Downey Vikings Damani Porras (4) catches a pass for a touchdown over Los Alamitos Griffins Wyatt Stager (83) in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins quarterback Elijah McDaniel (11) scrambles for yardage against Downey Vikings defensive lineman Cesar Lopez (51) in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings Jordan Hanley (1) catches a pass for a touchdwon against the Los Alamitos Griffins in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings quarterback Chase Watkins (2) scrambles for yardaeg against the Los Alamitos Griffins in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins defensive lineman Madden Rumion (31) recovers a fumble againat Downey Vikings quarterback Chase Watkins (2) in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins wide receiver Ashton Gogue (13) catches a pass for a touchdown against the Downey Vikings in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings Damani Porras (4) catches a pass for a touchdown againat the Los Alamitos Griffins in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins Jacob Sanchez (1)leaps for yardage against the Downey Vikings in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins quarterback Elijah McDaniel (11) runs for a first down against the Downey Vikings in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings Head coach Jack Williams looks on against the Los Alamitos Griffins in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings Damani Porras (4) catches a pass for a touchdown over Los Alamitos Griffins Wyatt Stager (83) in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins Kamden Tillis (8) is tackled for a loss of yards against the Downey Vikings in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins Kamden Tillis (8) is tackled by Downey Vikings Ivan Guerrero (42) for no gain in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings Damani Porras (4) catches a pass for a first down againat Los Alamitos Griffins Leo Swietlikowski (14) in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins quarterback Elijah McDaniel (11) runs for a first down against the Downey Vikings in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings Damani Porras (4) catches a pass for a first down againat Los Alamitos Griffins Leo Swietlikowski (14) in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins Jacob Sanchez (1)leaps for yardage against the Downey Vikings in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins Head coach Rory Schoonmaker looks on against the Downey Vikings in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings running back Max Acosta (26) runs for a first down against Los Alamitos Griffins defensive lineman Madden Rumion (31) in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings ath db Damani Porras (4) runs for yardage against the Los Alamitos Griffins in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins quarterback Elijah McDaniel (11) runs for yardage as his helmet flies off against the Los Alamitos Griffins in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings Buddy Tuiagamoa (3) runs for yardage against the Los Alamitos Griffins in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins quarterback Elijah McDaniel (11) runs for a first down against the Downey Vikings in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings running back Max Acosta (26) runs for a first down against Los Alamitos Griffins defensive lineman Madden Rumion (31) in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A plane fies over at sunset in the first half of a prep football game between the Downey Vikings and the Los Alamitos Griffins at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings wide receiver Jesus Rios (9) catches a pass for a first down against Los Alamitos Griffins wr db Leo Swietlikowski (14) in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins Kamden Tillis (8) recovers a fumble for a touchdown against the Downey Vikings in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Alamitos Griffins quarterback Elijah McDaniel (11) scrambles for yardage against Downey Vikings defensive lineman Cesar Lopez (51) in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings Buddy Tuiagamoa (3) runs for yardage against the Los Alamitos Griffins in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings wide receiver Jesus Rios (9) catches a pass for a touchdown againat Los Alamitos Griffins cornerback Caeson Miller (3) in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Downey Vikings Travis Alonso (7) intercept a pass against the Los Alamitos Griffins in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
DOWNEY – The Downey football team defeated Los Alamitos 28-21 Friday in a nonleague matchup.
Read more High school football: Scores from Friday’s games
Downey quarterback Chase Watkins completed 16 of 28 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Max Acosta led Downey on the ground, rushing 16 times for 62 yards and a touchdown. Downey receiver Damani Porras caught four passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
Watkins credited Porras’ experience for helping him adjust to the starting quarterback role.
“He teaches me,” Watkins said. “He’s been here longer. I know I’m the quarterback, buthe teaches me. It feels great having a guy like him with me.”
Downey (2-2) started the scoring in the first quarter. After a Travis Alonso interception, Watkins found Porras for a 17-yard touchdown pass and a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point.
Los Alamitos (0-4) took the lead near the end of the first quarter, when Elijah McDaniel connected with Ashton Gogue for a nine-yard touchdown pass and a 7-6 lead after a Max Valdez extra point.
Downey counterpunched with six minutes left in the half. That’s when Watkins found Jordan Hanley at midfield for a 58-yard catch-and-run touchdown and a 14-7 lead after a 2-point conversion.
With 3:05 left in the half and Downey botched a fourth-down snap that sailed over punter Devin Palomares’ head and into the end zone where Kamden Tillis recovered for a Los Alamitos touchdown and a tie game after the extra point.
McDaniel completed 8 of 25 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. He threw one interception. He added 76 yards rushing to lead the Griffins as well. Gogue caught two passes for 16 yards and a touchdown.
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The Vikings took a 21-14 lead on the final play of the first half when Watkins threw to a streaking Porras near the corner of the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown pass as time expired.
Mathew Dalhover helped keep the pressure on the Los Alamitos offense, breaking through the line and blowing up plays throughout the game.
Downey coach Jack Williams appreciates the effect Dalhover has on his teammates.
“Matthew is just fiery,” Williams said. “His nickname is ‘the monster’ for a reason. He just brings the intensity. He was injured week 1 and you can see the huge difference with our defense; he makes everybody around him better.”
Los Alamitos tied the game with 3:33 left in the third quarter. After starting at the Downey 40, the Griffins marched down the field to set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Finn Kelly to tie the score at 21 after the extra point.
Downey answered driving to the Los Alamitos 1-yard line with under 30 seconds left in the third quarter before Max Acosta punched in the go-ahead touchdown for a 28-21 lead, which Downey did not relinquish.
Los Alamitos coach Rory Schoonmaker is still awaiting his team’s first win but has seen progress.
“We’re improving every week,” Schoonmaker said. “We said that’s our goal. It’s frustrating to say it every week to not get over that hump but we are (improving).”
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