CHINO HILLS — The message Chino Hills football coach Keland Johnson gave his team this week was simple.

Yes, the Huskies didn’t control their destiny for a Baseline League title after losing to Damien in Week 8. But for Chino Hills to still have a chance at a league title, the Huskies needed to beat Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday.

The Huskies took care of what they could control, never trailing and knocking off visiting Rancho Cucamonga, 31-21.

“It was a determination of getting our boys ready to play and to understand we can play with anybody,” Johnson said. “The boys proved it again tonight.”

The victory improved Chino Hills to 6-3 overall and 3-1 league, while dropping the Cougars to the same record. Rancho Cucamonga hosts Damien (7-2, 4-0) next week and a win, coupled with a Chino Hills win over Upland, would create a three-way title for the league title.

Thursday, Chino Hills took control of the game in the third quarter. The Huskies’ defense forced two turnovers: an interception by Dylan Howard of a Jacob Chambers pass, and a fumble recovery by Joshua Baker. Those turnovers were turned into 10 points, extending a 14-7 halftime lead to 24-7 and the Cougars never got closer than 10 points the rest of the game.

The tone was really set early.

It began with an improbable touchdown in the game’s opening minute. Huskies quarterback Alex Medyn couldn’t handle the snap, had to scramble back to retrieve it then threw a seemingly desperate pass to Cameron Bateman. Bateman caught it at midfield and turned what could’ve been a negative play into an 81-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

“The snap came faster than in warmups,” Medyn said. “It went over my right shoulder. I saw him (Bateman) turn up field, I saw the back of his head. I just threw it as hard as I could at 6 (Bateman). He’s going to bail me out every time.”

“I see him float it and I just go up and get it,” Bateman said. “I see someone fall past my legs. I turned around and no one’s there.”

Medyn completed 11 of 19 passes for 240 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Bateman caught seven of those passes for 143 yards and both scores.

It wasn’t the first touchdown or the third-quarter turnovers that were the most telling moments for Johnson.

The Huskies’ only turnover of the game came midway through the first quarter while leading 7-0. A lost fumble on the Cougars 26 ended a golden scoring opportunity.

“Everyone came off (the field) and no heads were down,” Johnson said. “They were saying, ‘we got this.’”

Rancho Cucamonga tied the game 7-7 in the final minute on the first of two Keyonn Chatman touchdown runs, but the Huskies took the lead for good 9:56 before halftime on the second touchdown pass from Medyn to Bateman.

The Cougars offense struggled until the fourth quarter. Chambers completed 23 of 36 passes for 231 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but only 95 yards of that came in the first half.

“Hats off to them. They caught us on some plays,” Cougars coach Ofa Fifita said. “We didn’t sleep on them. Coaches can say so much, you’re telling them (players) all week (that Chino Hills is good), but you’re not sure if they’re listening.”