CHULA VISTA — In a game that was far from flawless, the Santa Fe Christian football team is still perfect.
The Eagles ran their record to a perfect 13-0 with 44-41 win over Steele Canyon on Friday night to win the CIF San Diego Section Division 2 championship before an estimated crowd of 4,700 at Southwestern College.
The victory, the highest division title in school history, sends SFC – seeded No. 1 – to the Southern California Regionals with pairing to be announced Sunday afternoon.
Steele Canyon, the No. 2 seed, finishes the season 9-4.
“It means the world,” SFC coach Jon Wallace said of being undefeated. “I’m so proud of these kids. That fact that this tiny school (with 400 high school students) with small kids, we said whatever division you put us in, we can’t can control. We just play the team you put in front of us. There is so much heart in that group of kids. I love those guys. I’m so proud of them.”
A wild first half featured a pair of long Steele Canyon scores, an 80-yard pass from quarterback Gavin Caha to Jacob Henton and a 99-yard kickoff return by Nico Jara.
Still, the Cougars trailed 30-14 at the break.
Santa Fe Christian opened scoring on an 8-yard pass from Dax Labrum to Chase Woolley. SFC also scored touchdowns on a 7-yard pass from Labrum to Brandan Scott, and a 28-yard pass from Labrum to Brady Berg.
The Eagles also got field goals of 21, 37 and 43 yards from Scott.
CHULA VISTA, CA – NOVEMBER 28, 2025: Santa Fe Christian’s head coach Jon Wallace, right, and his players celebrate after they defeated Steele Canyon 44-41 to take the CIF Division 2 championship at Southwestern College in Chula Vista on Friday, November 28, 2025. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
SFC went ahead 37-20 with 4:55 to play in the third quarter, with Labrun hitting Woolley with a 51-yard scoring pass.
But Steele Canyon had it down to 37-34 and 44-41 with 4:30 to play on a 3-yard Abel Lopez run.
But SFC got a 16-yard kickoff return from Cruz Campbell and Steele Canyon was hit with a 15-yard roughing penalty. The Eagles got three first downs as Steele Canyon used all its timeouts, and Labrum sealed the win by kneeling down.
SFC had several long kickoff returns, starting numerous drives with good field position.
“I guess I’ve got to fire our special teams coach, but that’s me,” said Steele Canyon coach Scott Longerbone. “It was terrible tackling, guys were out of their lanes. It was just poor execution.”
Steele Canyon rushed 22 times for just 57 yards, but Caha completed 15 of 24 passes for 272 yards. Josiah Stocker caught eight passes for 138 yards and a 38-yard touchdown. Jacob Henton had three catches for 96 yards and the 80-yard TD.
“It was very frustrating,” said Caha. “We’d drive and score, then we’d give it right back.”
CHULA VISTA, CA – NOVEMBER 28, 2025: Santa Fe Christian’s AJ Haynes carries the ball against as Steele Canyon’s Ivan Valdez, left, and Salim Underwood try to tackle in the first quarter of the CIF Division 2 championship game at Southwestern College in Chula Vista on Friday, November 28, 2025. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Santa Fe Christian rushed 23 times for 120 yards. Labrum was the leading rusher with five carries for 27 yards. He also completed 21 of 33 passes for 286 yards, with six for 89 yards going to Woolley. Campbell had five receptions for 97 yards.
“We’re a high school with 400 kids; that is a 2,500-kid high school,” Woolley said. “That was David and Goliath. We’re David and fight hard.”
There were no turnovers in a game that featured 104 plays.
“He’s pretty good, huh?” Wallace said of Labrum. “And he’s only a junior.”
Santa Fe Christian 20, Steele Canyon 16
Steele Canyon 14 0 13 14 – 41
Santa Fe Christian 13 17 7 7 – 44
SFC – Woolley 8 pass from Labrum (Scott kick)
SC – Henton 80 pass from Caha (Woolf kick)
SFC – FG Scott 21
SC – Jara 99 kickoff return (Woolf kick)
SFC – FG Scott 37
SFC – Scott 7 pass from Labrum (Scott kick)
SFC – Berg 28 pass from Labrum (Scott kick)
SFC – FG Scott 43
SC – Lopez 6 run (run failed)
SFC – Woolley 51 pass from Labrum (Scott kick)
SC – Stocker 38 pass from Caha (Woolf kick)
SC – Caha 3 run (Woolf kick)
SFC – Bolden 3 pass from Labrum (Scott kick)
SC – Lopez 3 run (Woolf kick)