Downey Does It, Beats Cathedral

Downey defensive end Chris Blanton. (Photo by Joe T.)

Downey defensive end Chris Blanton. (Photo by Joe T.)

By Joe Torosian

(Los Angeles)—Looking at the box score it is simple. Both teams scored three touchdowns, but one team failed on all of its extra-point attempts. Still the quarterfinal match between Downey and Cathedral was an offensive nightmare, a defensive struggle, and a flag waver’s delight before the Vikings settled things in the final minute for a 21-18 victory.

“It was kind of ugly tonight, bad offense, great defense on both sides, I’m proud of my guys they stepped up,” said Downey HC Jack Williams.

With 3:26 to play in the fourth quarter Phantom quarterback Andrew Tovar hit Renard Bell for a 2-yard touchdown pass. The scoring hook up was the third of the game for the two.

On the extra point Vikings cornerback/wide receiver Stacy Chukwumezie flew in like a cruise missile and blocked the kick to keep the score at 21-18.

Cathedral’s onside kick attempt was first wrecked by an offsides call and then by Justin Huff’s recovery. Things became further complicated for the Phantoms when they were hit with a facemask penalty that gave Downey a first and ten at the 29 with 2:01 to play.

Cathedral HC argued the penalty and then was forced to start burning timeouts. After two plays the Vikings were facing a third and nine and on that down the snap from center went over quarterback Trevor Hill’s head. Now it was fourth and 24 from the 43 with 1:18 to play.

Following the Phantoms third time out Williams sent his offense back onto the field. Reasoning a punt could be blocked, botched, or returned for a touchdown and that an incomplete pass would stop the clock, Williams decided to go deep.

Hill sky’ed the ball toward the goal line and Chukwumezie rose about two defenders to grab it for a 39-yard gain and a first and goal at the four. Two kneel downs later and Downey was back in the semifinals.

“I really truly believed our athletes were better than their athletes,” said Williams about the call to go deep. “And if not they pick the ball at the two yard line. We were hoping that they would pick the ball and have to start the drive right there. but instead our guy went up and made the play.”

On a night where running back Daevon Vigilant paid for everyone one of his 87 rushing yards and Huff did the same in picking up just 44 on 16 carries, it was playmaking that carried the Vikings.

After Tovar led his team to a 6-0 advantage on Cathedral’s opening drive. The Downey defense went to work collecting five first half sacks and forcing three consecutive punts. With 1:20 to play before the break Tovar, feeling pressure on an apparent swing pass, threw the ball backwards into the ground.

The Vikings Chris Blanton, who finished with five of his team’s six sacks, scooped up the fumble and returned it 23-yards for a touchdown. With the point after Downey led 7-6.

“Overall, in general, our defense has been our focal point,” said Williams. “It’s our engine, it goes back to defense win’s championships. Out offense was struggling and it was like our defense said; ‘hey we got your back.’”

The teams traded punts to start the third quarter before Downey started at its own 15 with 8:21 to go in the quarter. After three plays they punted but the low kick bounced off the helmet of a Phantom player and the Vikings were in business at their own 44.

In a third and eleven situation Hill scrambled for 12-yards. On a third and one, Vigilant slipped across the line for 3-yards, and on third and nine from the Cathedral 32 Hill scrambled to his right and hit Jason Thomas for a 14-yard gain. Four plays later Vigilant went in from 6-yards out to make it 14-6 after the extra-point.

It took the Phantoms all of 90-seconds to respond. Tovar’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Bell capped a 66-yard drive, but his pass on the two-point attempt to tie the contest flew high and Downey kept the lead.

After misplaying the kick-off the Vikings began their next drive from the six. Still they were able to move into Cathedral territory thanks to a 54-yard swing pass to Vigilant. The march stalled here and the ball was turned over on downs at the Phantom 28 with 8:07 to play.

Another Downey sack held up Cathedral’s next drive. On a second and 13 from midfield the Phantoms gave the ball to Marshaun Cameron on a jet sweep. The Vikings Blanton made another fine play from his end spot and kept contain. Cameron was swarmed and in the process his helmet came off.

Now on third and 15 Cathedral’s best playmaker, Cameron, was required to leave the field. Tovar’s next pass fell incomplete and it was time to punt…but that punt went high, bounced backwards, and Downey took possession at the Phantoms 45 with 4:50 to play. The exact place they had punted from.

On first down Huff went 27-yards. Two plays later Vigilant went 14-yards and then Huff scored on a 2-yard run to make it a 21-12 game.

Tovar (20-28-230yds-3Tds) and Cathedral answered quickly by going 66-yards in 57 seconds and drew within three the scoring pass to Bell.

 

 

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