcats finished their season with an overall record of 6-4 and a league record of 2-1. The winner of the DCC/Windward game will play the winner of the Cate/Desert Christian game in the second round of the Division 1 eight-man playoffs.


In the DCC/Sage Hill game the Lightning scored two first quarter touchdowns and led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. DCC answered back with a touchdown in the second quarter but still trailed 14-6 going into the locker room at halftime.


The Grizzlies added another touchdown in the quarter and cut the Sage Hill lead to 14-12 as the third quarter concluded. Sage Hill came back with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and came away with the hard fought, 28-12 win.


Coach Mike Nuno, his staff and players are all looking forward to C.I.F. postseason play and making a run in their bracket.

UNIFIED CHEER: Downey Unified’s Warren High School debuted their Unified Cheer team during the WHS vs. DHS rivalry football game Friday night Oct. 19. Warren High School has partnered with Special Olympics Southern California to implement inclusive programs that blends individuals with disabilities and individuals without disabilities on teams, clubs and school activities. This program promotes the Inclusion Revolution which provides equal opportunity and access for all students.


Last school year, Warren received state recognition by being selected as a Unified Champion School. This school year, Warren has been recognized on a larger scale by being awarded national recognition by being named on ESPN’S Honor Roll as one of the top five schools in the country for their inclusive programs.


The Unified Cheer team is the first sports team at Warren High to make their debut. Warren has also established a Unified Basketball team and will have a Unified Track team this coming spring. All three teams are under the supervision of Warren’s Athletics Department.


As a Unified Champion School, Warren has made a commitment to the Special Olympics Global Inclusion Movement to use sports, health, education, and leadership programs each and every day to end discrimination against intellectual disabilities and empower those with intellectual disabilities.


Warren will continue to educate their community by hosting on-campus events to create a campus-wide culture of respect, sensitivity, empathy, equality and inclusion.


2018-2019 Inclusion Revolution events:

November 8, 2018: Debut of Unified Basketball team during an exhibition game.

February 12, 2019: ESPN Top 5 Honor Roll Rally and Ceremony

February/March 2019: 2nd annual Abilities Awareness week: A weeklong event with daily lunch activities that highlight and educate students on various disabilities, as well as provide students and staff with an opportunity to “walk a day in the shoes” of students with disabilities ( i.e. autism, learning disabilities, hearing impairments, speech impairments, visual impairments, intellectual disabilities).

Goal: to increase mindfulness and create a culture of acceptance, tolerance, compassion, equality and inclusion.

March 6, 2019: R-word Campaign: A one day campaign to encourage students, teachers, and staff to take the pledge to never use the R-word (retard) again, as well as raise awareness and educate those on the hurtfulness of the R-word.

March/April 2019: Annual Kickball Game: Warren will establish a Unified Kickball team to play against crosstown rivals Downey High School.

April/May: Special Olympics event on May 11-12.

*Track and Field (dates to be determined)

SportsMark Fetter