PT reflects on Viking football season

DOWNEY - As the 2012 prep football season has come and gone and Downey High School won their first C.I.F. championship since 1957, the Long Beach Press Telegram has published their "2012 Year in Review." This brief list describes the top ten stories focusing on Long Beach area sports accomplishments this past year. The number five ranked sports event of the year was appropriately named "55 Years Later." This recognition reflected the Downey High School football team's run through the C.I.F. Southeast Division playoffs.In this summary, Justin Huff is recognized as the C.I.F. Southern Section Southeast Division Player of the Year. The summary also reflects on Downey's 1957 season and reminds "veterans of Downey football to recall the great days of Randy Meadows." Downey finished the regular season with a record of 7-3 and a tri-S.G.V.L. championship with Dominguez and Paramount, respectively. From that point on however, Downey caught fire and defeated Rowland 55-21 in the first round of the C.I.F. playoffs, Norwalk 45-42 in the second round, Santa Fe 35-3 in the semi-final round and La Serna 33-25 in the title game. The Vikings finished their championship season with an overall record of 11-3. Downey will return quarterback Jorge Reyna, running back Justin Huff and defensive tackle Anthony Florido next season, amongst others. Things certainly look good for the future of Downey football. Interestingly, "The Valencias of Bosco" were ranked the number seven local sporting event of of 2012. Zahid and Anthony Valencia of St. John Bosco became the only freshmen brothers to both win California state wrestling titles in the same year. Zahid had an overall record of 50-0 at 106 pounds and Anthony had an overall record of 45-1 at 126 pounds.

********** Published: January 3, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 38