- By inches, Pat. Henry grabs Western lead
- Community Colleeges: February 16-22
- Stars win opener at NBC World Series
- ROUND UP: Wolf Pack Take Down Eastlake
- Woodland’s Gem Propels Helix
- Patriots out-slug Vaqs to claim opener
- Rain Doesn’t Stop Wolf Pack
- Gallery: Boys Hoops – Week 10
- Vaqs continue qinning ways In tight contest
- VALLEY: Sultans finish undefeated season
- It takes the Pack to sweep Scotties
- Mujica & Co. keep rolling, win convincingly
- Singer retires again from coaching
- DIII: Southwest Eagles soar to championship
- 2018 EAST COUNTY SOFTBALL Schedule / Scores / Standings
- DV: LIONS ROAR TO CHAMPIONSHIP
- Williams, Vaqueros sweep into D3 final
- D2: After walk-off thrill, Sultans slump
- DII: SULTANS HAVE MADDY, MADDY, MAD POWER IN PLAYOFF WIN
- DIII: Vaqueros end Scotties’ upset run
Cougars take trip for fourth straight
- Updated: September 15, 2025
2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
STEELE CANYON 42, RANCHO CHRISTIAN 14
EastCountySports.com
TEMECULA – The Steele Canyon Cougars are off to their best start in six years, and Friday night’s 42-14 win over Rancho Christian showed why.
Behind a punishing ground game, a swarming defense, and a pair of game-changing plays from junior Gunner Minnich, Steele Canyon improved to 4-0 for the first time since its 9-0 start in 2019.
Minnich was the star of the night, intercepting two passes and returning one for a touchdown to highlight a Cougar defensive effort that shut down Rancho Christian after an early score. He also added two tackles as part of a balanced unit that got contributions across the board.
Senior Vincent Pryor led the Cougars with nine tackles, while Luke Rode (six tackles), Marcell Hill (four tackles), and Nico Jara (four tackles) helped limit the Eagles’ pass-heavy attack.
Senior Donte Brown forced a fumble as Steele Canyon’s defense created three turnovers in all.
On the offensive side, the Cougars leaned on junior Abel Lopez, who delivered a strong performance with 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Junior Marcus Hunt added 70 yards on just six carries, averaging nearly 12 yards per attempt, while senior Jacob Henton broke loose for 46 yards on two runs.
Quarterback Gavin Caha, who had carried the offense through the first three weeks with his passing, spread the ball around again Friday, completing throws to six different receivers.
Hunt caught a 27-yard pass, Lopez added a 23-yard reception, and Trevor Zenno, Josiah Stocker, Henton, and Marcus Ballard all contributed catches as Steele Canyon totaled 90 yards through the air.
In all, the Cougars finished with 275 all-purpose yards on offense. Hunt and Lopez each topped 90 yards of total production, showcasing Steele Canyon’s versatility.
Special teams also did their job, as senior Ace Woolf converted all six of his PATs to keep the scoreboard rolling in the Cougars’ favor.
Rancho Christian showed flashes of its potent passing game, as senior receiver Ryley Lander entered the game with four touchdowns in three weeks.
But Steele Canyon’s defense adjusted quickly, holding the Eagles to just 14 points and shutting the door in the second half.
The 42 points marked the Cougars’ highest offensive output of the season, while the defense’s takeaways gave Steele Canyon short fields that the offense repeatedly converted into touchdowns.
With the victory, Steele Canyon not only extended its unbeaten start but also sent a clear message that this year’s squad is more than a one-dimensional running team.
Next week, the Cougars turn their attention to one of the East County’s best perpetual trophy rivalries as they travel to Valhalla for the battle for the Jamacha Helmet. Steele Canyon claimed the rivalry trophy a year ago with a 45-14 win on the road.
