It’s a tale as old as time. Students grow up telling stories to their children about the legendary crosstown rivalry between Downey High and Warren High. This past week, the annual Downey v. Warren football game at the Justice Stadium occurred. This rivalry goes back about seventy years. 

 Downey High School was established in 1901, 123 years ago, as Los Nietos Valley Union High School. The school was officially named Downey Union High School in 1919. Roughly fifty years later, in 1955, Earl Warren High School (named after one of the most popular governors in California who turned into the Supreme Court of the United States) was established. Neither of the schools would know they would turn into one of the top rival teams in Los Angeles. 

The first rivalry game took place in 1958. On 13 October 2023, Downey vs Warren made history when they were the first high school game to play at SoFi stadium. Downey Vikings lost, 28-21, but the spirits remained high from the students. That marked the Bears’ sixth win years in a row. Warren’s football team was invited back to the stadium for the Los Angeles Bowl in December. The Los Angeles Times, the Downey Patriot, Sports Illustrated, and the Downey Legend covered the football game. 

The week of the game, both schools have spirit week hosted by their respective ASBs. On the eve of the game, Downey Vikings have ‘warren wimp day’ and the warren bears have ‘downey dork day’ making fun of the ‘other school.’  

This 2024 game took place back in Warren. Spirits were high as each school cheered on their respective teams. This year had a little bonus since the Yankees vs Dodgers game played as the crowd waited for the game to start. In over six years, Downey took the victory with a score of 27-7.  

Downey vs Warren is a week that many look forward to. Most of the time, students aren’t even football fanatics but rather for the spirit days and the school spirit across campuses and living the ‘friday night lights.’