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 2018 season on Friday. We will then provide focused coverage of our local teams throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Four words have become a mantra for Beechwood football players. Before a game, coach Noel Rash tells the Tigers to “play for each other.” That motivates them to do their best for the team to achieve success.
Adam and Josh Derry are ready to do their part to carry on Beechwood’s winning tradition. Both brothers were two-way starters on last year’s Class 1A state championship team, and they want to take the title again in their final season together.
Adam Derry, left, and his younger brother, Josh, are returning two-way starters for the Beechwood football team.
“It adds more pressure because teams will come harder at us just because we’re state champions,” Adam said. “That’s how it was last year, but the playoffs were kind of a breeze. Hopefully, that happens this year because our coaches prepare us so well for the playoffs by playing a really great schedule.”
Adam, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior, plays offensive guard and defensive tackle for the Tigers. He accepted a scholarship offer from Middle Tennessee University earlier this summer.
Josh, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound junior, will be at running back and middle linebacker. He was the youngest starter on last year’s 12-2 team that won all four of its playoff games by large margins.
The quarterback, leading rusher and leading receiver on last year’s team all graduated along with six defensive starters. But the Tigers were still voted the state’s top Class 1A team in preseason coaches polls, mainly because of the proven players they have returning up front.
Adam will play alongside seniors Dayton and Duncan Baugh, Noah Fisher and John Willis on the offensive line. The four-man front on defense will include Adam, senior Luke Bolger and the two Baugh brothers.
“I’m very proud of the offensive line,” Adam said. “Against Louisville Moore (in a scrimmage game) the other day, every single one of us was driving them off the ball on every single play. We were really getting after them.”
Bob Burnett, a long-time coach in the Beechwood football program that has won 13 Class 1A state championships, said this could be the team’s best offensive line ever.
Beechwood coach Noel Rash
“He’s certainly allowed to make that statement because Bob’s spent a lot more time here than me,” Rash said. “But that is an unbelievable compliment considering all the great players we’ve had. I’ll tell you this, though, and Bob will say the same thing, they still have to go out and prove it.”
The Tigers’ new quarterback will likely be sophomore Cameron Hergott. The top returning rusher is senior Logan Castleman, who is also a starting defensive back. Josh was limited to 49 carries last season, but he expects to get more work in the backfield.
“I played fullback last year and got some (carries) as a single back too, so we’ll have to see how it plays out this year,” Josh said. “I don’t really care about anybody’s stats. We’re a team and we just do everything together and get the job done.”
This will be the last season that Beechwood plays on the Class 1A level. A statewide realignment that goes into effect in 2019 will move the team up to Class 2A. The Tigers are expected to add another Class 1A championship banner to their collection before making the transition.
“Whether people have high expectations or not, we’re always going to have them at Beechwood,” Rash said. “It’s all about how we manage those expectations. It’s about hard work and playing for each other. If we can do that and stay healthy, we should be able to meet most of them.”
BEECHWOOD TIGERS
2017 season: 12-2 record, won Class 1A state championship.
District: Class 1A, District 4 with Bellevue, Dayton and Ludlow.
Head coach: Noel Rash (135-35 in 12 seasons at Beechwood).
2018 SCHEDULE
Aug. 24 – LLOYD, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 – SOMERSET, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 7 – at Corbin, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 – at Covington Catholic, 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 – at Holy Cross, 11 a.m.
Sept. 28 – at Simon Kenton, 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 – BELLEVUE, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 – at Ludlow, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 – at Dayton, 7 p.m.
Oct. 26 – at Newport Central Catholic, 7 p.m.
Other NKyTribune prep football previews:
DAYTON GREENDEVILS
DIXIE HEIGHTS COLONELS
COOPER JAGUARS
CONNER COUGARS
HIGHLANDS BLUEBIRDS
LUDLOW PANTHERS
BOONE COUNTY REBELS
HOLMES BULLDOGS
WALTON-VERONA BEARCATS
BROSSART MUSTANGS
NEWPORT WILDCATS
SCOTT EAGLES
CAMPBELL COUNTY CAMELS
SIMON KENTON PIONEERS
BELLEVUE TIGERS
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC THOROUGHBREDS
LLOYD JUGGERNAUTS
RYLE RAIDERS
COVINGTON CATHOLIC COLONELS
HOLY CROSS INDIANS
