TUSTIN – Sawyer Nickelson gave Beckman a chance to win.
Makhi Czaykowski made it happen.
Nickelson blocked Kennedy’s 22-yard field goal attempt on the final snap of regulation and in overtime Czaykowski scored on a 13-yard run as Beckman stayed undefeated with a 20-14 win over Kennedy in a Lambda League game at Tustin High.
Beckman is 8-0 overall for the first time. The Patriots are 3-0 in the Lambda League and tied for the league lead with Marina. Kennedy is 5-3 overall and 2-1 in league.
After the blocked field goal that ended regulation at 14-14 Kennedy got the ball first in overtime, starting at the Beckman 25-yard line per CIF football tiebreaker rules. The Fighting Irish lost yardage on that possession, which ended on fourth down play at the 27. Their pass intercepted in the end zone by Noah Czaykowski, a senior and brother of junior Makhi, for his second interception of the game and fifth of the season.
Starting at the 25, Beckman got a 4-yard run by Makhi Czaykowski, an 8-yard run by quarterback Noah Nam and then Makhi Czaykowski’s 13-yard touchdown run for the win.
Makhi Czaykowski, who scored all three Beckman touchdowns, had a large hole leading to the end zone.
“The linemen just parted the seas,” he said. “And I just walked in.”
Postgame with Makhi Czaykowski who scored on a 12-yard run in overtime in Beckman’s 20-14 win over Kennedy. Beckman is 8-0 overall, 3-0 in the Lambda League … pic.twitter.com/oSTwwW0Myn
— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) October 18, 2024
Kennedy put together a great drive late in the fourth quarter to give it a chance to win it. The Fighting Irish started the drive at their 20 after Beckman missed a 37-yard field goal attempt.
Kennedy quarterback Devin Almazan completed three consecutive passes, including one to running back Isaac Talamantes who took a short pass and turned it into a 48-yard gain before he was tackled at the Beckman 2.
From there one Kennedy run was stopped at the 2, another run lost 4 yards and a third-down incompletion led to the 22-yard field goal try that was blocked by Nickelson although there was such a surge of Beckman players that it looked like any of five different Patriots could have been credited with the block.
Beckman coach Marcello Giuliano praised the Patriots’ spirit and resolve.
“We got into a bunch of back-against-the wall situations,” he said. “The worst one being it’s first and goal on the 2 with 36 seconds left or whatever it is and we take them to fourth down and blocked it.
“I think it’s a testament to the mental resilience of the kids.”
Beckman collected three first-half interceptions. Colin Singh’s interception ended Kennedy’s first possession, Noah Czaykowski got one on the first play of the second quarter and CJ Bertoni intercepted a pass in the end zone in the final minute of the second quarter.
Kennedy scored first. Derek Almazan threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Hahm in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.
Beckman tied it with 3:06 to go in the second quarter on a 6-yard touchdown run by Makhi Czaykowski. It was 7-7 at halftime.
Beckman went ahead 14-7 on Makhi Czaykowski’s second touchdown, this one a 3-yard run.
Kennedy tied it in the fourth quarter on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Derek Almazan (the Almazan brothers shared quarterback duties) to Deon Bynum.
Makhi Czaykowski rushed for 61 yards on 16 carries. Noah Czaykowski had three receptions for 38 yards.
Derek Almazan threw for 161 yards and two touchdowns for Kennedy. Fighting Irish receiver Rocco Street had seven receptions for 85 yards. Bynum had receiving 80 yards on five catches.
Kennedy plays a Lambda League home game on Thursday, Oct. 24, against Marina at Western High. Beckman plays Valencia in a league game on Friday, Oct. 25, at Tustin High.
After that it’s the final week of the regular season that includes Beckman vs. Marina at Westminster High on Nov. 1.
Originally Published:
