FOOTBALL : Manual Arts’ Beckom (3 TDs) and Defense Crush L.A., 36-0

The football game between Manual Arts and Los Angeles on Friday afternoon should have been played at night because the stars were out for the Toilers.

Running back Brian Beckom topped a host of impressive performances, rushing for 163 yards and three touchdowns in Manual Arts’ 36-0 victory.

“Our offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, all I had to do was pick my holes,” Beckom said. “Thanks to them, I had a great game.”

And thanks to Los Angeles’ offensive line, quarterback Patrick Regan had probably the worst game of his career.

In the second half, the Romans failed to get a first down, Regan completed one pass, was intercepted twice by Toiler safety Fred Jackson and sacked three times.

To his credit, Regan was either hurried or being chased by two and three Toiler defenders all afternoon.

“The line isn’t giving me any time to find receivers or make my reads,” Regan said.

As for Toiler quarterback Willie Laffitte, he just kept calling Beckom’s number.

On the fourth play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Beckom burst up the middle untouched for a 53-yard touchdown that boosted Manual Art’s lead to 30-0.

Beckom scored on touchdown runs of three and five yards in the first half, the second of which gave the Toilers a 23-0 halftime lead.

But the story for the Toilers was a defense that made four sacks for minus-54 yards, blocked two punts and scored a safety.

Defensive back Jermaine Estrella tackled Wesley Watson in the end zone to give Manual Arts a 16-0 lead in the second quarter and he blocked a punt out of bounds at the Romans’ four-yard line to set up Beckom’s second touchdown run.

“My job is to help the defense as best I can,” Estrella said.

“We came out for this game ready to play.”

Manual Arts’ final score came on a 10-yard touchdown reception by Tim Boykins with 2:22 remaining in the game.

Records: Manual Arts 2-2; Los Angeles 1-3