BUENA PARK — The resurrection is complete.
El Cerrito transformed humiliation into triumph by routing Beckman of Irvine 35-12 to win its first state football championship ever, the Division 4-A title, Saturday night at Buena Park High School.
Sophomore quarterback Dejean Compton Jr. threw four touchdown passes while completing 19 of 27 passes for 265 yards with one interception. Gary Youngblood, one of only seven seniors on the roster, caught three of those touchdown passes before finishing with seven receptions totaling 112 yards.
“This means everything,” Compton said about the victory before talking about some of his teammates. “I had a lot of brothers who weren’t able to be here because of what happened last year. So this year meant everything, not just for us, but for who we lost last year, and all our seniors.”
Last year, the Gauchos (13-2) had to forfeit eight games and received a suspension from playoff participation after using ineligible players. That violation cost head coach Jacob Rincon his job. Afterward, 13 players transferred.
“I was thinking about transferring and leaving,” Youngblood said. “Then I was just talking with my mom, and my family made me stay. I came here, we united and built our team from the ground up, working hard, taking no days off.”
EC head coach Tim Johnson explained how much hard work was needed.
“We were having six players show up in the springtime,” he said. “We didn’t have anywhere to practice in the summertime. By the time we got back to our school, you know, everybody was all in.”
Like the Gauchos, Beckman (12-4) brought an 11-game winning streak into its first state final after losing key players from last year’s squad. But the Patriots encountered a hard-hitting defense that limited them to their lowest point total of the playoffs.
“They don’t get enough credit for being the unit that they are,” Johnson said about his defense. “But they’re fast, they’re ferocious, they’re tough and they make timely plays.”
Beckman running back Makhi Czaykowski experienced that ferociousness firsthand. Entering the game, the senior amassed 1,845 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground while accumulating 51 receptions for 813 yards and 10 more touchdowns.
Czaykowski scored both of the Patriots’ touchdowns but finished with only 74 yards on 11 carries. After his second touchdown, Czaykowski walked awkwardly back to his bench with his left foot turned inward. He left the game on the first play of the final quarter after a hard collision with Youngblood, playing defensive back.
Czaykowski’s second touchdown, a 2-yard run 3:59 into the third quarter, narrowed Beckman’s deficit to 14-12. But Compton took control on El Cerrito’s ensuing series.
The sophomore completed all six passes he threw in the seven-play drive, which culminated with Kamari Harris’ 21-yard touchdown reception with 4:11 left in the period. Edson Campos’ conversion kick extended the Gauchos’ lead to 21-12.
Czaykowski’s collision with Youngblood came on a fourth-down pass that fell incomplete, giving EC the ball at Beckman’s 47-yard line. Compton completed the drive with his final touchdown pass, good to Youngblood for 22 yards and a 28-12 advantage with 10:41 to play.
“I see they were one-on-one,” Youngblood said, “and that’s not something you do against me.”
Compton elaborated.
“They like to play a little off,” the quarterback said. “As soon as we see them underneath, we go right over the top for an easy score.”
For Johnson, the state championship holds unique personal significance.
“I graduated from El Cerrito in ’96,” he said. “It continues to be my home. So many great people support me, whether it’s through phone calls or texts, even when the season looked bleak. I can’t be more proud of the young men that suited up tonight.”
