Legacy of league

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At Downey High School, on Oct. 7, during the game vs. Dominguez, Downey the football team fights for the title of league champions. “All gas, no brakes,” senior Josh Flores (#26, running back) stated. “It’s a saying we have; it means we go hard and never quit for what we want.”

Irania Quintero, Staff Writer
November 14, 2014

The journey to league title for Downey High School’s football team began on Oct. 30, 2014 as the football team took on Paramount High School at their home field. With hard work and dedication dwelling in their hearts, Downey’s football team was determined to show how their efforts would pay off for them as they won the San Gabriel Valley League title.

“These next two games [against Paramount and Dominguez] determine who will win the league title, and for the past three years we have been tied at 4 wins and 1 loss with these schools,” senior captain Eduardo Preciado said. “Our goal this year has been to win the title with an undefeated season.”

By taking the win against Paramount the night of Oct. 30, 2014, Downey’s football team added one more win and were that much closer to achieving one of their goals. As a team, they improved and showed unity. The team admitted that at the start of their season, they found themselves playing as individuals instead of playing for their team. Along the way, the team was able to build a trust that would soon have them feeling like a family on and off of the field.

“We came together as one and as a family when everyone started to get along. Everyone was an individual and nobody was working as a team because they were trying to do their own thing,” senior offensive lineman Jose Castaneda said.

The journey continued as Downey’s football team took on the challenge of playing against Dominguez High School on Nov. 7. With a new and improved team, the trust was manifested during the game with risk-taking passes from the quarterback and a vast amount of yards ran by the running back.

“ Our team goal is to win league out right and win another CIF title,” Head Coach Jack Williams stated. “Once our season ends, I am excited to see them [the players] come back and visit to see what type of fathers and husbands they have become.”

As anticipated, Downey’s football team went undefeated and took the league title. Short-term goals made by the coach and the team were met, and they are now on their way to trying to accomplish long-term goals of receiving another CIF ring. Coach Williams is proud of the team’s progress so far and is excited to see what type of men they will become.

About the Contributors

Irania Quintero, Staff Writer

As a first year staff writer, senior Irania Quintero joined The Downey Legend in search of new experiences and opportunities. “I joined Newspaper because it gives me a chance to explore and build upon my passion for writing,” Quintero said. “It is indeed a new environment for me but a challenge worth taking on.” She has a passion for writing and hopes that with being a part of the staff she’ll expand her knowledge on different writing styles, improve her own writing, and get a feel for what she plans to do in the future. “Great writing to me is writing that makes the reader feel like he or she is a part of the experience or event described,” Quintero stated. “My ultimate goal is to deliver the same feeling to readers as many writers have done for me.” As a writer for The Downey Legend, Quintero will be in charge of pitching new story ideas and meeting deadlines. The job of a writer may get stressful and tedious at times but with Quintero’s passion for writing and undeniable reliability, she’ll take this job on without the slightest of difficulty.

Aside from being a writer for The Downey Legend, Quintero enjoys writing poetry, reading books by Nicholas Sparks, watching the Angels during their baseball season, and cooking and/or baking in her spare time. She also says that her favorite music varies from John Legend, Kanye West, The XX, to different alternative bands. Quintero also shared that she’s great with puns and that she has a positive vibe about herself at all times. “There’s almost always a smile on my face no matter what my mood is,” Quintero said. After high school she plans to attend a four-year-university, her top choice being San Francisco State University, and eventually become a journalist. Quintero has the right mind set and motivation to help her accomplish her dreams and succeed in her near future as well as in her current position on The Downey Legend.

Emily Herrera, Sports Section Editor

Senior Emily Herrera went from photojournalism to The Downey Legend to give herself a challenge as a photographer. “When I graduate I want to become a sports photographer,” Herrera said. “I think Newspaper will give me practice in my photographic skills.” As a photographer Herrera plans on building her portfolio. To Herrera, photography is not just taking pictures, it is a passion that lets her go behind a lens and capture an incredible image.
When Herrera does not have a camera in her hands, she likes to play soccer. Playing soccer gives her an adrenaline rush that has helped her release stress. During the summer she went to The Monster tour held by Rihanna and Eminem. “Watching Rihanna play live in person was the highlight of my summer,” Herrera said, “my favorite song was “All of the Lights”.” She loves watching sports on TV and hanging out with her friends during her spare time. In the future Herrera sees herself attending UC Santa Barbara or USC and majoring in photojournalism. She has a long path ahead of her with many challenges on the way, but she is going to stay positive and conquer her dreams.