Patriots’ road show rides to 11th title

 

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2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

SAN DIEGO CIF DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP

CHRISTIAN 28, CENTRAL UNION 14

EastCountySports.com

CHULA VISTA — If there were still any doubters about Christian High’s battle-tested run to the CIF championship game, they were silenced Saturday afternoon at Southwestern College’s DeVore Stadium.

Entering the postseason with a 3–7 record and a No. 6 seed, the Christian Patriots capped one of the most improbable San Diego Section playoff runs in recent memory, knocking off Central Union, 28–14, to capture the CIF Division 3 championship—the program’s 11th section title.

Junior quarterback Kaleb Runkle delivered the best performance of his career when the Patriots needed him most, throwing for 280 yards and four touchdowns while guiding a disciplined, opportunistic Christian team that built a 21–0 lead and held off a furious late push from the top-seeded Spartans.

With the win, Christian improves to 7–7 and extends its win streak to five straight, advancing to the CIF SoCal Regional Division 5-AA final next Friday.

Fast Start Sets the Tone

Christian wasted no time seizing momentum.

After Kai Rosier opened the game with a 25-yard kickoff return, the Patriots’ offense wasted no time, moving crisply downfield.

A well-executed middle screen sprung Hank Houston free for a 24-yard touchdown less than three minutes into the game. Steven Benson—East County’s top kicker—added the PAT for a 7–0 lead.

The Patriots then survived a shaky stretch that included a drive starting at their own 1-yard line and a near-disastrous first-quarter sequence involving consecutive timeouts due to a personnel issue. But what could have been a momentum-turning mistake instead became the game’s first major swing.

Pinned deep and forced to punt from their own end zone, Christian drew a roughing-the-kicker penalty, extending the drive and flipping the field.

Six plays later, Runkle dropped a gorgeous corner route to Ronnie Scott, who tapped the left side of the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown and a 14–0 lead with 8:15 remaining in the second quarter.

Christian’s defense took it from there. Anchored by Chase Torgerson, Houston, and Everick Randall, the Patriots smothered Central’s normally explosive offense and forced a turnover late in the half when Rosier intercepted a pass in the end zone with 50 seconds left, preserving the 14–0 advantage at the break.

The third quarter saw both defenses stiffen, trading punts as field position became the battleground. Central briefly entered Patriot territory after a personal foul, but the Spartans’ fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

Christian’s offense continued to punch selectively, with Runkle sprinkling in rollouts and quick hitters to keep drives alive. Early in the fourth quarter, he connected on a 37-yard touchdown strike to Soren Lucey, extending the Patriots’ lead to 21–0 with 11:52 remaining.

That score felt like a dagger.

But Central Union wasn’t finished.

The Spartans, who entered the game having scored 357 points on the year, finally started to move the ball behind backup quarterback Alec Hernandez, who entered after starter Luis Jimenez was knocked out on a roughing-the-passer play.

A goal-line push resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by workhorse Matthew Lizaola with 5:19 left. The PAT missed wide, keeping it 21–6.

Christian went three-and-out, and Central took over with momentum. Two defensive pass interference calls against the Patriots quickly moved the Spartans to the 10-yard line, and Hernandez found C.J. Acosta for an 11-yard touchdown with 3:38 left. Lizaola muscled in the two-point conversion, suddenly making it a one-score game at 21–14.

Just when it seemed the Spartans might pull off a comeback of their own, Christian delivered the play of the night.

Scott sprints to a touchdown to Ensure the Win

On the ensuing kickoff, Rosier—who had already made a defensive highlight—broke free for a 38-yard return out to the Christian 48.

On the very next snap, Runkle spotted Scott streaking down the right sideline, hit him in stride, and Scott raced untouched for a 52-yard dagger touchdown with 3:23 remaining.

Benson drilled the PAT, extending the margin to 28–14 and sealing the championship.

Scott finished with two touchdowns, and Rosier’s triple-threat performance (big early catch, interception, huge late return) shaded the game throughout.

Defense Delivers Again as Historic Run Continues

Christian’s defense—already battle-tested after playoff wins over Brawley, Ramona, and No. 2 seed Army-Navy—held Central to zero points through three quarters and limited the Spartans’ signature ground game.

Central’s star receiver Emiliano Morales had five catches for 104 yards, but his production wasn’t enough against a Patriots unit that consistently forced long drives and key fourth-down stops.

Christian’s path to the title was as daunting as any in the section:

• Beat #3 Brawley

• Beat Ramona on the road

• Beat #2 Army-Navy in a 20–17 thriller

• Beat #1 Central Union for the championship

Head coach Patrick Bugg guided his team to four straight playoff wins, upsetting the bracket’s top three seeds and turning a 3–7 team into a champion.

Now they get to keep playing.

Next Up: SoCal Division 5-AA Regional Final

The CIF announced Sunday that Christian will travel for the Southern California Regional round:

Christian (7–7) at Valley Christian–Cerritos (11–3)
Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Valley Christian quarterback Graham Lunzer—who threw for 2,065 yards and 23 touchdowns and added 519 rushing yards and 14 scores—is out with an injury suffered in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

The winner advances to the State Championship Bowl the following week.

For Christian, the improbable ride continues—and suddenly, nothing seems impossible.

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