Beckman survives late threat and defeats Kennedy in overtime thriller to remain undefeated

Beckman Coach Marcello Giuliano congratulates his players after Thursday’s win. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Beckman High School’s football team survived a tough challenge from Kennedy Thursday night, winning 20-14 in overtime in a showdown at Tustin of two Lambda League teams who were undefeated going into the game.

Beckman (3-0 in league) is now 8-0 overall while Kennedy (5-3 overall) is 2-1. Beckman shares the league lead with Marina (3-0).

Marina and Beckman meet in the final league game on Friday, Nov. 1 at Westminster with possibly the league title at stake. Beckman’s only league title in football came in 2011, according to Athletic Director Steve Fischel.

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Defense was prevalent in the first half Thursday night with both teams making key stops.

The finish was wild with a capital W.

Beckman blocked a 22-yard field goal on the final play of regulation to send the game into OT.

The Fighting Irish reached the Beckman 2-yard line when quarterback Devin Almazon connected with Isaac Talamantes on a 48-yard pass play. Talamantes ended up in the end zone and came close to scoring, but the officials ruled he was stopped at the 2-yard line with 37 seconds remaining.

The Patriots defense then stiffened forcing Kennedy to go for the field goal.

In the overtime, in which teams start at the opposing squad’s 25-yard line, Noah Czaykowski intercepted a pass in the end zone to end Kennedy’s drive.

Then the Patriots celebrated the win when Noah Czaykowski’s brother Makhi Czaykowski scored on a 12-yard run on a first down play. It was the third TD of the night for Makhi Czaykowski.

“You know where you start is the mental resilience of what the boys did tonight,” said Beckman Coach Marcello Giuliano. “We got into a bunch of back against the wall situations. The worst one being its first and goal on the 2 with 36 seconds left or whatever it is and we take it to fourth down and block it (the field goal).”

Giuliano said that Sawyer Nickelson blocked the field goal but he appeared to have some help from his teammates.

“I think it starts and ends with that and our offense really didn’t gel at times and we made some mistakes, but then we put together two good drives in regulation and a great one in overtime,” the coach said. “I think it’s a testament to the mental resilience of the kids.”

Makhi Czaykowski, who rushed for 67 yards on 14 carries, was thrilled to get the winning score.

“It was amazing,” the junior said of his first game winning TD. “We had a four and out over here (on the field goal) and then another four and out (in OT), then we got the ball back, it was college overtime rules …. I don’t take credit for any of it, it’s all of our linemen and the play calls, it was amazing. It feels pretty good.”

“I got put in position, we did a lot of films, so I knew what their offense was running,” added Noah Czaykowski, a senior of his two interceptions. “Coaches put me in the right spot to make a play and I’m just doing my job going up for the ball. It wasn’t my best offensive performance, but I try to play hard and do as good as I can. Our team did a lot of saving, I just helped out.”

As it has been doing all season, Kennedy rotated two quarterbacks: brothers Devin Almazan, a senior and Derek Almazon, a junior.

“It was a great game, obviously we came out on the wrong side of it but credit to those guys, they’re relentless on the other side,” said Kennedy Coach Dan Urbanos. “Beckman has got great kids, they’re well coached, do things right, it was back and forth all game, we missed some opportunities and they capitalized. Hopefully we will be a little battle-hardened for it.”

Derek Almazon connected with Brandon Hahm on a 5-yard TD pass to put the Fighting Irish ahead 7-0 in the first quarter.

But Makhi Czaykowski scored on a 6-yard TD run in the second quarter to tie the game.

Kennedy had a chance to go ahead late in the half when it advanced the ball to the Beckman 6-yard line. But CJ Bertoni intercepted a pass in the end zone to end the threat.

Makhi Czaykowski’s second TD of the night in the third quarter put the Patriots ahead 14-7.

Kennedy countered when Derek Almazan connected with Deon Bynum who made a spectacular catch in the end zone for a 26-yard TD to tie the game.

“We had a good effort to go down there and score, it just didn’t go our away tonight,” added Urbanos, the Kennedy coach.

Urbanos has been pleased with his two quarterbacks, Derek Almazon, who passed for 160 yards and Devin Almazan, who threw for 102 yards.

“Both have different skill sets and they do different things well,” Urbanos said. “But they both do a great job and they both deserve opportunities to play.”

Kennedy’s top receiver was Rocco Street, who had nine catches for 92 yards.

Beckman’s junior quarterback Noah Nam was also steady, passing for 79 yards. He also had a 47-yard run in the second half to give the Patriots possession at the Kennedy 13-yard line.

But Beckman came away empty handed when a 37-yard field goal by Gui DeLuca went wide right.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com