SOLANA BEACH — On Friday night at Southwestern College, Santa Fe Christian quarterback Dax Labrum made it look easy, throwing five touchdowns as the Eagles edged Steele Canyon 44-41 to capture the CIF Division II San Diego Section championship.
“Dax played his biggest game of the year and completely stepped up to help support our defense, who had some mistakes,” SFC senior lineman Sam Carney said.
“It was a dogfight,” Labrum, a junior, added. “There’s no other team I’d want to go to war with. To play the way I did in a championship game means a lot because when my guys made a mistake, I had their backs — and they had mine. We were able to put 44 on the board together.”
Santa Fe Christian struck first on a Labrum pass to junior standout Chase Woolley, and the teams traded momentum throughout the first half. Steele Canyon briefly surged ahead 14-10, but the Eagles responded with 10 straight points in the second quarter to reclaim a lead they would not surrender.
The Cougars kept closing the gap, but each time they threatened, Labrum delivered another touchdown pass, holding the Eagles just out of reach.
“We really struggled to get the running game going, but Dax stayed calm and composed,” Woolley said. He finished with seven catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns. “We were able to maintain a consistent passing attack.”
Not bad for a young quarterback who stepped into a run-first offense as a sophomore.
“We’re usually a run-heavy team, but [Dax] showed remarkable maturity and growth,” SFC head coach Jon Wallace told The Coast News in August.
Senior running back and kicker Bradan Scott contributed in multiple ways, hauling in three catches—including a touchdown — while going a perfect five-for-five on extra points and three-for-three on field goals, highlighted by a 43-yarder.
“This is a huge win for such a small school of 400 kids, and it proves what can be done with the power of God,” Scott said.
Touchdowns also went to junior Brady Berg and senior Jarius Bolden through the air.
The win moved Santa Fe Christian to a perfect 13-0 — the only team in the county to run the table this season. Wallace, who has amassed over 100 wins with the program, captured his first CIF championship. The Eagles’ last title came in 2012.
“It’s been so much fun to have the season we’ve had — to go undefeated and win the DII championship,” senior Bryce Harrington said. “We’ve worked really hard these last four years to get to where we are, and I’m really proud of our team and grateful to our coaches and families for all the support. It means a ton to end my high school football career like this.”
“I hope I can come back and show my kids that banner hung up in the rafters someday,” Labrum added.
In the fourth quarter, Steele Canyon cut the lead to 37-34, but on the ensuing kickoff, Woolley responded with a return all the way to the Cougars’ five-yard line. Labrum then sealed the win with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Bolden.
“Chase played amazing, and we proved who we are,” Scott said.
“Winning a championship means everything,” Carney added. “We worked very hard in the summer, and these coaches have poured into us and supported us these past years.”
Santa Fe Christian will face Hondo Prep in the Division II-A Regional on Dec. 6 at Carlsbad High School.
