Kentucky high school football: Beechwood win over NewCath good playoff tune-up for both teams

James Weber, Cincinnati Enquirer

October 29, 2022 at 12:44 AM·4 min read

PARK HILLS, Ky. – Friday’s regular-season football finale between Beechwood and Newport Central Catholic was as much about preparing for the playoffs as gaining a win over the other team.

Both teams found plenty of reasons to be optimistic about their hopes of contending for a state championship in their class after Beechwood came away with a 26-9 win over NewCath at Covington Catholic’s Griffin Stadium.

Beechwood, 9-1, will play at home in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs next week as the Tigers aim for their third title in as many years. Their opponent won’t be official until tiebreakers are finalized in District 5. Beechwood was No. 1 in 2A in the Ratings Percentage Index coming in, and if that stands they would have home-field advantage through the state semifinals.

“Handling adversity,” said Beechwood head coach Noel Rash. “We didn’t deal with it well early. Our mental toughness has to improve greatly, but I like what we did in the second half. We hunkered down in the second half and got it done.”

NewCath finished the regular season 8-2. The District 4 champion in Class 1A, NCC will host Eminence next week. NCC is seventh in the class in RPI entering the weekend and could have to play on the road in the third round depending on results from other games in the playoffs.

“We wanted to go out there and compete, and we did that,” said NCC head coach Steve Lickert. “There were about four or five plays that could have made a difference in the ball game. Our preparation was really good this week. As long as we can do that in the playoffs, we can make a run. Beechwood is number one in 2A for a reason. We learned that we can play with them. I don’t think there is a 1A team that is as good as them.”

Beechwood lost one of the top players in the state two weeks ago when senior Mitchell Berger went down with an ACL tear. Berger had surgery on Thursday and was not at the game.

Beechwood running back Chase Flaherty (3) reacts with running back Zander Riegler (42) after scoring a touchdown against Newport Central Catholic in the second half at Covington Catholic High School Oct. 28, 2022.

Landon Aylor, a senior and the next best tailback, was injured but Rash expects him to be back in the playoffs at some point.

Without them, the Beechwood offense ran behind sophomore quarterback Clay Hayden, who directed the Tigers.

Sophomore Chase Flaherty was the main tailback and had some big runs in the second half, including a TD. He finished with 121 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns. Alex Courtney rushed for 36 yards on six carries.

“You got a sophomore quarterback, a sophomore tailback, you’re going to see some mistakes,” Rash said. “They’re working through it. It’s as much our fault as anything. You don’t get a lot of reps in our system if you’re not playing. Now they’re getting the reps and they’re playing through it. You saw in one half of football what difference that makes. We’re going to be just fine.”

Both teams had only three drives in the first half. NewCath drove down for a field goal to start the game, but did not have any offensive points the rest of the game against the Tigers’ defense. Beechwood limited NewCath to 136 yards total offense.

Newport Central Catholic running back Luke Runyon (4) returns the kick off and runs it for a touchdown against Beechwood in the second half at Covington Catholic High School Oct. 28, 2022.

Beechwood, leading 6-3 at halftime, got an interception on NewCath’s first drive by James Cusick. Hayden directed them on a scoring drive, and Beechwood led 13-3 with seven minutes to go in the third quarter.

NewCath senior Luke Runyon returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, but it was called back by a holding penalty.

Flaherty scored with 11:13 left in the game. Runyon blocked the extra point, but Beechwood led 19-3.

Runyon then returned the kickoff for a touchdown again, from 98 yards. This one counted with no flags. NewCath went for two and Beechwood stopped it to stay two scores ahead at 19-9.

Beechwood defensive lineman Xavier Campbell (55) tackles Newport Central Catholic running back Demetrick Welch (7) in the first half at Covington Catholic High School Oct. 28, 2022.

Beechwood put the game out of reach when Hayden lofted a nice pass to Cusick in the back of the end zone from 29 yards out, and Beechwood led 26-9 midway through the fourth quarter.

“A lot of underclassmen like me have been able to step up and huge plays,” Cusick said. “We just need to keep fighting. We’re freaking excited. We’re coming together.”

Beechwood senior Antonio Robinson Jr. intercepted a pass and returned it about 50 yards to the NewCath 13. Beechwood fumbled at the goal line but it was still enough for the three-score win.

Liam McCormack had five catches for 91 yards for Beechwood.

“They had a size advantage on us,” Lickert said. “We made them work and made them run a lot of plays when they got to the goal line.”

Beechwood 26, Newport Central Catholic 9

Beechwood 0 6 7 13-26

NCC 3 0 0 6-9

N – Barth 37 field goal

B – Hayden 1 run (kick failed)

B – Flaherty 2 run (Kappes kick)

B – Flaherty 4 run (kick blocked)

N – Runyon 98 kickoff return (run failed)

B – Cusick 29 pass from Hayden (Kappes kick)

Records: B 9-1, N 8-2

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Beechwood High School beats NewCath in playoff tune-up

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Beechwood 26, Newport Central Catholic 9

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