Downey Knights

Coach: Jeremy Plaa

Career record: 54-50

Record at school: 26-25

Last year: Downey (8-3, 5-1) dropped its opener, 12-7 to Turlock, then won eight of its next nine to finish second in the MMC and reach the Sac-Joaquin playoffs for the first time in eight years. Knights operated on one speed – full speed ahead, and their offense often shut down when they tried to do anything other than pass the ball on virtually every play.

Last League title: 2003

Last playoff berth: 2011

Coaching staff: Lynn Zwahlen, Chris May, Eli Bynum, Brett Butler, Ruben Platt, Albert Platt, Charles Butler, Ernie Sanchez, Matt Roy, Russ Garcia, Brian Cody, Scott Gordon, Brian Lee, Alberto Mendoza, Michael Miller and Brian Holt.

Top returners: QB Aaron Zwahlen (6-3, 190), FS/WR Herman Harris (6-1, 170), SS/RB John Kreifels (5-10, 200), OT Mitchell Dill (6-0, 220), WR Richard Lopez (6-1, 170), TB Juan Vaa-Ayala (5-11, 180), DE Austin Holt (6-3, 260), DE Jesus Anguiano (6-0, 260), WR Blake Lopes, G Hayden Smulson, C Jordan Williams, DB Anthony Garcia.

Top newcomers: DB/WR Mario Sanchez (jr.), LB Jaime Carranza (jr.), WR Tristan Best (jr.), WR Jozeph Camp (jr.), WR Josh Baldonado (jr.), LB Adrian Luna (jr.), WR Michael Falepouono (jr.).

Outlook: Zwahlen (184 of 327, 2,924 yards, 29 TDs, 10 INTs) gave a verbal commitment to Hawaii following his stunning offseason workouts, but he has struggled and thrown most of his picks against top defenses. He lost his top two receivers (109 catches, 1,037 yards, 23 TDs), but coach Plaa insists this year’s receiving crew is deeper and just as talented. … Kreifels is the best defender, but the offense needs his power running the ball from the backfield, too. … Downey got in trouble last year when it tried to pull back on the passing and work the clock, losing momentum on offense, a worry with Central Catholic and Merced on the early season schedule. … It’s fast fastest defense Plaa has had in six years, and Harris is one of the region’s top hitters. … The O-line, though, needs to be rebuilt.

Key game: Week 3 (Sept. 14) vs. Central Catholic. This is a monumental step for the Knights’ program, taking on the city’s football dynasty and a program that thrives on power football. Downey was physically dominated in last year’s playoff loss to Del Campo, so this is an opportunity to show that it’s not just a finesse team.