Downey High’s reign as CIF-SS Southeast Division kingpin ended abruptly Friday night.
The host Vikings were ousted from the playoffs in decisive fashion as visiting Diamond Bar stormed to a 63-29 victory.
Diamond Bar tailback Tyler Brown, who has garnered interest from Boise State and a scholarship offer from Northern Arizona, finished his final high school season with a spectacular game. Brown rushed for a career-best 298 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries.
Brown’s touchdown runs were breathtaking. He scored on runs of 61, 49, 43 and 76 yards. Brown also caught five passes for 93 yards.
Brown rushed for 161 yards in the first half, scoring twice on long runs.
Tyron Kelley scored a 7-yard run for Diamond Bar and quarterback Tyler Peterson wiggled into the end zone from 1 yard out for the Brahmas in the second quarter, as the game had several twists and turns and momentum changes.
Kelly’s touchdown came on the game’s first possession as Diamond Bar drove 62 yards on seven plays to take a 7-0 lead. Downey appeared on its way to matching that touchdown on its opening drive, but Justin Huff fumbled after he was upended on a 16-yard run.
The misfortunes haunted Downey’s quest for a touchdown, but on the ensuing play Brahmas receiver Cordell Broadus was trapped in the end zone for a safety.
Diamond Bar, however, quickly pushed its lead to 14-2 when Brown took a handoff, broke away from a swarm of Downey tacklers and scampered 61 yards to the end zone.
The momentum suddenly swung Downey’s way when Jacob Cook intercepted a pass to set up a Vikings drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Huff.
Downey then took advantage of a poor punt snap by Diamond Bar to go ahead 15-14 on quarterback Jorge Reyna’s 10-yard TD run.
The lead was short-lived. Peterson’s TD run was followed by a 49-yard TD run by Brown.
Downey tried valiantly to keep pace in the second half. Reyna connected with Darrian Franklin on a 24-yard TD pass and catch. Reyna also threw a 13-yard TD pass to Jason Thomas.
But the night belonged to Diamond Bar, which last reached the playoffs in 2003 where it lost to Mark Sanchez and Mission Viejo.
Downey finished the season 6-5. Diamond Bar improves to 7-4.