Steele 52, Judson 14

DISTRICT 27-6A

Quick Take: The Steele Knights wrapped up the District 27-6A championship with a 52-14 win over the Judson Rockets at Lehnhoff Stadium on Friday night. The Knights (8-1, 4-0) scored on each of their first four possessions in both the first and second halves and never really felt in danger from the Rockets.

Highlights: Ramon Gutierrez scored the first points of the night for the Knights with a 27-yard field goal at the 7:04 mark of the first quarter.

Judson (3-6, 2-2) had a chance to tie the score on the next drive, but the Rockets’ 30-yard field goal attempt was tipped at the line and fell short with 4:09 left in the first quarter.

The Knights pushed their lead to 10-0 with 1:57 left in the first quarter when Chad Warner threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Cooper.

Steele running back Jonathan Hatton got in on the scoring when he scored on a 3-yard run. Gutierrez added his second extra point of the night and the Knights led 17-0 with 7:01 left in the second quarter.

It didn’t take long for Judson to respond. Rocket quarterback Elijah Favela found a wide open De Morlan McGarity for a 67-yard touchdown pass with 6:45 left in the second quarter.

Steele answered the Rockets touchdown on their next drive. Warner kept it for a 7-yard touchdown run to give the

Knights a 24-7 lead with 2:11 left in the second quarter.

The Rockets drove to the Steele 14 on their next possession but came away empty handed when Favela’s pass to the end zone on third and eight was intercepted by Steele’s Sterling Robinson with 11 seconds left in the second quarter.

The Knights began the third quarter as they did the first, with a scoring drive. Hatton scored his second touchdown of the night when he ran in from 44-yards out to give the Knights a 31-7 lead with 9:29 left in the third quarter. Hatton finished the night with 25 carries for 126 yards.

Judson cut the deficit to 31-14 on their next possession when running back Nathaniel Stanley scored on a 2-yard run with 4:26 left in the third quarter.

Steele answered with a 19-yard pass from Warner to Cooper at the 4:26 mark of the third quarter to go up 38-14. Warner and Cooper connected again for a 37-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the third quarter to give the Knights a 45-14 lead.

The Knights added their final touchdown with 7:06 left in the fourth quarter when Sammy Harris scored on a 30-yard run.

What it means: Steele improves to 8-1 overall and 4-0 in district. Judson fell to 3-6 on the season and 2-2 in district. The Knights won the 27-6A championship thanks to results elsewhere in district 27-6A. Steele also improved to 10-4 all-time against Judson and have now won three in a row against the Rockets. Judson last beat Steele in 2020.

Game balls: Warner completed 15 of his 19 pass attempts for 291 yards and three touchdowns. Cooper caught all three of Warner’s touchdown passes and finished with seven catches for 145 yards. Judson quarterback Elijah Favela completed 24 of 33 pass attempts for 274 yards and a touchdown.

Up next : Steele is back at Lehnhoff for its annual rivalry game against Clemens next Thursday night. Judson hosts

New Braunfels next Thursday. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m.