Downey routs Merced 42-6 to stay unbeaten on the season
The Downey High football team was missing its No. 1 quarterback, out with a hand injury. Merced was without its MVP running back, who was out with an elbow injury.
So somebody needed to step up and be the star Friday night. Enter Downey junior Joseph Ramirez.
The receiver-turned-quarterback was an offensive juggernaut at Chuck Hughes Stadium, passing for 176 yards and three touchdowns and running for 201 yards and another TD in the Knights’ 42-6 thumping of Merced in nonleague action.
“The theme of the week was relentless, and I think the whole team was relentless with everything,” Ramirez said. “The defense played lights-out. Offense, we lost our groove a little (in the second half), but we got it back and made it happen.”
Ramirez has filled in admirably for fellow junior Carson Lamb, the Knights’ starting quarterback in Week 1, who has had to sit out two games with a sprained finger in his throwing hand.
Ramirez’s 91-yard touchdown run through the middle of the Merced defense and a 52-yard screen play for a TD capped a remarkable night on offense.
“He is obviously a special athlete,” said Downey coach Jeremy Plaa, whose team improved to 3-0. “We were able to open up the offense a little more with him. But we were really thin tonight; we had a lot of guys banged up, so we’re super happy to get out of there with a win.”
Downey’s Derrick Kirkendall added two short running touchdowns for the Knights.
Downey’s defense dominated the shorthanded Bears, who were without star running back Chase Smith.
“With everybody banged up on offense, we knew the defense would have to step up and have a big game,” Plaa said. “Our kids were flying around to the ball, made great plays, gang-tackling.”
The Knights forced five turnovers — four fumbles and one interception. Only a Merced touchdown in the second quarter avoided a shutout.
Junior safety Cody Pattee made three of the four fumble recoveries.
“Our defense was just great,” Pattee said. “We worked our butts off tonight ... we just executed and had fun.
“It was a fun game tonight.”
Adarias Morales-Saetern was the only bright spot for Merced’s offense, rushing for 140 yards on 22 carries.
Merced coach Rob Scheidt said the Bears (1-2) couldn’t overcome a number of key injuries. “We’re a work in progress, but sometimes that progress gets stymied because of injury, and that’s where we’re at right now,” he said.
Merced will be relieved to have a bye next week before hosting Golden Valley in its Central California Conference opener on Sept. 15.
Scheidt said he expects to get Smith back in time for that game.
Friday’s game was the Knights’ last home game for about a month. Downey plays at Hughson (3-0) next Friday night.
This story was originally published September 2, 2023 at 12:21 AM.
