Cougars turn back Matadors in finale

By Ramon Scott
Updated: November 1, 2026

Michael Ortiguero Jr. scores for Steele Canyon against Mount Miguel

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

No. 23 STEELE CANYON 36, MOUNT MIGUEL 22

EastCountySports.com staff report

SPRING VALLEY — Michael Ortiguero Jr. delivered two second-half touchdown runs, Gavin Caha threw for two scores and Steele Canyon used timely takeaways to defeat Mount Miguel 36-22 Friday night in the teams’ Grossmont Hills League finale.

The Cougars finished the regular season 5-5 overall and 1-3 in league, snapping a three-game losing streak against league opponents and ending Mount Miguel’s two-game winning streak in the series.

The Matadors finished 2-7 and 0-4, but junior receiver Cayden “Prince” Mobley supplied two memorable touchdown catches, and Enrique Gonzalez passed for 247 yards and three touchdowns.

Both teams will advance to the postseason. Steele Canyon heads into November with a closing victory, while Mount Miguel is expected to enter Division II as the bottom seed under a format that prevents the Matadors from dropping into a lower division.

Matadors take an early lead

Caha put Steele Canyon on the scoreboard with 5:35 remaining in the first quarter, connecting with Malcholm Ballard on a three-yard touchdown pass. The extra point gave the Cougars a 7-0 lead.

Mount Miguel answered with the first of Mobley’s two scoring receptions.

Mobley worked back toward the football and made a contested catch in front of his defender for a seven-yard touchdown. Gonzalez then connected with Da’King “DK” Smith for the two-point conversion, putting the Matadors ahead 8-7 with 1:40 remaining in the opening quarter.

It was an early reminder that Mount Miguel’s receivers could make difficult plays even against tight coverage.

Steele Canyon, however, would score the next 22 points.

Failed fake gives Cougars an opening

Mount Miguel attempted to create an advantage with a reverse out of punt formation.

The snap went to the upman, and Dominic Lopez completed the first handoff. But the next exchange came loose before the Matadors could take advantage of the blocking developing ahead of the play.

Jordan Rodriguez-Guardado recovered for Steele Canyon, giving the Cougars an opportunity they converted into points.

Marcus Hunt scored on a one-yard run with 4:36 remaining in the second quarter, and Steele Canyon moved ahead 15-8 following the conversion.

The Cougars struck again before halftime.

Caha found Josiah Stocker crossing through the middle, delivering the football in stride for a 16-yard touchdown with 3:05 remaining in the half. The extra point extended Steele Canyon’s lead to 22-8.

Stocker finished with seven receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown, leading the Cougars in catches and receiving yardage.

Rode, Minich produce another takeaway

Mount Miguel lost another possession after halftime when Luke Rode forced a fumble and Gunner Minich recovered at the Steele Canyon 44-yard line.

The takeaway helped the Cougars maintain control, and Ortiguero supplied the next scoring finish.

The senior took a handoff toward the left side and scored on a 13-yard run with 5:01 remaining in the third quarter. Steele Canyon’s advantage grew to 29-8 after the extra point.

Ortiguero finished with 58 yards on five carries, averaging 11.6 yards per attempt.

Williams answers, Ortiguero responds

Mount Miguel’s next touchdown required another outstanding receiving effort.

Traejon “Trae” Williams tracked Gonzalez’s pass over his shoulder and secured the ball in the end zone behind double coverage. The touchdown and Adrian Alvarado’s extra point brought the Matadors within 29-15 late in the third quarter.

Williams finished with four catches for 52 yards and a touchdown.

Steele Canyon answered with another productive finish from Ortiguero.

This time, he took the handoff straight up the middle for a six-yard touchdown with 8:48 remaining in the fourth quarter. The extra point pushed the Cougars’ lead to 36-15.

Prince comes down with it

Mount Miguel still had one more highlight.

Facing fourth down, Gonzalez sent an 18-yard pass into a crowd in the end zone, where Mobley made an acrobatic catch through the traffic for his second touchdown of the night.

Alvarado added the extra point, completing the scoring at 36-22.

Mobley finished with eight receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Smith added three catches for 62 yards, while Isaiah Hicks caught two passes for nine yards.

Gonzalez completed 17 of 31 passes for 247 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception.

Balance helps Steele Canyon

Caha completed 16 of 22 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns, directing an offense that received contributions from several players.

Hunt carried 16 times for 54 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 31 yards, giving him 85 yards from scrimmage.

Ballard finished with three receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown. Cameron Trujillo added two catches for 19 yards, and Trevor Zenno had a 16-yard reception.

The Cougars’ listed rushing performances totaled 148 yards, giving Steele Canyon 308 yards of offense when combined with Caha’s passing production.

Mount Miguel’s submitted offensive totals showed 273 yards, including 26 rushing yards.

Jamous leads defensive pressure

Junior Laith Jamous recorded three sacks and three tackles for loss, leading a Steele Canyon defense credited with five sacks.

Yousef Lazim and Mikey Zakaryan each added a sack and a tackle for loss.

Cameron Buchanan led the Cougars with six tackles, followed by Morgan Myers with five.

Rode contributed an interception in addition to the forced fumble recovered by Minich. Rodriguez-Guardado supplied the other fumble recovery.

Those disruptive plays helped Steele Canyon finish a difficult October with a victory after league losses to Granite Hills, Grossmont and Helix.

November brings road tests

Both teams will continue into the postseason, with Division II road openers expected.

Steele Canyon entered the finale projected tenth in Division II, with its final seed determining the opening assignment.

Mount Miguel is expected to occupy the No. 12 position, the bottom seed in the division’s 12-team field. The Matadors’ original Playoff Pool I placement prevents them from falling below Division II under the one-division downward limit.

That restriction establishes Mount Miguel’s divisional floor. If the Matadors are confirmed as the No. 12 seed, they would open at the No. 5 seed.

Ortiguero makes five carries count

SPRING VALLEY — Michael Ortiguero Jr. did not need a heavy workload to leave his mark on Steele Canyon’s regular-season finale.

The senior carried only five times, but gained 58 yards and scored two second-half touchdowns in the Cougars’ 36-22 victory over Mount Miguel.

His 13-yard scoring run in the third quarter extended Steele Canyon’s advantage to 29-8. After the Matadors answered, Ortiguero scored from six yards out with 8:48 remaining, restoring a three-touchdown cushion.

At 5-foot-6 and 190 pounds, Ortiguero provided a compact finishing presence in a backfield that shared the responsibility.

Marcus Hunt handled the largest workload, rushing 16 times for 54 yards and a touchdown. His three catches for 31 yards gave Steele Canyon another way to keep him involved.

The Cougars also received an efficient passing performance from Gavin Caha, who completed 16 of 22 attempts for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

Josiah Stocker was his busiest target, catching seven passes for 63 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown over the middle. Malcholm Ballard caught the opening touchdown on a three-yard pass.

The distribution gave Steele Canyon a productive combination of passing and rushing before the postseason.

On defense, Laith Jamous’ three sacks led the pressure, while Luke Rode, Jordan Rodriguez-Guardado and Gunner Minich contributed to the takeaways.

For a team that had spent October working through the strongest portion of its league schedule, the finale provided a useful combination: an even overall record, a league victory and several ways to build toward November.

Mobley’s catches give Matadors a spark

SPRING VALLEY — Cayden “Prince” Mobley’s first touchdown catch helped Mount Miguel take the lead. His second gave the Matadors one of the night’s most memorable plays.

The junior caught eight passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns in Friday’s 36-22 loss at Steele Canyon, continuing to provide a dangerous receiving presence heading into the postseason.

On his first score, Mobley worked back toward the football and secured a seven-yard touchdown reception in front of his defender.

The ensuing two-point pass from Enrique Gonzalez to Da’King “DK” Smith put Mount Miguel ahead 8-7 late in the first quarter.

Mobley’s second touchdown came with considerably more traffic around him.

On fourth down, Gonzalez lofted an 18-yard pass into the end zone, and Mobley made an acrobatic catch among the defenders for the Matadors’ final touchdown.

Traejon “Trae” Williams added another highlight, catching a scoring pass over his shoulder behind double coverage. He finished with four receptions for 52 yards, while Smith contributed three catches for 62 yards.

Gonzalez accounted for all three touchdown passes, completing 17 of 31 attempts for 247 yards.

Those performances demonstrated Mount Miguel’s ability to create scoring plays. Protecting possessions remained the greater challenge.

The Matadors lost two fumbles and threw an interception. One fumble came on a mishandled exchange during a reverse out of punt formation, giving Steele Canyon an opening to retake the lead.

Mount Miguel now carries its receiving talent into a demanding postseason assignment.

The Matadors are expected to enter Division II as the No. 12 seed. Their original Pool I designation prevents a drop into Division III, leaving a likely road opener against one of Division II’s stronger teams.

For Mount Miguel, the next opportunity will require more secure possessions alongside the difficult catches its receivers continue to make.

EastCountySports.com

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