Vikings overpower Bears in rivalry showdown
Downey’s Joshua Leon (1) runs in for a touchdown against Warren in their league football game at Warren High School on Friday. Downey defeated Warren, 46-18. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
DOWNEY — With pride and league standing at stake, the annual Downey-Warren football game featured the usual high energy and a packed crowd as usual at Warren’s Justice Stadium Friday October 9.
Downey had a big offensive night with 464 total yards (263 rushing, 201 passing) and defeated Warren, 46-18.
With the win, the Vikings (4-3, 2-0) remain tied atop the Gateway League with La Serna (6-1, 2-0). They will play each other on the final game of the regular season (October 30) at Downey.
With the loss, Warren falls to fifth place in league at 0-2 and 4-3 overall.
“It means a lot to me,” said Downey head coach Jack Williams, of the Downey-Warren rivalry. “I went to Downey and haven’t left Downey since 1990. It means a lot. Our school means everything to the community. I married a Warren Bear and I have the bragging rights for the next year.
“We’ve worked so hard toward this game. We’ve played in games where not necessarily the better team wins. It’s that team that rides the roller coaster.”
Downey was led by junior running backs Max Acosta and Jayden Diaz (2 catches, 28 yds.) with two touchdowns each with 101 yards and 56 yards, respectively.
“Obviously our quarterback, Chase Watkins, stepped up,” said Williams, of his sophomore signal caller. “I think he took it a little personal with a chip on his shoulder. Everybody’s talking about our last two quarterbacks (Oscar Rios – Arizona) and Aidan Chiles (Northwestern). He did a good job of orchestrating our offense and moving the ball and getting us ready to go.”
Watkins threw for 188 yards (11 for 18, 1 TD) and rushed for 92 yards on six carries and a TD.
“This game means a lot to me because last year I got injured and everyone doubted me,” Watkins said. “I had to show up for my coaches and for my team and prove it to myself.
With a game-high 141 yards receiving on six receptions was sophomore Joshua Leon. He also caught a TD pass.
The Vikings defense led the way allowing a mere 16 yards rushing by the Bears, which depended mostly on their passing game. Sophomore running back George Diggs (3 catches, 24 yds.) had 20 yards on eight carries and a touchdown.
Warren senior quarterback Jordan Malikin led with 206 yards passing (24 for 37, 1 Int.) and two touchdowns.
“It means a lot for the City of Downey,” said third-year Warren coach Adam Leonard, of the annual rivalry game. “I think the week leading up to the game there is so much going on in the community. Obviously, it’s a competition where you want to whoop on an opposing team, but in the same vain it brings a community together. The lines are drawn all week until the outcome of Friday night and ultimately a celebration of the City of Downey and two great high schools.
“I’m trying to do my part with making sure we can compete. I know we had a run under coach P (Kevin Pierson) and we’ve been struggling the last three years, but I’ll be looking forward to going at it again next year.”
Warren had a winning streak of seven games, until Downey broke it three years ago and have won the last three games.
Leading the way for the Warren wide receivers was senior Dallas Watson with 80 yards (10 catches) and a touchdown, while senior Hassan Williams had 64 yards on three receptions and junior Dylan Thompson (2 catches, 15 yds.) had a touchdown reception. (No Warren defensive stats reported).
The Downey defense, which recovered three Warren fumbles, was led by junior linebacker Mathew Dalhover (5 solo tackles, 3 assts., 3 tackles for a loss, 1 fumble recovery, 1 xpt. block).
“Growing up you always hear about Downey versus Warren and to play in it for the first time on varsity is a surreal experience,” Dalhover said. “The fans make it so special. We’re out here making history and I love it.
“Our linebackers were all ballin’ out like Gavin Chapman (3 tackles) and Diaz (1 solo, 3 Assts.). We just had great communication.”
Junior defensive back Jordan Robinson added four solo tackles and three assists.
“I just think our defense really stepped up,” Williams added. “We knew they were going to try and run the ball. We tried to be physical and match their physicality. We made plays when we needed to make plays and our linebackers did a really good job.
“You got to give a shout out to our offensive line who controlled the line of scrimmage on offense and our defensive line controlled them on defense.”
Downey opened with a 13-play drive that culminated with a 13-yard run up the middle by Acosta for the 7-0 lead.
Highlighting the drive was 33 yards on the ground by Acosta, a big 21-yard run on a double handoff from Acosta to Diaz and two crucial penalties by Warren.
The drive, which was chippy on both sides of the ball, was also highlighted by a roughing penalty and unsportsmanlike penalty by the Bears.
With a 3rd and 10 at the Downey 45, the unsportsmanlike penalty by Warren kept the drive alive for Downey.
On the next possession, Warren had a long 16-play drive that was kept alive on a running into the punter penalty by Downey on fourth and seven on the Warren 40 yard line.
The drive was evenly split between running (six runs) and passing (5 passes), ending with a 5-yard run by Diggs, to trail 7-6. Diggs scored easily with a run on the right side and was untouched until he crossed the goal line. The extra point was blocked by Dalhover.
Diggs highlighted the drive with five short runs.
Downey, which scored on its only three possessions of the first half, came right back to take a 15-6 lead on another long 15-play drive.
On 3rd and 11, Watson kept the drive alive with a designed 8-yard run to the 33 yard line.
A fourth down, 5-yard pass play from Watkins to sophomore receiver Buddy Tuiagamoa (3 catches, 22 Yds.) put the Vikings at the Bears 28 yard line for a first down. They appeared to score on the last play of the opening quarter with a 28-yard pass from Watkins to a wide open Tuiagamoa, but an offensive penalty negated the score.
Even though the touchdown was called back, Watson said it was the play of the night. He said – “Even though it got called back it had the intensity and had our sideline hyped and we just knew from there that we were going to dominate them.”
However, five plays into the second quarter, Watson ran up the middle and bulled his way into the end zone for the score with a 10-yard run. The Vikings completed a two point conversion with some trickery on a pass from Watson to Leon who then found Tuiagamoa in the back right corner.
On the ensuing Warren possession, the Bears were deep in Downey territory threatening to close the scoring gap on the Vikings 14 yard line.
After a Downey pass interference penalty which moved the ball to the 14, on the very next play the Vikings junior defensive lineman Eliyah Garcia recovered a fumble to end the scoring threat.
Downey came right back to score on its third consecutive possession late in the quarter as Diaz bulled his way up the middle and into the end zone.
The Vikings led, 22-6 at the half.
Warren opened the second half with an 11-play drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Malikin to Watson to trail, 22-12. Highlighting the drive was two passes to Williams of 20 and 19 yards.
“Jordan (Malikin) is going to be a hell of a gift for a college program,” Leonard said. “The sky is the limit for him and we’re just trying our best to build around him and give him the weapons and we just have to give him time and let him work.”
The extra point was blocked by Downey junior corner back Terrell Curl.
For the fourth consecutive possession, the Vikings drive ended in another score on a 5-play drive. Leon, who caught a 14-yard pass earlier in the drive, hauled in a short pass from Watkins as he got behind the Bears defense and ran untouched for the score and the 36-12 lead.
Watkins gave the Vikings a 43-12 lead with a 44-yard run after a fake handoff to junior running back Justin Rubio (3 carries, 14 yds.). Watkins ran all the way down the right side of the field for the score.
Warren fumbled the ball on the kickoff and after a short drive that stalled in Warren territory, junior kicker Elijah Verdusco connected with a 41-yard field goal to lead 46-12.
The Bears added a third touchdown near the end of the game with a 9-yard pass from Malikin to Thompson who was all alone in the end zone for the score.
Highlighting the drive was a 14-yard run by Diggs to start the drive, a 15-yard Downey pass interference call and a 25-yard pass to Watson.
Warren will host Mayfair (2-5, 0-2) Friday (October 16), while Downey will travel to La Mirada also on Friday.