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Read more Shohei Ohtani looks healthy in return, but Dodgers lose to Padres
Beckman quarterback Marina Babayani stretches for a first down against Mission Viejo in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo wide receiver Kendall Joanis (3) misses an opportunity as Beckman’s Chloe Alvarez covers in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Beckman wide receiver Hayden Freedman, right, reaches to get the point after as Mission Viejo’s Lucca Brown, left, tries to make a play in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Beckman wide receiver Ava Chang pulls in a pass deep in Mission Viejo territory to set up another touchdown in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Beckman quarterback Marina Babayani, center, picks up some yardage before being stopped by Mission Viejo’s Lucca Brown, left, and Zuri Ferguson, right, in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Wide receiver Hayden Freedman, center, and wide receiver Kalaya Long, right, do a little celebrating after Beckman’s win over Mission Viejo in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Beckman wide receiver Giselle Looney, right, holds on to a pass for a touchdown as Mission Viejo’s Lucca Brown tries to break it up in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo wide receiver Leah Vanderveen pulls down a pass against Beckman in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Wide receiver Kalaya Long, center, celebrates Beckman’s flag football win over Mission Viejo in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Beckman quarterback Marina Babayani, center, fires a pass to wide receiver Hayden Freedman to score a touchdown against Mission Viejo in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo’s Leah Vanderveen, left, and Cody Lambert, right, react after letting the ball drop on a punt return against Beckman in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo’s Shai Walker, left, breaks up a pass intended for Beckman wide receiver Giselle Looney in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo running back Cody Lambert, right, is congratulated by wide receiver Leah Vanderveen after Lambert broke free to score a touchdown against Beckman in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Beckman’s Giselle Looney, left, can’t get to Mission Viejo quarterback Scarlett Wu, right, as she reaches over the goal line for a touchdown in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo’s Leah Vanderveen, left, and Cody Lambert get their wires crossed on a punt return as they let the ball pass through their hands to the turf against Beckman in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Beckman quarterback Marina Babayani passed for 327 yards and five TDs to lead Patriots past host Mission Viejo 32-27 in a South Coast League girls flag football game on Sept. 23, 2026 at Mission Viejo High. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Beckman’s girls flag football team faced a challenging opponent Wednesday night as it aimed to launch a comeback in the South Coast League race.
The Patriots played at undefeated Mission Viejo.
Marina Babayani made certain that Beckman returned to the winning track.
The senior quarterback threw five touchdowns — three to Giselle Looney and two to Hayden Freedman — as the Patriots defeated Mission Viejo 32-27 in a back-and-fourth game between teams in the Orange County Top 10.
No. 9 Beckman (15-5, 1-2) supported Babayani with two critical defensive stops, including one on fourth down at its 12-yard-line with 3:46 left in the fourth quarter.
The Patriots upset the No. 7 Diablos (11-1, 2-1) for their first win in the South Coast League after winning the Sea View League title last season.
“We came up in league from last year and we’ve gotten a run for our money so far but it’s just the beginning,” Babayani said. “We’ll clutch back. After the talk we had (on Tuesday), that’s really going to change our team for the rest of the season.”
The game delivered four lead changes in the first half and three in the second half.
Beckman linebacker Jill Bui broke up a pass intended for Kendall Joanis on fourth down with 3:46 left in the final quarter.
Beckman took over at its 12 and ran out the clock thanks to a fourth-down completion by Babayani to Freedman and a 19-yard pass to Kalaya Long on third down.
Beckman linebacker Lucy Chong intercepted a pass near her end zone on the opening drive of the game before the offenses kicked into high gear.
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Babayani completed 31 of 38 passes for 327 yards.
The four-year quarterback tossed a 5-yard TD to Freedman on third down on the first play of the fourth quarter to give Beckman a 32-27 lead. The extra-point attempt failed.
The Patriots scored a combined 27 points in opening the league race with losses against Aliso Niguel and Trabuco Hills. Mission Viejo beat both those schools to help stage the stage for Wednesday.
“Marina did a great job being able to find players,” Beckman coach Pierre Sanjurjo said. “Tonight, the offense carried us a little more.”
Mission Viejo showed grit. On the final play of the first half, quarterback Scarlett Wu threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Cody Lambert to give the Diablos a 20-19 lead.
“That’s who this team is. It’s never say die,” Mission Viejo coach Darrel Letcher said. “We were down 18-0 at the half to St. Margaret’s and came back and won that 20-18.”
Wu completed 19 of 30 passes for 263 yards and two TDs. The sophomore and Lambert also each ran for a score.
In other games Wednesday:
In the Sunset League:
Edison 6, Newport Harbor 0: Maddie Phung threw a short touchdown to Lyric Lesui in the second quarter to lift the Chargers (14-5, 5-2) past the No. 3 Sailors (15-4, 5-2).
Huntington Beach 21, Corona del Mar 20: The No. 4 Oilers (15-3, 7-1) edged the No. 6 Sea Kings (11-5, 5-2) to take sole possession of first place.
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