Thompson, Robinson lead Scotties to win

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

Highlanders answer Cougars, set up Hills title showdown

No. 9 HELIX 42, No. 17 STEELE CANYON 14

By RAMON SCOTT
EastCountySports.com

SPRING VALLEY — Helix had one more task to handle before it could turn its attention to a championship showdown with Granite Hills.

On Friday night, quarterback Caden Thompson and his receivers made sure the Highlanders took care of it.

Thompson passed for 207 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more as Helix defeated host Steele Canyon, 42-14, in a Grossmont Hills League game.

Jeremy Robinson caught a touchdown pass and returned a fumble for another score. Jacob “J.J.” Andrew-Johnson caught six passes for 115 yards, including a spectacular fourth-quarter touchdown, and Stephon Fuentes added a touchdown run.

The Highlanders improved to 7-2 overall and 3-0 in league, earning the opportunity to play Granite Hills for the outright Grossmont Hills championship in their regular-season finale.

The result also came against the team that ended Helix’s 2025 season. Steele Canyon defeated the Highlanders, 22-19, in last year’s Division II playoffs.

The Cougars fell to 4-5 overall and 0-3 in league, despite two impressive touchdown catches by Cameron Trujillo.

Highlanders strike first

Thompson and Andrew-Johnson connected early, combining for a 36-yard completion on Helix’s opening possession.

A couple of plays later, Thompson dropped back, kept the ball and scored from 1 yard out. The extra point gave the Highlanders a 7-0 lead.

Helix’s defense then stopped Steele Canyon on downs, and Thompson took the Highlanders back to the end zone.

With approximately 40 seconds left in the first quarter, Robinson had gotten behind his defender when Thompson’s pass came back toward the outside, behind both players. Robinson adjusted to the ball in the air and made the difficult catch look easy for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

Robinson’s ability to recover his position and finish the play gave Thompson an early reward for trusting his receiver, even with the defender in close pursuit.

Helix builds halftime cushion

The Highlanders kept Steele Canyon off the scoreboard throughout the first half, repeatedly finishing defensive possessions.

David Hubert recorded a sack early in the second quarter, and Helix stopped the Cougars on downs twice more before halftime.

The Highlanders missed a field-goal attempt during the quarter, but Thompson later scored on another keeper. The extra point extended the lead to 21-0 at halftime.

Thompson completed 14 of 17 passes without an interception in his reported individual line. His two rushing touchdowns gave him four touchdowns passing and rushing for the game.

Steele Canyon quarterback Gavin Caha, who had thrown for 433 yards against Grossmont a week earlier, completed 14 of 18 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown against Helix. He also ran five times for 40 yards.

Cougars break through

Steele Canyon received the second-half kickoff, but Helix again forced a turnover on downs after recording a sack.

Fuentes followed with a touchdown run, pushing the Highlanders’ lead to 28-0. The junior finished with 60 yards on 11 carries.

The Cougars answered late in the third quarter with one of the night’s finest plays.

Caha used a play fake, concealed the ball and moved left before sending a deep throw toward Trujillo. The receiver had gotten behind his defender and went up to secure the ball near the boundary, then managed an impressive toe tap and drag to complete the touchdown catch.

The extra point trimmed Helix’s lead to 28-7.

Andrew-Johnson rises to the occasion

Helix answered early in the fourth quarter with another outstanding throw and catch.

Andrew-Johnson worked outside his coverage and got behind the defender. Thompson lofted the ball toward him, and the receiver went up over the retreating defender to make the catch.

After coming down, Andrew-Johnson took a few quick steps and reached the pylon for the touchdown, restoring the Highlanders’ four-touchdown advantage at 35-7.

Andrew-Johnson had already helped set up Helix’s opening touchdown with his 36-yard reception. His fourth-quarter catch capped a night in which he averaged more than 19 yards on his six receptions.

Robinson then added his second touchdown of the game, returning a fumble for a score. The successful extra point made it 42-7.

The Highlanders were credited with five stops on downs and three sacks in the scoring log.

Rode and Trujillo connect

Steele Canyon kept playing through the final minutes, and senior Luke Rode made an impact on both sides of the ball.

After intercepting a Helix pass, Rode took a turn at quarterback. Trujillo split the defense and was heading into the clear when Rode spotted him and delivered the ball in stride for a 32-yard touchdown.

Trujillo finished with seven receptions for 73 yards and two scores. Rode completed his only pass of the night for the touchdown, while Caha threw the Cougars’ other scoring pass.

Marcus Hunt ran for 29 yards on 10 carries. The Cougars finished with 108 rushing yards and 125 passing yards for 233 yards of offense.

Rode was also credited with seven tackles.

Lookahead: Championship night in La Mesa

No. 4 GRANITE HILLS (7-2, 3-0) at No. 9 HELIX (7-2, 3-0)
Friday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m. — Helix High School, La Mesa
Grossmont Hills League

Helix returns home with an outright league championship on the line against an Eagles team coming off one of the section’s most dramatic victories of the season.

Granite Hills rallied past previously unbeaten San Jacinto, 14-13, on Friday. Zachary Benitez threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jonah Hamilton, then ran for the go-ahead two-point conversion with 1:58 remaining.

Both teams have defeated Grossmont, Steele Canyon and Mount Miguel in league play. Granite Hills has won the past four meetings with Helix, giving the Highlanders an opportunity to change the recent direction of the series as well as claim the title.

Benitez has averaged 235.8 passing yards per game, with Courtney “Nino” Miller-Thompson averaging 97.7 receiving yards. Thompson has averaged 157.7 passing yards, while Andrew-Johnson has averaged 57.3 receiving yards.

Lookahead: League win opportunity at home

MOUNT MIGUEL (2-6) at No. 17 STEELE CANYON (4-5, 0-3)
Friday, Oct. 30 — Steele Canyon High School, Spring Valley
Grossmont Hills League

The Cougars will look to finish the regular season at 5-5 and claim their first league victory when they host Mount Miguel.

Steele Canyon figures to be favored, though the Matadors showed their big-play ability in a 49-30 loss to Grossmont, including a 99-yard touchdown pass from Enrique Gonzalez to Trae Williams.

The Cougars have receiving threats in Trujillo and Trevor Zenno, and Caha’s mobility gives them another way to move the ball. Against Mount Miguel, Steele Canyon will look to finish more possessions after being stopped five times on downs by Helix.

Luke Rode has brought the noise all season for the Cougars on defense with 73 total tackles and two interceptions. He showed his versatility on Friday night by throwing a deep touchdown pass with great instincts and touch.

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