Patriots travel for SoCal Regional

By Ramon Scott
Updated: December 3, 2025

Hank Houston carries for Christian. / Vic Marano

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

EAST COUNTY FEARLESS FORECASTER – SOCAL REGIONAL PLAYOFFS

Christian at Valley Christian – Division 5-AA

EastCountySports.com

CERRITOS – If there’s one thing Christian High has trademarked this season, it’s resilience.

Few teams have ridden a tougher road to December, and even fewer have handled that grind with the Patriots’ late-season poise.

After navigating a rugged league slate and then storming through the Division 3 playoffs, Christian has reemerged on the state stage, riding a five-game win streak and brimming with confidence.

Their reward: a trip to Cerritos to face a battle-tested Valley Christian squad fresh off capturing the CIF-SS Division 9 championship for the program’s fourth-ever section title.

Valley Christian’s title tilt was a grinder – a 14-12 defensive slugfest over Ramona, of Riverside, in which the Defenders leaned on a fierce pass rush, a pair of timely scores, and the late-game heroics of senior receiver/defensive back Sean Bouma, who broke up a would-be game-tying two-point conversion in the final minute.

Quarterback Liam Sweeney delivered a short TD plunge, Bouma hauled in a 26-yard strike, and two-way hammer Cole Hefner turned in a monster night with 45 hard yards on the ground and three sacks.

VC may not win with flash, but they win with toughness — and at 11-3, they now get to host the SoCal Regional.

Christian, meanwhile, enters with an offense finally humming at full capacity.

Quarterback Kaleb Runkle has become the definition of cool under fire, balancing efficiency with improvisational flair.

His connection with explosive playmaker Ronnie Scott has turned into one of the region’s most dangerous postseason combos — Scott is coming off a 129-yard, two-TD performance highlighted by a 52-yard catch-and-burst that flipped last week’s game against Central.

Add in the reliability of another big playmaker in Kai Rosier, the physical running of Julian Marones, and the all-around impact of two-way standout Hank Houston, and the Patriots look like a team that’s finally playing to its preseason ceiling.

Both squads lean heavily on dual-threat quarterbacks.

Sweeney and Runkle enter with nearly identical passing production, each averaging 187 yards per game. Both also lead their teams in rushing — Sweeney and Graham Lunzer (VC’s QB pairing) combining power with scrambling ability, and Runkle providing Christian its steady chain-moving dimension.

VC’s top target Oliver Boateng mirrors Rosier in production, giving both offenses a go-to receiver capable of taking over stretches of a game.

Defensively, Christian leans on the instincts and range of Chase Torgersen, who can chase down either style of quarterback, while VC’s Hefner anchors a front that already proved it can wreck a gameplan when needed.

If the Defenders reproduce anything close to the seven sacks they hung on Ramona, the Patriots will have to counter with quicker reads and controlled tempo.

Christian has been clutch on the road throughout this playoff run, showing composure in tough environments and saving their best for late in games. Valley Christian’s defense, however, is built for exactly this type of challenge — physical, disciplined, and opportunistic.

Everything points to an edge-of-your-seat finish.

Both QBs are capable of a defining moment, both defenses can swing momentum with a single play, and both programs have earned their way into this regional stage. Expect fireworks, swings, and a final few minutes played with every nerve exposed.

Drama. Chaos. One more big play from the Patriots’ stars when it matters most.