Top-Seeded Downey Holds On to Escape Dana Hills

Dana Hills gave top-seeded Downey all it could handle before losing, 29-21, in a Southern Section Division II first-round playoff game Friday at Downey High.

Dana Hills (4-7) had its best chance for the tying score with 1 minute 35 seconds remaining.

The Dolphins, after stopping Downey (11-0) on downs, took over at their own 38.

After a short run, quarterback Steve Vierra passed to Stephen Jennings for a 50-yard gain over the middle that went to the Downey 15. But Jennings was hit and fumbled the ball forward to the 10 before Downey’s Dominique Gutierrez recovered.

Downey, the San Gabriel League champ, got 152 yards in 11 carries and four touchdowns from Adam Benavidez, who scored on first half runs of 12, 14, and one yard and added a second-half scoring run of four yards.

The Vikings took a 10-0 lead after one quarter on a Benavidez touchdown and a 30-yard field goal by George Zoumberakis.

The Dolphins made it 10-7 Terrell Vinson’s eight-yard touchdown run.

Benavidez scored again before Vinson, who finished with 121 yards in 20 carries, scored from three yards out.

Benavidez then scored again to make it 23-14 at halftime.

The Dolphins struck first in the second half on a nine-yard touchdown run by Chad Moline, cutting the lead to 23-21.