Saints end Cougars’ championship run

By Ramon Scott
Updated: November 10, 2018

Steele Canyon captains on Friday night.

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

ST. AUGUSTINE 28, STEELE CANYON 21

EastCountySports.com staff report

SAN DIEGO – The Steele Canyon Cougars saw their run of three consecutive championships come to an end against the St. Augustine Saints at Douglas Stadium on Friday night.

The fifth-seeded Cougars ended up one score short of the fourth-seeded Saints, 28-21. Steele had won its last three possible titles, with league, state and section titles of late.

Steele Canyon (9-3) spotted St. Augustine a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, including a 68-yard strip-sack return for a touchdown by Saints sophomore Malcolm Williams to make it 14-0.

A terrific double-toe-tap catch in the back of the end zone by Saints’ Sam Scaife made it a three-score lead.

The Cougars got on the board in the third when senior receiver VALON MARTINEZ caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback NATHAN BARNETT.

Steele Canyon on offense on Friday night.

After St. Augustine went back up by three scores on another scoring reception from Scaife, Barnett scored on a 1-yard run.

Senior KENNETH WATSON later had a touchdown run in the third, putting the Cougars right back in the contest.

Steele Canyon sophomore running back WESLEY NEELY III rushed for 170 yards and nearly 200 yards of total offense. He had a long score to make it 21-7. He had runs of 63 and 49 yards.

The Cougars moved near the red zone in the fourth quarter but turned the ball over on a miscue during a snap, allowing Williams to recover the ball.

Steele Canyon rushed for 230 yards as a team. The Cougars were just 3-of-13 on third- and fourth-down conversion tries.

COLTON GUERRERO paced the Steele ‘D’ with 12 total tackles (4 solo), including a sack. WILLIE PAGE had a team-high seven solo tackles.

St. Augustine (8-3) will host Mission Hills (5-6) in the Division I semifinals next Friday at Douglas Stadium.