Branco’s four scores doom Cougars

By Ramon Scott
Updated: September 7, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

EASTLAKE 27, STEELE CANYON 14

Eastlake star rushes for 288 yards as Titans turn away Cougars

ECS staff report

CHULA VISTA — Steele Canyon struck first and later recovered an onside kick with an opportunity to complete a fourth-quarter comeback, but David Branco and Eastlake delivered the decisive answers.

Branco rushed 30 times for 288 yards and all four Eastlake touchdowns, carrying the Titans to a 27-14 nonleague victory over the Cougars on Friday.

Eastlake improved to 3-0, while Steele Canyon fell to 1-2 entering its bye week.

Steele Canyon opened the scoring when senior quarterback Gavin Caha connected with Marcus Hunt for a 54-yard touchdown pass. The Cougars attempted a two-point conversion but were unsuccessful, leaving them with a 6-0 advantage.

Branco answered with his first touchdown during the opening quarter, and Christian Vargas converted the extra point to put Eastlake ahead, 7-6.

Branco added a 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, extending the Titans’ advantage to 14-6.

The Cougars nearly answered before halftime when Hunt broke a 43-yard run to the Eastlake 7-yard line. Steele Canyon reached the 5, but the Titans stopped a fourth-down rushing attempt to preserve their eight-point lead.

Steele Canyon drove into scoring position again on the opening possession of the second half, but a 30-yard field-goal attempt was unsuccessful.

Branco made the missed opportunity costly by breaking a 28-yard touchdown run, pushing Eastlake’s lead to 21-6.

Caha brought the Cougars back within striking distance on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 8:19 remaining in the fourth quarter. He then connected with Malcholm Ballard for the two-point conversion, reducing Eastlake’s lead to 21-14.

Steele Canyon recovered the ensuing onside kick and drove into Eastlake territory with an opportunity to tie the game. The Titans stopped the Cougars on fourth down, however, and Branco followed with his game-sealing 75-yard touchdown run from a direct snap, accounting for the final 27-14 margin.

Eastlake attempted only four passes in the game. Junior quarterback Joe Waters completed 3 of 4 attempts for 35 yards, including two completions for 27 yards to Eidrin Estrelon.

The Titans instead placed the game in Branco’s hands. He accounted for 288 of Eastlake’s 325 total yards, averaging 9.6 yards per carry while producing the longest play of the game.

Eastlake’s defense repeatedly made crucial plays after Steele Canyon crossed midfield. The Titans recorded four sacks, eight tackles for loss, an interception and a blocked kick.

Senior linebacker Jovani Ceja led Eastlake with nine tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack. Noah McCurty collected seven tackles, three sacks and two quarterback hurries, while Jeremiah White finished with four tackles and an interception.

Nicolas Alba added six tackles and blocked a kick.

Steele Canyon did not file individual game statistics, but Caha accounted for both Cougar touchdowns through his 54-yard scoring pass to Hunt and his fourth-quarter quarterback sneak. Hunt supplied the Cougars’ two longest known gains with his 54-yard touchdown reception and 43-yard run.

The Cougars created opportunities throughout the game but came away without points following drives to the Eastlake 5 and the Titans’ field-goal range. Their final fourth-down failure allowed Branco to provide the clinching touchdown.

BRANCO CONTINUES BREAKOUT START

Branco followed his 209-yard, three-touchdown performance against defending Division V champion Morse with an even larger game against Steele Canyon.

The senior has rushed for 497 yards and seven touchdowns over Eastlake’s last two games alone. His 75-yard clincher against Steele Canyon surpassed his 66-yard touchdown run against Morse as his longest reported scoring run of the season.

Eastlake completed only three passes Friday, but Branco’s dominance and a defense that produced four sacks allowed the Titans to remain undefeated.

NEXT UP

Steele Canyon has a bye this week before returning home to face El Capitan on Friday, Sept. 18, in another nonleague game.

The break gives the Cougars an opportunity to regroup after consecutive losses to Santa Fe Christian and Eastlake. Steele Canyon will enter the El Capitan game at 1-2, while the Vaqueros are coming off a narrow 27-21 loss to Ramona.