PHOTOS: Beckman advances with opening round CIF playoff road win over La Mirada

Beckman Coach Marcello Giuliano congratulates his team after Friday night’s win. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).

When your offense has averaged 35 points a game during a seven-game win streak it can sometimes be difficult for your defense to get much love, but Beckman’s defenders managed to steal at least some of the spotlight Friday when the Patriots’ opened the CIF Division 8 football playoffs with a 41-21 road victory over La Mirada.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Beckman players take field for first-round CIF playoff game at La Mirada.

Beckman’s powerful Makhi Czaykowski picks up a gain.

Beckman’s Aidan Trans soars into the end zone for a Patriots’ touchdown.

Beckman quarterback Noah Nam tries tp elude the grasp of La Mirada defender Jaylen Scott.

La Mirada’s Josiah Fregoso scores one of three of the Matador touchdowns, two on runs of more than 40 yards.

Beckman Coach Marcello Giuliano encourages his team Friday night.

Beckman defenders Ricardo Luna (15) and Xavier Musselman-Cano team to break up pass intended for La Mirada’s Brody Palmer.

Official has pregame conference with Beckman captains Noah Nam (17), Julian Ross (2), Roy Chaya (56) and Makhi Czaykowski (6).

Beckman quarterback Noah Nam eludes the grasp of La Mirada defender Ryan Gonzales

Beckman lineman Bruce Aldaco (70) celebrates Patriot TD with Noah Nam.

Beckman’s Makhi Czaykowski celebrates a Patriots’ touchdown.

With 41 points, the Patriots’ offense was as effective as it has been during a win streak that included a 5-0 run through the Lamba League with Makhani Czaykowski, Julia Rosa, Noah Nam, Sawyer Nickelson and Aidan Tran all scoring at least one touchdown.

“Generally speaking our offense has been executing at a very high level all year,” said Coach Marcello Giuliano after the Patriots improved to 8-3 on the season.”

At the same time the defense was nicked by three Josiah Fregoso touchdowns, two on long breakaway runs for La Mirada and the Patriots had a game on their hands.

The teams traded two touchdowns each in the first quarter before Beckman took a 20-14 lead midway through the second quarter after Czaykowski’s long run set up a 1-yard TD sneak by Nam.

La Mirada challenged with a late drive of its own before Xavier Musselman-Cano, playing with a padded left hand, made a spectacular one-handed end zone interception of a Matador pass..

That was the first of what would be three Red Zone stops by the Patriots’ defense.

“”One of the things that the guys have improved on a lot is in our situational game play,” said Giuliano. “They don’t get panicked when we’re inside our 10 because they’ve been there before and we’ve had some goods stops.”

The win earned the Patriots a second-round game at Tustin Friday against Kappa League rival Fullerton, which Beckman dispatched, 34-14, in the teams’ first meeting this year.

“I don’t think the score really reflects how close the game was,” Giuliano said. “They missed a chance to take the lead in the second half with a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes and we were able to capitalize on it. The score was not indicative of the game.

“Also, that was six weeks ago and both teams are vastly different now. I think it’s like two teams who have never played before.”

—Courtesy Jim McCormack for OC Sports Zone