Cibolo Steele routs PSJA High, ends Bears season in area round

SAN ANTONIO — PSJA High couldn’t have asked for a better start to Thursday’s 6A DII area round contest against Cibolo Steele.

Less than twenty seconds into the game, PSJA High quarterback Myles Lopez did what he’s done all year, hitting senior Ryan Vallejo in stride for an 80-yard touchdown to take a 6-0 lead.

The lead and momentum were short-lived, however, with Cibolo Steele wideout Royal Capell taking the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the house to spark a 63-point first half by the Knights en route to a dominant 63-12 win over PSJA High at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio.

Cibolo Steele punches its ticket to the Region IV-6A semifinals with the win, taking on the winner between Austin Vandergrift and San Antonio Sotomayor at a date, time and location to be determined.

Cibolo Steele was firing on all cylinders during the first quarter, finding the end zone on the ground, through the air, on defense and on special teams to jump out to a 28-6 lead.

A seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive orchestrated by PSJA High backup quarterback Dylan Rodriguez cut the Bears deficit to 28-12 with 9:58 left in the first quarter, giving PSJA High a slight sign of hope. Rodriguez, who entered the game following an injury to Lopez during the first, finished 7-of-7 on the drive, capping it with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Salas.

The Knights responded with a 35-0 run to end the half, taking a 63-12 advantage into the break.

With the game well in hand, the Knights turned to their backups during the second half, running the clock to secure a date in next week’s regional semifinal.

Senior Chad Warner piloted Cibolo Steele’s offense during the first half, completing 8-of-12 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns before being pulled at the break. Running back Jonathan Hatton added seven carries for 72 yards and three touchdowns in one half of play, while wideout Jalen Cooper added five catches for 112 yards and one touchdown.

Vallejo led the Bears with six catches for 199 yards and one touchdown. Rodriguez finished as the team’s top passer, completing 10-of-18 passes for 137 yards and one score. Lopez added 115 yards and one touchdown on 4-of-5 passing in just over two minutes of action.

The Bears finish the year with a 9-3 overall mark, including a 5-0 record during district play to claim the 31-6A title. The district crown marks the second straight for PSJA High.