Sports briefs: Vikings defeat Vista Murrieta in season opener

DOWNEY - The Downey High School football team picked up where they left off from last year and defeated an overmatched Mayfair squad 38-0 last Friday. The Vikings are now 1-0 on the young season and will travel to Vista Murrieta today for a game against the Broncos. Vista Murrieta was 13-1 last season and lost the C.I.F. Southwestern Division championship game to Corona Centennial 30-28.Despite the slow start in the first half, Downey found their groove in the third quarter and cruised to the win. Downey led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and 10-0 at halftime. Downey scored 28 points in the third quarter and led 38-0 at the end of the third quarter. Downey did not score in the fourth quarter and won by the same 38-0 score. Downey was led on offense by junior quarterback Jorge Reyna's right arm and legs. Reyna completed 6/18 passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Reyna also led the Vikings run game with 115 yards on nine carries. Junior standout Justin Huff had 13 carries for 103 yards, Josh Flores had nine carries for 63 yards and Eric Carrillo had five carries for 59 yards. Tristan Esparza led the Viking receiving corps with one catch for 26 yards and a touchdown. Eduardo Preciado also had one catch for fifteen yards and a touchdown. Senior kicker Mario Galvan was 5/5 on PAT attempts and was 1/1 on field goal attempts after kicking a 32 yarder in the second quarter. The Viking defense was led by Tristan Esparza's four solo and six assisted tackles, Miguel Esquitin's one solo and six assisted tackles and Manny Ramirez's six assisted tackles. Other Viking defenders contributing to the cause were Chris Blanton's two solo and three assisted tackles and Raymond Soto's one solo and four assisted tackles. ** The Warren High School football team will host the South East Jaguars tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Justice Stadium. This will be the season opener for the Bears who are trying to set an early tone for a turnaround season. Warren lost last year's season opener to the Jaguars 24-21 at South East. Warren did host a scrimmage two weeks ago against the Whittier Cardinals in preparation for the start of their season. South East defeated the Lawndale Cardinals last Friday 27-12 in their opener and are 1-0 on the young season. The Bears will be led on offense by senior quarterback Zaahid Summerville. Summerville is a two year starter for the Bears and is looking forward to a healthy, bounceback season. In South East's win against Lawndale last week, the Jaguars were led on offense by senior quarterback Josh Gonzalez. Gonzalez completed 6/11 passes for 55 yards and carried the ball five times for 62 yards. The Jaguar running game was led by senior Daniel Beltran's 12 carries for 113 yards and one touchdown. The Jaguar receiving corps was led by senior wide receiver Dae quan Howell's three receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns. South East's kicking game was led by senior Larry Sanchez. Sanchez converted on all three of South East's PAT's and was 2/3 on field goal attempts. Sanchez's longest field goal was from 39 yards out. The Jaguar defense was led by linebacker Daniel Sanchez and his five solo and five assisted tackles, defensive tackle Jesse Pou's four solo and five assisted tackles and linebacker Christian Ortiz's four solo and three assisted tackles. The Bears will have to play well to win this game. Coach Jimenez, his staff and his players are excited that the season is finally here and that they can hit someone else besides themselves. ** The Downey High School girls' golf team is looking to pick up where they left off last year. The Lady Vikings were the 2012 S.G.V.L. champions. Junior team captain Isabella Gutierrez returns and will be playing the number one spot. Gutierrez will be supported by junior Jaclyn Garrido, senior Erin Ellingson and sophomore Vivian Garcia. Coach Bean is very pleased with the play of junior transfer student Allison Palmer. Palmer will be eligible to play in October and will be competing for a spot in the middle of the lineup. The Lady Vikings had their first match Tuesday against Cerritos. Downey's first league match will be Tuesday, Sept. 17, against Firebaugh. Coach Bean sees Gahr and Warren as tough league competition this year. Gahr's best golfer from last year has graduated but the Lady Gladiators will return with other quality underclassmen. Coach Bean mentioned that cross-town rival Warren has some quality players returning as well. Bean said that La Serna will be joining the S.G.V.L. this year and that they usually have several quality players. Downey did not get to play La Serna last year but did split a pair of non-league matches with them in 2011. Downey plays a tough non-league schedule to prepare for league. This is evidenced by having only one non-league win but being undefeated in league. Bean concluded by saying that the girls have been working hard in the off-season and that he has seen improvements all the way around. Coach Bean is very excited to see how his team will match up with their opponents this year. ** Warren High School will be hosting their 2nd Annual back-to-school fundraiser carnival Friday, Sept. 27, Saturday, Sept. 28, and Sunday, Sept. 29 in the west parking lot just inside the Paramount Blvd. gate. Proceeds from the carnival will go to support Warren High School athletics and programs. "Last year's carnival made over $100,000 and this year's carnival will be twice the size," said Athletic Director Russ Heicke. This year's carnival will feature various types of food, music, rides, face painting and all kinds of fun activities for kids. Some of the food that may make your stomach hurt include, but are not limited to, corn on a stick, hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, fried oreos and bananas, churros, shaved ice, fruit with lime and spice, kettle corn, popcorn, tacos, burritos, quesadillas and more. Some of the rides include the "Zipper" roller coaster, ferris wheel, fun house, spinning rides, a ton of kids rides and others that will make your head and stomach feel funny. Fast rides, slow rides, medium rides, scary rides and non-scary rides will all be at the Warren carnival. Athletic Director Heicke recommends that carnival goers buy their tickets early because they will be more expensive at the carnival. Pre-sale tickets will be $20.00 for ten tickets and more than that at the carnival. Tickets can be purchased at the Warren High School athletic office. You can also contact Athletic Director Russ Heicke at rheicke@dusd.net for further information. Heicke also mentioned that "there may be a Kanye, Kim and North West sighting" but cannot guarantee it. The Warren High School athletic and programs fundraiser carnival will be a ton of fun for the whole family.

********** Published: Sept. 5, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 21