By Evan Merrill
NKyTribune contributor
In arguably one of the greatest rivalries in Kentucky high school football, the annual matchup between perennial powers 1A Beechwood and 2A Newport Central Catholic resulted in a hard-fought, 42-14 victory for the Tigers.
Beechwood quarterback Brayden Burch connected with running back Aiden Justice for a 65-yard touchdown to get the Tiger scoring started (file photo).
The first quarter saw four punts by the two teams prior to Beechwood getting on the scoreboard on a 65 yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Brayden Burch to fellow senior and running back, Aiden Justice. NCC answered with a three play, 85 yard drive capped off with a sophomore running back Kyle Kelly 4 yard touchdown rush.
After the first quarter though, it was all Beechwood.
The Tigers scored 28 straight points, led by Justice’s 167 rushing yards, 65 receiving yards and three total touchdowns and Burch’s 174 passing yards and three touchdowns. The credit, according to coach Noel Rash, goes to the Tigers’ offensive line.
“Aiden wasn’t getting hit until he’s four, eight, six, 12 yards down the field often,” coach Rash said. “Some of it is his speed, talent and vision. But a lot of it had to do with them. I’m ecstatic.”
The Tigers, who have now won six straight games, have really bought into coach Rash’s philosophy on ending the season strong.
“Coach [Rash] uses the term every year, “march into the playoffs”, we took that very serious,” Justice said. “This is a big rivalry for us and we knew it was going to be a big game and get us ready for the playoffs.”
Prior to this game, since the Tigers’ loss to Covington Catholic in week five, only one team had come within 40 points of Beechwood, Holy Cross. The Tigers beat the Indians 40-33 in a tough game. The break in the schedule, however, has not slowed down the Tigers a bit.
“It was the best they’ve played all year against one of the better teams we’ve played all year,” coach Rash said. “It says a lot about how they keep progressing and it comes from work ethic and being together. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Beechwood however, hasn’t won a state championship since 2008, a year after their archrival Thoroughbreds made the move to 2A. Nonetheless, this year the Tigers will be focused on adding to their state championship total of 11.
“I think we’re ready to go all the way,” Justice said. “We’ve had a drought lately, we went to state last year and lost. We know what it feels like, and we’re humble this year.”
Justice
Every year since 2007, when the ‘Breds made the move to 2A, the two have faced off the last week of the schedule, just prior to playoff time. The opportunity provides the teams with a true barometer for progress and readies each for the playoffs according to coach Rash.
“It’s a great game for both of us. “I remember when the districts changed and all that went down, Bob Schneider was still the head coach, we made a pact with each other to keep this game in week 10 because it helps us both as long as we come out of it healthy,” coach Rash said. “My biggest question to Coach (Dan) Wagner at the end of the night was if all their injuries were just dings and dangs and nothing season ending. Apparently it is, so that’s good because we want them to do well.”
The Thoroughbreds were led offensively by senior quarterback Patrick Henschen’s 226 yards and one touchdown, which came in the fourth quarter to junior wide receiver Kyle Losey.
Beechwood has now beat their rival NCC three years in a row and will look to ride their momentum back to the state title game.
Scoring by quarter:
NCC 7 0 0 7
Beechwood 7 14 14 7
BW – Burch 65 pass to Justice (Mescher kick)
NCC – Kelly 4 rush (Otten kick)
BW – Burch 10 pass to Soward (Mescher kick)
BW – Justice 2 rush (Mescher kick)
BW – Burch 31 pass to Mescher (Mescher kick)
BW – Justice 70 rush (Mescher kick)
NCC – Henschen 22 pass to Losey (Otten kick)
BW – Davis 35 rush (Mescher kick)
