Beckman rushes for 385 yards in win over Estancia
COSTA MESA - Beckman’s mission was simple: make someone other than Estancia running back Robert Murtha beat you.
Mission accomplished.
Beckman rushed for 385 yards and held Murtha to 84 yards in a 56-22 CIF-SS Southern Division first-round playoff victory Friday over the host Eagles.
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Brian Traut kicked a school-record eight extra points as the Patriots (6-5), who beat Estancia earlier this season by 31 points, advanced to a playoff quarterfinal game against Loara.
“We knew what they (Estancia) were good at, and we knew how to take it away,” Beckman coach Fred Shambaugh said of the effort to stop Murtha.
Murtha, the county’s third-leading rusher entering the game with 1,595 yards, broke one run for 53 yards. His other 23 carries netted 31 yards as the Beckman defense took away any running lanes.
Estancia (6-5), the Orange Coast League champion, made its fifth trip to the playoffs but has not advanced past the first round.
“We’ve got to get better, go back to the drawing board and find the right formula,” Estancia coach Mike Bargas said.
Brad Wilson (116 yards passing) and Miguel Mejia (131 yards receiving) led Estancia. Zack Rivera had 150 yards rushing, Jeff Kim had 143 and Amer Dandashi added 85 for Beckman.
