Steele Canyon QB leads winning drive against Otay Ranch

Steele Canyon’s Thomas Fishburne could be the most overlooked football player in the county.

Friday night the senior was not only his team’s leading rusher, passer and placekicker and a standout safety, he proved to be a leader, igniting the Cougars in a thrilling 14-13 nonleague victory over host Otay Ranch.

“These guys feed off me as a leader,” said Fishburne, who rushed for one TD, threw for another and kicked what proved to be the game-winning extra point.

Fishburne was 0 of 6 passing in the first half as the Cougars fell behind 13-6.

In the second half, the Steele Canyon defense kept Otay Ranch off the board, setting up Fishburne’s dramatics.

Taking possession with 3:36 left at the Cougars’ own 19, Fishburne ripped off a 27-yard gain to start the winning drive.

“I brought the intensity from the defense into the huddle with me,” said Fishburne. “I knew I had to motivate them.”

After two incompletions he hit Kendall Johnson for receptions of 21 and 14 yards to move the ball to the Mustangs’ 19.

That’s when he found Jordan Anderson on a post pattern in the end zone for the score with just 2:32 left.

Otay Ranch (2-3) got off to an early 7-0 lead when Gus Espiritu capped an 11-play, 68-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run on the Mustangs’ opening possession.

Steele Canyon (2-2) tied it after an Aramis Carson pass interception set up Fishburne’s 18-yard TD keeper.

The Mustangs’ Sammy Paranada went in from a yard out with 49 seconds left in the half. The extra point failed, proving to be the difference in the game.

Farmer is a freelance writer.

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