Beckman wins second straight PCL game and remains in CIF playoff hunt

Beckman Coach Marcello Giuliano talks to his team after a game this season. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

With two consecutive Pacific Coast League victories, Beckman’s football team has moved into a tie for second place with Northwood and is in the running for the CIF playoffs with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

The Patriots (5-3, 2-1) play Northwood (6-2, 2-1) in an important league game Friday at Irvine Stadium. Then Beckman wraps up league play on Friday, Nov. 1, hosting University at Tustin.

Beckman jumped out to a 14-0 lead at halftime against Woodbridge and held off a second half rally by the Warriors to win 21-13 Friday night at University. Beckman also defeated Irvine 35-12 on Friday, Oct.. 11.

Woodbridge fell to 2-6 overall and 1-2 in league play. The Warriors host University Friday and then wrap up league play next Friday vs. Portola at University.

“I was really pleased that we were able to play a largely mistake-free game against the Warriors,” said Beckman Coach Marcello Giuliano. “It was important for us to keep their offense and their athletes off the field, and we were able to do that by possessing the ball for a significant chunk of the game. 

“We had two 8-minute touchdown drives, and Woodbridge only got one offensive play in the fourth quarter. Our defense–especially the D-line (including Jose Herrera, Jake Oswald and Parsa Panahi) stepped up huge on a couple of short fields and kept them from scoring.”

The Patriots rushing game was led by Jett Daviss, who had 100 yards and a TD.

“Jason Cheng had a terrific night with some timely big plays and two TD passes,” Giuliano said. “And Josh Carter was especially huge in the special teams with critical tackles and a blocked extra point.”

Beckman comes into the week ranked No. 9 in this week’s CIF Division 14 poll.

RELATED: CIF playoff scenario entering final two weeks

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