Vikes Club Chiefs, 35-3

By Rich Whittington

(Downey)- There are a pair of football players at Downey High School getting very used to seeing their names in print. Week after week, these two have been responsible for identifying the weaknesses in the opponents’ defense, and making them pay for that weakness. 

It was no different Friday, when the Vikings advanced to the CIF Southeast finals by beating the visiting Santa Fe Chiefs, 35-3, in front of a near capacity crowd at Allen Layne Stadium.

Sophomore running back Justin Huff led the way for Downey. Huff carried the ball 21 time for 236 yards and three touchdowns…scoring on runs of 16, 59, and 88-yards. Additionally, sophomore quarterback Jorge Reyna added two touchdowns to the scoring frenzy. The first, a 4-yard touchdown run, came with 4:30 remaining in the first quarter. The second, a 46-yard pass to wenior wide receiver Josh Moreno, helped to seal the victory.

Defensively, the Vikings proved to be just as effective. Junior defensive back

Tristan Esparza intercepted a pair of passes, which stopped two Santa Fe scoring drives.

Santa Fe never reached the end zone. Its lone score of the evening came off the foot senior kicker Eddie Mendez, a 42 yard field goal with 2:07 remaining in the first quarter of play.

Next week, the Vikings will play for the CIF Southeast Division Championship against the La Serna. The Lancers defeated back to back division champ West Covina in the other semi-final game on Friday night.

La Serna and Downey met in non-league action, with the Lancers taking a one point decision at Allen Layne.