Steele 35, New Braunfels 21

Quick take: Through six games, Steele remains unbroken.

The Knights (6-0, 3-0 District 27-6A) absorbed New Braunfels’ best punch Friday night at Lehnhoff Stadium and countered with a three-touchdown outburst in the fourth quarter to secure a 35-21 victory in District 27-6A competition. Steele scored 14 points in the final three minutes to pull away.

The Unicorns (4-2, 1-2) tied the game at 21-21 with 3:14 left in the contest on an 8-yard scoring toss from Aiden Baumann to Jake Vaughn, but Steele responded when Teshaun Singleton broke loose for a 48-yard touchdown run.

Steele linebacker Jacob King later wrapped up Baumann for a sack on a fourth-and-16 play that set up the Knights’ clincher — a 5-yard touchdown run from Jaydon Bailey with just 1:45 remaining.

New Braunfels’ offense was unable to move the ball in the third and fourth quarters despite seeing its defense turn Steele aside on two straight red zone trips. The Knights kept hammering away with their ground game and eventually found the seams they needed to accelerate past the visitors.

Highlights: The Unicorns marched 75 yards in 10 plays during the game’s opening possession and struck first when Ryker Purdy muscled his way into the end zone on a 6-yard touchdown run.

Steele’s offense punted on its first drive but got a spark when Connor Vincent found Edmarrion Contreras for a 56-yard gain. Two snaps later, Singleton jogged across the goal line to help tie the game at 7-7.

A sack by Steele’s Ethan Pena backed up New Braunfels on its next possession, which resulted in a 9-yard punt. The Knights needed just one play to cash in on the prime field position, as Bailey found a seam up the gut for a 13-yard touchdown burst that put Steele in front 14-7.

The Unicorns took over at their own 5-yard line midway through the second quarter and got a big play near the sideline from Lance Beeghley, who hauled in a 33-yard pass. Baumann went deep for Vaughn four plays later and hit him in stride as the receiver turned on the jets to record a 48-yard touchdown over the middle.

What it means: The Knights kept their unbeaten record intact and also remained tied atop the 27-6A standings with Smithson Valley following Friday night.

Steele’s grind-it-out philosophy worked once again as the offense stayed patient while the defense and special teams consistently won the field position battle against New Braunfels.

The Unicorns dropped their second straight district game, but both have come against the only undefeated teams left in 27-6A. Coach Glenn Mangold’s squad is still in a position to blaze a trail to the Class 6A playoffs, but it won’t be an easy path.

Game balls: Singleton, Bailey and Contreras provided the explosive plays needed to carry the Knights to victory and combined to account for 301 of their team’s 370 total yards on the night, as well as four of the Knights’ five touchdowns.

Purdy rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries to pace the Unicorns. Vaughn made two catches for 56 yards and two scores.

Up next: Steele is scheduled to face rival Clemens at 7 p.m. Friday at Lehnhoff Stadium. New Braunfels will return home to host Wagner at 7 p.m. Friday.