El Cerrito completes turnaround, celebrates 4-A state championship

BUENA PARK The resurrection is complete El Cerrito transformed humiliation into triumph by routing Beckman of Irvine - to win its first state football championship ever the Division -A title Saturday night at Buena Park High School Sophomore quarterback Dejean Compton Jr threw four touchdown passes while completing of passes for 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 yards This means everything Compton stated about the triumph before talking about a few 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 El Cerrito head coach Tim Johnson holds up the trophy after the win CIF Division -A football championship championship between Beckman and El Cerrito on December in La Habra CA Photo by John McCoy Contributing Photographer Last year the Gauchos - 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 players transferred I was thinking about transferring and leaving Youngblood declared Then I was just talking with my mom and my family made me stay I came here we united and built our squad 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 disclosed 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 - brought an -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 reported about his defense But they re fast they re ferocious they re tough and they make timely plays Gary Youngblood of El Cerrito makes a touchdown reception in front of Sawyer Nickelson of Breckman in the second half CIF Division -A football championship competition between Beckman and El Cerrito on December in La Habra CA Photo by John McCoy Contributing Photographer Beckman running back Makhi Czaykowski experienced that ferociousness firsthand Entering the battle the senior amassed yards and touchdowns on the ground while accumulating receptions for yards and more touchdowns Czaykowski scored both of the Patriots touchdowns but finished with only yards on carries After his second touchdown Czaykowski walked awkwardly back to his bench with his left foot turned inward He left the meeting on the first play of the final quarter after a hard collision with Youngblood playing defensive back El Cerrito celebrates winning the CIF Division -A football championship meeting against Beckman on December in La Habra CA Photo by John McCoy Contributing Photographer Czaykowski s second touchdown a -yard run into the third quarter narrowed Beckman s deficit to - 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 -yard touchdown reception with left in the period Edson Campos conversion kick extended the Gauchos lead to - Related Articles De La Salle doomed by early woes routed by Santa Margarita in state final McClymonds unable to slow Kennedy-Delano falls in -A state final CIF state football championships This weekend s scoreboard Y all state champs St Ignatius beats Ventura for -AA crown Heartbreaker Lincoln gives up TD in last minute loses -AA state final Czaykowski s collision with Youngblood came on a fourth-down pass that fell incomplete giving EC the ball at Beckman s -yard line Compton completed the drive with his final touchdown pass good to Youngblood for yards and a - advantage with to play I see they were one-on-one Youngblood explained and that s not something you do against me Compton elaborated They like to play a little off the quarterback declared As soon as we see them underneath we go right over the top for an easy outcome For Johnson the state championship holds unique personal significance I graduated from El Cerrito in he reported It continues to be my home So several great people patronage 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 Joezon Broussard of El Cerrito tries to get past Enzo Giuliano of Breckman in the second half CIF Division -A football championship contest between Beckman and El Cerrito on December in La Habra CA Photo by John McCoy Contributing Photographer