Photos: Beckman’s defense and special teams step up as Patriots hold on to beat Troy 27-18

Beckman’s Josh Carter flies to the ball to make a tackle on Zavier Riggs of Troy Thursday night. (Photos courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone)

It was a wild start to the football season Thursday night but Beckman held off a fourth quarter threat by Troy to capture a 27-18 non-league victory in front of a big crowd at Tustin High Thursday night.

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Beckman Coach Marcello Giuliano believes the defense is the strength of this year’s squad.

The defense proved his point.

“We won with turnovers and special teams,” he said. “Ball security is the number one predictor of success in high school football. That’s all we talk about is taking care of the ball and taking the ball back.

“Without the defense and special teams causing turnovers (two in the fourth quarter) we don’t win this game.”

One of the biggest special teams plays of the game was a punt by the Patriots’ Aiden Fordyce in the final two minutes which backed Troy up to its 9-yard line and put a big dent into Troy’s chances of coming back from a 21-18 deficit. Beckman punted the ball from its own 41-yard line.

Two plays later, Troy fumbled and Beckman recovered at the 2-yard line. Then, Jett Daviss scored from two yards out to put the Patriots ahead 27-18 and seal the victory with 1:39 remaining.

Beckman junior Jeff Graham, the son of former NFL and Long Beach State quarterback Jeff Graham, also scored a touchdown on special teams when he recovered a muffed punt at the 10-yard line and took it into the end zone to give Beckman a 21-6 lead with 5:23 left in the third quarter.

Josh Carter was among the defensive standouts for Beckman.

“I think we just played an all-around good game,” Carter said. “There were a couple missed tackles but we definitely won the turnover game and forced a lot of fumbles so that really helped us. It came down to the wire.

Offensively, Beckman quarterback Jason Cheng passed for 83 yards, scored on a 10-yard TD run and threw a 16-yard TD pass to Josh Carter in the second quarter to put Beckman ahead.

“It was a good first game, we started off hot and kind of slowed down toward the middle,” said Cheng, who also rushed for 66 yards. “But the team competed and we finished off with the victory.”

Troy quarterback Roman Arriaga, in his first competitive football game, helped his team remain close. He passed for 113 yards and also rushed for 29 yards.

Lukas Mucino was solid for the Warriors, rushing for 45 yards and put Troy ahead early 6-0 on a 28-yard TD run. Beckman blocked the point after.

Shane Simpson also had a 1-yard TD run and Zavier Riggs scored on a 13-yard TD run for the Warriors.

“One thing we are super proud of us is that we were tenacious,” said Troy Coach Michael Echaves. “We were down 21-6 and just didn’t give up and fought and fought and we appreciate that about our guys. I think you see what happens when you guys who have played 21 varsity football games at Beckman.

“When it came down to the wire, they knew how to take care of the ball. They knew how to get first downs. We just didn’t know how to do that yet. It will be a learning process for us but we’re really excited about what we got and we just got to keep grinding.”

The coach was pleased with Arriaga’s effort. The senior gained confidence throughout the game.

“He had a great game, he has a lot of learning to do but he’s a great athlete. I love the way he played today,” Echaves said.

Beckman was plagued by more than 100 yards in penalties including a number of personal fouls. But the Patriots still made the clutch plays when they had to to pull off the victory.

“Absolutely, that was fun,” Giuliano said. “We got six or seven defensive starters that you can tell where this team gets its fire and energy from. Our defense wins games for us, flat out, so hats off to them and offense, we did enough tonight to get the win.”

STATS

Passing: Troy, Arriaga 9-20-0, 113 yards; Beck Cheng 11-21-0-83.

Rushing: Troy Mucino 8-45, Beck Cheng 13-66.

Receiving: Troy Park 2-56; Beck Fordyce 5-30; Carter 3-27.

RELATED: Thursday OC scores, Friday’s schedule

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