Downey is dominating in CIF playoff opener

DOWNEY - The Downey High School football team hosted and defeated the Rowland Raiders last Friday night at Allen Layne Stadium, 55-21, in the opening round of the C.I.F. Southeast Division playoffs.The game was not close as the Vikings dominated from start to finish. Downey scored two quick touchdowns in the first quarter. Both extra points were good and Downey led 14-0 by the 5:34 mark of the first quarter. Things looked good early for the Vikings. Justin Huff scored at the 10:48 mark of the second quarter on an 18 yard run. The extra point was good and Downey took a 21-0 lead. Rowland answered back at the 4:33 mark of the second quarter. The extra point was good and Rowland cut the Viking lead to 21-7. On the ensuing kickoff, Viking return man Jeremy Villa took the ball back 98 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was good and Downey led 28-7. Rowland scored their second touchdown of the evening with :44 seconds left in the second quarter. The extra point was good and the score going into the locker rooms at halftime was 28-14 Downey. Downey received the ball to start the second half and the Vikings wasted little time getting back to work. Jorge Reyna scored at the 10:52 mark on a quarterback keeper. The extra point was no good but Downey led 34-14. Rowland scored a touchdown at the 8:50 mark of the third quarter. The extra point was good and the Downey lead was now 34-21. Downey answered back at the 3:44 mark of the third quarter on a 4 yard Justin Huff run. As Huff was being tackled, he stretched the ball out to the pylon and made contact. It was very similar to quarterback Jorge Reyna's touchdown effort against Dominguez two weeks ago. The extra point was good and Downey was now ahead 41-21. The Vikings were not finished in the third quarter. After holding the Rowland offense, Downey once again scored a touchdown at the 2:00 minute mark of the third quarter on a 22 yard pass play from Reyna to Villa. The extra point was good and Downey took a commanding 48-21 lead. Downey added a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The extra point was good and Downey won this game 55-21. Jorge Reyna led the Viking passing attack by completing 7/8 passes for 151 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. The Viking ground game was led by Justin Huff's 15 carries for 178 yards, Jorge Reyna's 12 carries for 113 yards, Eric Carrillo's five carries for 79 yards, Matthew Gonzalez's two carries for four yards and Jeremy Villa's one carry for 21 yards. The Viking defense was led by Jeremy Villa's two solo and ten assisted tackles, Juwan Pleze's four solo and five assisted tackles, Tristan Esparza's one solo and eight assisted tackles and Charles Early's three solo and four assisted tackles. Interestingly, this was the first C.I.F. playoff win for the Vikings since the 2000 season. Downey will travel to Norwalk High School this evening and face a 9-2 Lancer squad who defeated the Burbank Bulldogs 49-14 in their first round matchup.

********** Published: November 15, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 31