The NKyTribune is featuring each of the 21 high school football teams in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties leading up to the first games of the 2017 season on Aug. 18. We will then provide focused coverage of our local teams throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Daniel Mescher will be a two-way starter and place-kicker for the Beechwood football team once again this season (Photo by Terry Boehmker)
Daniel Mescher did a little bit of everything to help the Beechwood Tigers football team win the Class 1A state championship last season.
In addition to scoring 99 points as a wide receiver and place-kicker, Mescher was a starting safety on a defensive unit that limited opponents to 204 yards and 12 points per game. He also did some punting and played on return teams for the Tigers, who finished with a 14-1 record.
It won’t be easy for Mescher to top all that during the 2017 season that begins next week, but 5-foot-9, 155-pound senior is going to give it all he’s got once again.
“I love doing whatever I can do to help out the team,” he said. “Playing offense and defense and on special teams gives me ways to do everything I can to help us win.”
Beechwood has a long list of returning starters – seven on offense and eight on defense – who are setting their sites on winning the program’s 13th state championship this season.
With such a high level of talent and experience, the Tigers will likely be the state’s top-ranked Class 1A team in preseason polls. But coach Noel Rash said his players can’t take anything for granted.
“There’s a lot to look forward too, obviously, but a new season brings new challenges,” Rash said. “I don’t care if that sounds like coach-speak or not, it’s true. You’re just got to stay focused.”
Senior quarterback Brayden Burch will run the Beechwood offense once again. The Tigers also have senior running back James Davis and four offensive linemen back in the starting lineup.
In last year’s Class 1A state final, Mescher’s 41-yard pass reception set up the Tigers’ game-winning touchdown. (Photo by Dale Dawn)
Mescher is the team’s top returning receiver. As a first-year starter last season, he caught 25 passes for 508 yards and three touchdowns. In his team’s last three playoff victories, he had six catches for 188 yards, including a 41-yard reception that set up the winning touchdown in the championship game.
“Everybody remembers the big catch in the state (title) game, but he had big catches in several games last year at key moments,” Rash said. “It takes a certain kind of mentality to do that. So, yeah, it’s awesome to have that kind of guy back.”
Mescher did most of his scoring as a place-kicker last year, converting three field goals and 66 point-after attempts for 75 points. When he started playing football in middle school, he became a place-kicker by building on the skills he acquired in youth soccer.
“I really enjoy kicking,” he said. “I feel like it’s a good skill to have (in football) so I have been training with some personal trainers, just working on kicking and drills and things that, and it’s really helped me out.”
The Beechwood coaching staff doesn’t record tackles in a game. They want the Tigers playing team defense without worrying about their individual statistics. But Rash didn’t need any stats to tell you Mescher made an impressive debut as a starting safety last year.
“Probably the aspect that amazed me the most was how physical he was because he doesn’t have a high stature or physical presence,” Rash said. “He played like a linebacker, and it was impressive to watch.”
Mescher doesn’t know if he’ll get a chance to play football in college. If this is his final season, he wants the Tigers to bring home another state championship trophy.
“That’s our goal every year, but it certainly helps having all those returning starters and just having more confidence,” he said. “The amount of playing time and training we’ve been able to get should definitely give us a competitive edge over other teams.”
BEECHWOOD TIGERS
2016 SEASON: 14-1 record, won Class 1A state championship.
DISTRICT: Class 1A, District 4 with Bellevue, Dayton and Ludlow.
HEAD COACH: Noel Rash (123-33 in 11 seasons at Beechwood).
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – at Lloyd, 7 p.m.
Sept. 1 – at Somerset, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 – CORBIN, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 15 – COVINGTON CATHOLIC, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 – HOLY CROSS, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 29 – SIMON KENTON, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 – at Bellevue, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 – LUDLOW, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 20 – DAYTON, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27 – NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 7:30 p.m.
Other NKyTribune prep football previews:
DAYTON GREENDEVILS
COVINGTON CATHOLIC COLONELS
BISHOP BROSSART MUSTANGS
WALTON-VERONA BEARCATS
COOPER JAGUARS
SCOTT EAGLES
LUDLOW PANTHERS
HIGHLANDS BLUEBIRDS
LLOYD JUGGERNAUTS
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC THOROUGHBREDS
NEWPORT WILDCATS
BOONE COUNTY REBELS
BELLEVUE TIGERS
