MODESTO – The Central California Athletic League exhales this week before the start of league play, and the Downey Knights can look back on an impressive opening five games.
Not only are the Knights unbeaten, they’ve done it against what coach Jeremy Plaa called the toughest non-league schedule in school history. The Knights handled Lincoln 34-28, Elk Grove 53-42, Merced 48-34, Amador Valley of Pleasanton 47-36 and Edison 35-20.
If you detect a trend in the numbers, you’re not wrong. Downey averages a splashy 43.4 points a game. Quarterback Carson Lamb (18 touchdown passes) orchestrates a crowd-pleasing offense featuring receivers Joe Ramirez, Ethan Woodmansee, running backs Julius Padron and Elijah Tamayo and others.
More important, Downey has shown resiliency in close games. The Knights’ 21-point second quarter last week did not shake Edison, and it was only a one-score margin with the Vikings threatening in the second half.
Up stepped senior Daley Holmes, whose interception and 99-yard pick-six all but clinched the Knights’ 35-20 victory.
“We had stopped them on downs, but there was an inadvertent whistle, so they got one more play,” Plaa explained during Monday’s Modesto Quarterback Club lunch-meeting. “And Daley Holmes came through with his interception.”
Downey’s challenging schedule is matched by Turlock, the defending CCAL champion. The Bulldogs (2-3) extended Rocklin and Central in competitive losses and, last week, upset Clovis West 19-15.
Pitman won the inaugural 2018 CCAL title but, since then, the league has danced to the Turlock-Downey beat. Downey won in 2021 and ’22, and the Bulldogs were on top in ’19. Once again, the two teams appear to be the preseason favorites. Downey will open at home against Pitman while Turlock welcomes Gregori.
Plaa shared encouraging news regarding Ryne Moore, one of the Knights’ top lineman who’s been sidelined with a knee injury. The injury will not require surgery, according to Plaa, and Moore could be able to play soon.
MJC – College of San Mateo walked into Modesto Junior College Stadium last Saturday as California’s top-ranked team. The Bulldogs departed with a 23-20 loss in arguably MJC’s best-ever non-league victory.
Luke Weaver tossed touchdown passes to Joey Stout and Malachi Butler, and running backs Lyon Colon and Trent Vink gained chunks of yards. But the Pirates (5-0) missed chances to break open the game, leaving it to the defense – anchored by Jalonn Booth and Jesus Aguilar -- to close the door.
“Signature win for the program,” MJC spokesman Kirk Peterson praised. “It’s a win for all area coaches.”
The win was personal for Weaver, whose season-ending injury at San Mateo two years ago resulted in an extra year of eligibility. The CSM quarterback last weekend was Downey graduate Conner Stoddard, who willed himself through a painful shoulder injury. He handed off to Patterson graduate Lolo Mataele who carried for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
There will be no rest for Modesto, which travels to 3-0 Butte on Saturday at 1 p.m.
NOTES – Five Gregori seniors, all of them four-year players, were special guests of the quarterback club. Coach Lamar Wallace said the Jaguars (1-4) will regroup this week after their 20-14 loss at Los Banos. A special-teams error washed away the momentum from an early 7-0 lead as Gregori dropped its fourth straight game. “A lot of missed opportunities,” Wallace lamented, as the Jaguars prepare for their CCAL opener next week against Turlock. … Ripon was scheduled to play Modesto Christian on Friday, but the game was canceled after the Trans-Valley League deemed the Crusaders an independent due to an insufficient number of players. Valley High of Elk Grove was supposed to play Modesto on Friday, but that game was called off when Valley – also with too few players – scrapped its season. The result is Modesto (2-2) traveling to Ripon’s Stouffer Field for an attractive non-league game. …
Johansen (2-2, 1-0) shook off the effects of a controversial loss at Bear River by beating Beyer 47-13 in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both schools. Jarius Vasquez rushed for 220 yards for the Vikings, who travel to Ceres. The game was stopped while Beyer senior Lee Brown was treated for a neck injury. His neck was stabilized on the field as a precaution, and Patriots coach Mike Young said Brown is doing well. …
Grace Davis (2-2, 1-0) opened WAC action with a 14-0 shutout over Central Valley. Guillermo Vega and Izmael Sanchez scored the touchdowns, but Omen Quelvog’s interception at the CV 5 yard line preserved the shutout. The GD Spartans welcome Lathrop for homecoming at Downey. … Enochs (2-2) mended injuries during last week’s bye and hope to improve its rushing attack at Merced in the Central California Conference opener. …
Central Catholic (3-2, 1-0) began the defense of its Valley Oak League championship with a hard-earned 25-14 win at Patterson. Its rushing attack successfully kept the ball away from the Tigers, and the defense stepped up in big moments. Scotty Hallmon intercepted two passes, one at the goal line. Linebacker-fullback Wyatt Dragoo, one of the area’s most physical players, forced a fumble which he recovered as Patterson was denied on 1st-and-goal from the 1. The Raiders face their biggest challenge of the regular season in their VOL showdown Friday night at 3-1 Manteca. …
Big Valley Christian (3-1, 1-0) made its Mother Lode League debut with a 52-8 win at River Islands. Travis Lema, a sophomore, passed for four touchdowns for the Lions and Jackson Howell rushed for 108 yards and two TDs. BVC faces a major challenge Friday night at home against 3-1 Linden.
GAMES THIS WEEK –Central Catholic at Manteca, Patterson at East Union, Sierra at Mountain House, Enochs at Merced, Modesto at Ripon, Escalon at Hilmar, Orestimba at Sonora, Hughson at Ripon Christian, Enochs at Merced, Immanuel at El Capitan (at Merced College), Lathrop at Grace Davis (at Downey), Central Valley at Pacheco, Johansen at Ceres, Livingston at Beyer (at Johansen), Waterford at Le Grand, Stone Ridge Christian at Delhi, Gustine at Denair, Linden at Big Valley Christian, Riverbank at Summerville, Calaveras at River Islands, Argonaut at Union Mine, Amador at Liberty Ranch
