Skip to content
  • Santa Ana Valley cheerleaders support their team during their football...

    Santa Ana Valley cheerleaders support their team during their football game against Beckman High Thursday.

  • Beckman quarterback Dean Nagle is wrapped up by Santa Ana...

    Beckman quarterback Dean Nagle is wrapped up by Santa Ana Valley's Braulio Luna, left, and Juan Medina during the first half of their football game at Tustin High Thursday night.

  • Beckman assistant coach Jim O'Connell talks to his players before...

    Beckman assistant coach Jim O'Connell talks to his players before facing Santa Ana Valley at Tustin High Thursday night.

  • Santa Ana Valley head coach Larry Mohr watches from the...

    Santa Ana Valley head coach Larry Mohr watches from the sidelines during the first half of the Falcon's football game against Beckman at Tustin High Thursday night.

  • Beckman's Liam Molina loses the ball on a botched point...

    Beckman's Liam Molina loses the ball on a botched point after attempt during the first half of their football game against Santa Ana Valley at Tustin High Thursday night.

  • Beckman's Justin Cheng just misses Santa Ana Valley quarterback Eric...

    Beckman's Justin Cheng just misses Santa Ana Valley quarterback Eric Lares during the first half of their football game at Tustin High Thursday night.

  • Beckman's Zack Heller can't haul in this pass under pressure...

    Beckman's Zack Heller can't haul in this pass under pressure from Santa Ana Valley's Fabian Cuen during the first half of their football game at Tustin High Thursday night.

  • Santa Ana Valley cheerleaders support their team during their football...

    Santa Ana Valley cheerleaders support their team during their football game against Beckman High Thursday.

  • Santa Ana Valley quarterback Eric Lares throws a first half...

    Santa Ana Valley quarterback Eric Lares throws a first half interception against Beckman High during their football game at Tustin High Thursday night.

  • The Beckman marching band performs before the start of their...

    The Beckman marching band performs before the start of their game against Santa Ana Valley Thursday.

  • Beckman's I'Jon Akahi gains yardage against Santa Ana Valley's Oscar...

    Beckman's I'Jon Akahi gains yardage against Santa Ana Valley's Oscar Sanchez during the first half of their football game at Tustin High Thursday night.

  • Beckman fans cheer on their team during the Patriots' victory...

    Beckman fans cheer on their team during the Patriots' victory over Santa Ana Valley Thursday.

  • Beckman's I'Jon Akahi evades the Santa Ana Valley defense on...

    Beckman's I'Jon Akahi evades the Santa Ana Valley defense on a 90-yard touchdown run during the first half of their football game at Tustin High Thursday night.

  • Beckman cheerleaders support their team during the Patriots' victory over...

    Beckman cheerleaders support their team during the Patriots' victory over Santa Ana Valley Thursday.

  • Beckman's Demetrius Goods is finally knocked down after a long...

    Beckman's Demetrius Goods is finally knocked down after a long interception return against Santa Ana Valley during the first half of their football game at Tustin High Thursday night.

  • Santa Ana Valley fans cheer on their team during their...

    Santa Ana Valley fans cheer on their team during their football game against Beckman High Thursday.

  • Beckman's I'Jon Akahi drags down Santa Ana Valley quarterback Eric...

    Beckman's I'Jon Akahi drags down Santa Ana Valley quarterback Eric Lares during the first half of their football game at Tustin High Thursday night.

  • Beckman fans cheer on their team during the Patriots' victory...

    Beckman fans cheer on their team during the Patriots' victory over Santa Ana Valley Thursday.

  • Beckman quarterback Dean Nagles powers his way into the end...

    Beckman quarterback Dean Nagles powers his way into the end zone past Santa Ana Valley's Braulio Luna, left, and Juan Romero for a first half touchdown during the first half of their football game at Tustin High Thursday night.

  • The Beckman color guard waves their flags from the stands...

    The Beckman color guard waves their flags from the stands during the Patriots' victory over Santa Ana Valley Thursday.

  • Beckman's Jake Groves dives for extra yardage in front of...

    Beckman's Jake Groves dives for extra yardage in front of Santa Ana Valley's Oscar Sanchez during the first half of their football game at Tustin High Thursday night.

of

Expand
Damian Calhoun. Sports Newsroom Assistant.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 24, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

TUSTIN – – For starters, this one went well for everyone associated with the Beckman football program.

Beckman, under new coach Marcello Giuliano, used all facets of its attack, leading to a 29-14 season-opening victory over visiting Santa Ana Valley on Thursday at Tustin High.

I’Jon Akahi rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns, including a 90-yard run in the second quarter to help lead the Patriots.

Akahi, a junior, gave credit to the big guys up front.

“I love my O-line,” Akahi said. “It was holes everywhere. You could drive trucks through them. I couldn’t be any more proud.”

Jett Zeimantz, Daniel Stringfellow, Arya Roessler, Greg Matt and Trent Rasmussen help the Patriots rush for nearly 260 yards in the victory.

“I thought they played very well,” Giuliano said of the front. “Like I said in the paper, we needed to build on the line in our preseason stuff and they definitely came out and played very well.

“We got great effort from everybody. You can’t run for that many yards without blocking on the outside, the quarterback doing his job. It was definitely a team effort.”

The Patriots led 19-0 at halftime. Liam Molina booted a 22-yard field goal midway through the third quarter and Akahi scored from 10 yards out to put the Patriots in firm control of the game.

“We had a lot of things happen that are first games and we have a lot of improving to do, but it was a dynamite performance,” Giuliano said. “I thought the defense played really well and if you play good defense and you run the ball well, you have a pretty good chance at winning some games.”

One of those standouts on the defensive end was Justin Cheng. Cheng had an interception that set up Akahi’s second touchdown and he also had a fumble recovery.

Demetrius Goods, who opened the scoring by catching a 5-yard touchdown pass from Dean Nagle in the first quarter, also had an interception.

The Falcons (0-1-1) began their season last week with an 8-8 tie against Segerstrom. The Falcons got on the board in the fourth quarter, first on a 3-yard run from Chris Hernandez and later on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Eric Lares to Juan Romero.

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com