Steele Canyon High track sprinter Alex Perlin is proving his versatility on the football field.

The Cougars junior scored three rushing touchdowns while piling up 188 yards on 22 carries in last week's 27-0 win over West Hills.

Given Perlin's speed, it was a surprise that his scoring runs were relatively short: 1, 8 and 10 yards.

Perlin was a member of the Cougars' 4x100-meter relay team that reached the state finals a year ago.

“I like to think if I get a block I can outrun most people,” said Perlin, who owns a best of 10.8 seconds in the 100.

The 6-foot, 190-pound Perlin, who was limited to 40 yards on 13 carries by Cathedral Catholic in a 48-7 season-opening loss, said he changed strategy against West Hills.

“I was a little too cautious against Cathedral,” Perlin said. “This time I didn't wait for a hole to open. I just ran as fast as I could.”

Perlin said an important factor was the downfield blocking of teammates Jason Cofield, Jason Turesky and Sammy Shen.

Kicking surprise

Baseball convert Michael Gruber has impressed Christian High football coach Matt Oliver with his kicking in the Patriots' victories over Cardenas Federal Prep of Tijuana and Santana.

“We gave him a game ball,” Oliver said after the Patriots' 28-0 romp over the Tijuana team.

Gruber was 4-for-4 on PATs, but more impressive was his ability to launch three of his kickoffs into the end zone in the opener.

“I can't remember the last time we had a kicker put the ball in the end zone three times in the same game,” Oliver said.

In two games, Gruber is 7-for-8 on PATs and has four kickoffs resulting in touchbacks.

Wheelchair rugby

Summer Blast, a wheelchair rugby event, will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Beach Recreation Center, 300 N. The Strand in Oceanside.

Players from across the country will compete in the relatively unstructured tournament.

“We basically throw names into a hat and draw to determine who plays that game,” said Sean Brady, a former West Hills High football defensive back, who graduated in 2002. “The rules are still the same.”

Brady, who suffered vertebra damage while making a tackle during a 2001 football game, is paralyzed from the chest down.

All-American

Mountain Empire High first baseman Josh Barber has been named to the MaxPreps.com small-school All-America baseball team.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Barber set 24 school records as well as state career marks for on-base percentage and doubles. His five San Diego Section records include career RBI (187), career batting average (.587) and hitting streak (37 games).

Barber, who attends San Diego Mesa College, batted .604 (55-for-91) with 10 home runs and 64 RBI as a senior.

Coaching legends

Eight individuals will be honored as high school coaching legends Nov. 12 at the Scottish Rite Center. Four others will be cited for meritorious service.

The coaches are:

Bob Champion (Poway) soccer, golf.

Dave Gonzalez (SD Southwest/Eastlake) baseball.

Rob Gorney (USDHS, Monte Vista) track and volleyball.

Gary MacDonald (Morse) track.

Steve Miner (Clairemont, Kearny, Madison) football, softball, golf.

Bob Oliver (Serra, Scripps Ranch) track, cross country.

Manny Sandoval (Monte Vista) cross country, track.

Martin “Stormy” Sexton (Oceanside, Vista, Rancho Buena Vista) tennis.

Kendell Webb, Bill Bailey, Marla Knox and Byron Shewman will be recognized for their service in noncoaching areas.

Tickets are $55. For information, call (619) 699-2313.