Los Alamitos Falls Just Short in 28-21 Nonleague Battle Against Downey

The nonleague varsity football matchup on Friday, September 11, 2026, between the Downey Vikings and the Los Alamitos Griffins was a thrilling, back-and-forth battle characterized by resilient offenses and high-stakes defensive pressure. Hosted at Downey High School, the contest served as a pivotal crossroad for both teams early in their respective campaigns. Ultimately, it was the host Vikings who grid out a tight 28-21 victory, riding an impressive passing performance to keep the visiting Griffins searching for their first win of the season.

The tone was set early on as Downey’s aerial game clicked into rhythm behind quarterback Chase Watkins, who completed 16 of 28 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns on the night. The Vikings’ passing attack tested the Los Alamitos secondary immediately, highlighted by a spectacular touchdown grab from Damani Porras. Defensively, Downey relied heavily on defensive standout Mathew “The Monster” Dalhover, whose fiery intensity upfront consistently disrupted the Griffins’ backfield and forced tough, contested situations.

Los Alamitos, despite entering the contest amidst a challenging slump, showcased immense poise and progress under coach Rory Schoonmaker. Trailing through the middle portions of the match, the Griffins orchestrated a methodical scoring drive from the Downey 40-yard line late in the third quarter. The resilience paid off when Finn Kelly punched in a hard-fought three-yard rushing touchdown with just 3:33 remaining in the frame. After a successful extra point, Los Alamitos tied the ballgame at 21 apiece, temporarily swinging the game’s momentum.

The deadlock, however, was short-lived as Downey responded with championship-level execution on the ensuing possession. Driving all the way down to the Los Alamitos one-yard line with under thirty seconds remaining in the third period, the Vikings called upon Max Acosta. Acosta plunged through the line for the go-ahead score to put Downey up 28-21. That score proved to be the final blow; Downey’s defense successfully closed out a scoreless fourth quarter to secure the victory, bumping the Vikings’ record to 2-2 while dropping a gritty Griffins squad to 0-4.