Eagles connnect to crush Cougars

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

No. 4 GRANITE HILLS 35, No. 16 STEELE CANYON 7

Benitez, Miller-Thompson power Eagles past Cougars

By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com

EL CAJON — Granite Hills found its scoring combination early Friday night, then relied on timely defensive stops to make sure Steele Canyon never caught up.

Zachary Benitez passed for 297 yards and four touchdowns, including three to Courtney “Nino” Miller-Thompson, as the Eagles defeated the visiting Cougars, 35-7, in a Grossmont Hills League contest.

Granite Hills improved to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in league play, maintaining its position alongside unbeaten league rival Helix. Steele Canyon slipped to 4-3 and 0-1 in its Hills opener.

Benitez completed 23 of 32 passes, distributing the ball to six receivers. Miller-Thompson finished with six catches for 121 yards, while Jonah Hamilton added six receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown.

The Eagles scored twice in the opening quarter, led 21-0 at halftime and stretched the margin to 35-0 before Steele Canyon reached the end zone in the fourth quarter.

But the separation required more than productive passing. Granite Hills stopped the Cougars near its goal line as the first half expired, then survived another deep penetration early in the third quarter.

Travin Shabazz, credited with four tackles for loss, helped lead a defensive effort that repeatedly disrupted Steele Canyon quarterback Gavin Caha.

Eagles strike early

Benitez found Miller-Thompson for both first-quarter touchdowns, each estimated at approximately 12 yards in live coverage.

The opening connection put Granite Hills ahead, 7-0, and the Eagles’ defense quickly helped create another opportunity.

Facing third-and-15 near his own goal line, Caha was engulfed by a group of Granite Hills defenders for a substantial loss. Steele Canyon punted from near its end zone, giving the Eagles favorable field position.

A holding penalty pushed Granite Hills backward, but a subsequent pass-interference call against the Cougars helped move the Eagles into scoring position. Benitez again found Miller-Thompson, and Granite Hills finished the quarter ahead, 14-0.

Jamir Alvarez supplied several forceful stops as the Eagles made Steele Canyon work for its early gains.

Wilhite keeps drive alive

The Eagles’ second-quarter touchdown march might have ended well before Gage Spalding reached the end zone.

With Granite Hills facing third-and-25, Jesse Wilhite caught a Benitez pass for approximately 18 yards. Benitez went back to Wilhite on fourth down, and the completion carried the Eagles to the Cougars’ 34.

Spalding helped finish the possession with determined running between the tackles. His six-yard touchdown run, with approximately 2:08 remaining in the half, extended the lead to 20-0.

Jacob Nunez added the extra point for a 21-0 advantage. Nunez finished 5-for-5 on PATs.

Spalding also had an apparent long touchdown reception off a play fake erased by holding earlier in the half.

Cougars stopped before break

Steele Canyon threatened to answer before halftime.

Caha completed a pass for approximately 20 yards, then gained 23 yards on a keeper from his own 46 to the Eagles’ 31.

The Cougars eventually faced fourth down at the Granite Hills 25. On the final play of the half, Caha faked a handoff and ran toward the goal line, but the Eagles stopped him approximately three yards short as time expired.

Granite Hills carried its three-touchdown cushion into the locker room.

The Eagles’ first-half pressure included a seven-yard sack by Trevor Nash, another sack by Jeremiah May and a pass deflection by Giovanni Mansour.

Opportunity disappears

Steele Canyon opened the second half with another promising possession.

Josiah Stocker took a reverse 23 yards, helping the Cougars reach inside the Granite Hills 10.

Caha appeared to finish the drive with a touchdown run, but a Steele Canyon holding penalty wiped out the score. The Cougars subsequently faced a long-yardage situation, and consecutive incompletions brought out the field-goal unit.

The kick was tipped and fell no good. Wilhite got a hand on the attempt, with Romeo Pepe also contributing to the disruption.

The Eagles took over with their 21-0 lead intact.

Hamilton makes tough catch

Granite Hills answered the missed opportunity with another touchdown drive.

Hamilton caught a nine-yard pass for a first down near midfield, and a personal foul against Steele Canyon helped advance the Eagles.

Benitez then lofted a pass toward Hamilton, who battled his defender for possession and came away with a 25-yard touchdown catch.

Nunez’s extra point made it 28-0, the score at the end of the third quarter.

Benitez and Miller-Thompson connected for their third touchdown together in the fourth, extending the lead to 35-0 after another successful PAT.

Steele Canyon finishes drive

The Cougars finally reached the scoreboard in the final period.

A Caha completion to Stocker helped move the possession, and a long run carried Steele Canyon to the Eagles’ 20. The Cougars eventually reached first-and-goal at the two.

After Granite Hills stopped a first-down run, Caha scored on a two-yard keeper. The extra point established the final margin.

Caha completed 13 of 23 passes for 136 yards and rushed five times for 43 yards.

Stocker caught four passes for 44 yards, in addition to his 23-yard reverse. Trevor Zenno added three receptions for 29 yards.

Granite Hills finished with 379 yards of total offense, including 82 rushing yards. Steele Canyon totaled 307 yards, with 171 on the ground.

The difference was in finishing possessions. The Eagles converted their opportunities into five touchdowns, while the Cougars saw promising drives end with a stop near the goal line, a penalty-erased score and a tipped field-goal attempt.

Wilhite supplies plays

EL CAJON — Jesse Wilhite’s contributions to Granite Hills’ 35-7 victory extended beyond the touchdown column.

The senior finished with three catches for 60 yards, but two of those receptions arrived when the Eagles needed them most.

Wilhite gained approximately 18 yards on third-and-25 during the second-quarter scoring march. He then caught another Zachary Benitez pass on fourth down, keeping alive the possession that ended with Gage Spalding’s six-yard touchdown run.

Those catches helped Granite Hills establish its 21-0 halftime lead.

Wilhite contributed again early in the third quarter, getting a hand on Steele Canyon’s field-goal attempt after the Cougars had threatened inside the Eagles’ 10.

He also recorded 29 yards on a kickoff return and 18 yards on a punt return, giving him 107 all-purpose yards.

On a night highlighted by Benitez’s four touchdown passes and Courtney “Nino” Miller-Thompson’s three scoring catches, Wilhite supplied several of the supporting plays that allowed Granite Hills to maintain control.

Spalding makes carries count

EL CAJON — Gage Spalding did not require a heavy workload to give Granite Hills a physical presence against Steele Canyon.

The senior rushed seven times for 44 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per carry, and scored on a six-yard run in the second quarter.

Spalding’s ability to keep moving through contact helped finish the Eagles’ third touchdown drive. He also caught a pass for 17 yards, producing 61 yards from scrimmage.

Williams added 31 rushing yards on seven attempts, while Granite Hills’ passing attack accounted for 297 of the Eagles’ 379 offensive yards.

Spalding’s work complemented that aerial production, giving the Eagles a dependable option inside as they built their lead.

Shabazz helps Eagles win

EL CAJON — Steele Canyon accumulated 307 offensive yards, but Granite Hills repeatedly kept those gains from becoming points.

Travin Shabazz’s four tackles for loss highlighted an Eagles defensive performance that created difficult situations for the Cougars.

Trevor Nash and Jeremiah May added sacks in live coverage, Giovanni Mansour broke up a pass and Jamir Alvarez delivered several notable stops.

The most consequential defensive sequences came on either side of halftime.

Granite Hills stopped Gavin Caha near the goal line on the final play of the second quarter. Early in the third, the Eagles held after a Steele Canyon touchdown was erased by holding, then disrupted the ensuing field-goal attempt.

Those two empty possessions preserved a 21-0 lead and gave the Eagles time to extend their advantage.

LOOKING AHEAD: Cougars, Foothillers seek place in Hills

STEELE CANYON (4-3, 0-1) at GROSSMONT (5-3, 0-2)
Friday, Oct. 16 — Grossmont High
Grossmont Hills League

Steele Canyon’s next assignment offers a more evenly matched test and an opportunity to establish its position in the Grossmont Hills League.

The Cougars visit a Grossmont team also looking for its first league victory after consecutive losses to Granite Hills and Helix.

Both programs have now experienced the challenge of facing the league’s leading contenders. Their meeting gives each an opportunity to regain momentum and determine which team can move up behind them.

For Steele Canyon, the priority is turning sustained gains into completed scoring drives. The Cougars produced 171 rushing yards against Granite Hills but were unable to overcome the penalties and missed opportunities that interrupted their best possessions.

Gavin Caha’s ability to operate as both a passer and runner, along with Josiah Stocker’s receiving and reverse-game production, gives Steele Canyon several ways to challenge the Foothillers.

Grossmont counters with quarterback Tyler Holmes, whose running and passing have fueled the Foothillers’ offense. Holmes supplied a rushing touchdown and a scoring pass to Cedric Norris in Friday’s 49-12 loss to Helix.

The matchup has a history of competitive games and stretches of substantial scoring. Grossmont won 39-36 in 2023 and 60-49 in 2024, the programs’ two most recent meetings. Their 2021 encounters produced a split: Steele Canyon won 23-10 in league play, before Grossmont answered with a 17-14 playoff victory.

Friday’s contest shapes up as an important opportunity for both teams: Steele Canyon seeking a response to its league-opening loss, and Grossmont trying to prevent an 0-2 start from becoming an extended slide.

LOOKING AHEAD: Eagles face changed Matadors

GRANITE HILLS (5-2, 2-0) at MOUNT MIGUEL (2-4, 0-1)
Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. — Mount Miguel High
Grossmont Hills League

Granite Hills’ trip to Mount Miguel carries a different outlook from the previous two seasons, when the matchup helped determine the Grossmont Hills championship and the Eagles emerged on top.

This time, Granite Hills enters as a substantial favorite, bringing a productive passing attack and an unbeaten league record against a Matadors team trying to find consistency.

Zachary Benitez and Courtney “Nino” Miller-Thompson remain the primary challenge for Mount Miguel’s defense. Their three-touchdown connection against Steele Canyon demonstrated how quickly the Eagles can create separation.

Jonah Hamilton’s six-catch performance adds another receiving threat, while Jesse Wilhite and Gage Spalding give Granite Hills additional options on crucial downs.

Mount Miguel’s available season figures show 183.8 offensive yards per game, compared with 337.9 for Granite Hills.

The Matadors will look to Dominic Lopez for production on the ground and to Cayden “Prince” Mobley for explosive plays. Quarterback Enrique Gonzalez faces the task of sustaining possessions against an Eagles defense coming off several timely stops and a four-tackle-for-loss performance by Travin Shabazz.

For Granite Hills, the opportunity is to reach 3-0 in league play. Maintaining its defensive pressure and completing scoring drives would keep the Eagles firmly positioned in the championship race.

SCORING BY QUARTER

Steele Canyon:  0 — 0 — 0 — 7 — 7
Granite Hills: 14 — 7 — 7 — 7 — 35

First quarter: Courtney “Nino” Miller-Thompson, two touchdown passes from Zachary Benitez; Jacob Nunez kick after each.

Second quarter: Gage Spalding, six-yard run; Nunez kick.

Third quarter: Jonah Hamilton, 25-yard pass from Benitez; Nunez kick.

Fourth quarter: Miller-Thompson, touchdown pass from Benitez; Nunez kick. Gavin Caha, two-yard run; kick good.

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