Downey Knights Outlook

Coach: Jeremy Plaa

Career record: 35-38

Record at school: 17-23

Last year: Downey (5-5) started 4-2 and looked like a good bet for a playoff team after opening the MMC with a 29-19 win over Davis. Three straight losses, by a combined score of 135-22, ended that idea. A season-ending, 42-28 win over Johansen allowed it to finish .500.

Last league title: 2003

Last playoff berth: 2003

Coaching staff: Chris May, Eli Bynum, Lynn Zwahlen, Brian Lee, Petey Rodriguez, Albert Platt, Ruben Platt, Ernie Sanchez, Russ Garcia, Mat Roy, Scott Gordon, Brian Cody, Andrew Griffin, Lio Fiumalosi, Roy Gordon.

Top returners: QB Aaron Zwahlen (6-2, 185, Jr.), C Malcolm McCloud (6-2, 295, Sr.), OT Andrew Foote (6-3, 280, Sr.), TB Juan Vaa-Ayala (5-10, 175, Jr.), WR Caleb Lowe (6-1, 175, Sr.), WR Conner Purnell (6-3, 185), LB Marcus Lacy (5-10, 185).

Top newcomers: Marquez Campbell, S Herman Harris (Jr.), TB Kai Zambrano (Jr.), OT Mitchell Dill (Jr.).

Outlook: The Knights appeared headed to the playoffs for the first time in seven years, but those three consecutive blowout losses ended those thoughts. There isn’t much size on the defense, but it might be the quickest unit in the conference – Cummins and Lowe were part of a 4x100-meter relay team that went to the section Masters last year. The offense is full of returners, including QB Zwahlen (130 of 223, 1,837 yards, 10 TDs, 8 INTs) and top targets Purnell (51 catches, 12.6-yard avg., 2 TDs) and Lowe (36, 16 and 5), and there’s depth on both sides of the line. Zwahlen is just a junior, but he’s got a deep pedigree with Zwahlen being such a familiar name – at Davis High. His father is coaching at Downey, so that’s where Zwahlen is playing. His health will be the biggest factor if Downey is to make a run at the title and the playoffs.

Key game: Downey hosts defending champion Enochs in Week 8, and the Knights will benefit by coming off a bye week. Both teams will still have Beyer on the schedule, so don’t expect the title to be decided this early.

Information supplied by coaches

Downey players discuss school, upcoming season