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Tim Burt. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 31, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

IRVINE – Beckman is moving on to the second round of the CIF-SS Division 10 playoffs.

The Patriots needed to survive a fourth-quarter scare to defeat Santa Fe of Santa Fe Springs, 38-34, in a first-round game Friday night at Irvine.

“I was extremely proud of the grit we showed battling all the way to the last couple drives of the game,” Beckman coach Marcello Giuliano said. “Character made the difference tonight. All three phases of the game made huge contributions to the win.”

Trailing 34-31, Beckman drove to the Santa Fe 4-yard line with 2 minutes remaining. The Patriots advanced the ball 2 yards, but fumbled. However, Beckman recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown to move ahead, 38-34, with 1:47 left.

Santa Fe (5-6) then drove to the Beckman 41 before Liam Molina intercepted a pass at the 20 with 25 seconds left.

Beckman (7-4) advances to face Rubidoux on the road in the second round.

Beckman was led by quarterback Dean Nagle, who passed for 247 yards and a touchdown, Jake Groves (94 yards rushing and a touchdown) and I’Jon Akahi (75 yards rushing and a touchdown).

Santa Fe had gone ahead, 34-31, when quarterback Christian Tolar connected with Dylan Thomas on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 9:31 left.

Beckman led by 17 before Santa Fe’s Josh Cooper scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with five seconds left in the second quarter to cut the Patriots’ lead to 31-21.

Quarterback Chris Ramsey, who played in the first half, helped the Chiefs get in scoring position when he scrambled from the Santa Fe 41 to the Beckman 37. Beckman was also called for a personal foul on the play.

Beckman opened its 31-14 lead when Nagle connected with Willie Lajoie on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 55 seconds left in the second quarter.

Molina kicked a 30-yard field goal with 4:05 left in the second quarter to put Beckman ahead, 24-17.

Beckman took the opening lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by Groves with 9:29 left in the first quarter.

Santa Fe countered on its next possession when Ramsey connected with Jaquari Levett with 6:53 left in the first quarter to tie the score, 7-7.

Beckman answered with two scores. Akahi scored from 3 yards out with 4:30 left in the first quarter to make it 14-7. The Patriots then blocked a Santa Fe punt at the 26-yard line and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown to take a 21-7 lead.

But Santa Fe cut the lead to 21-14 when Ramsey connected with Javier Valdivia on a 10-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter.

Contact the writer: tiburt@scng.com