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Beechwood claims third straight Class 1A state football title with one-point win against Pikeville


Beechwood quarterback Carmeron Hergott stiff arms a Pikeville player on one of his 23 rushing attempts in the Class 1A state final. (Photo by Dale Dawn)


By Terry Boehmker

NKyTribune sports reporter

LEXINGTON — Pass defense was a recurring problem for Beechwood during the Class 1A state championship football game against Pikeville on Friday, but one play saved the day for the Tigers.

Beechwood senior defensive back John Odom intercepted a pass at the goal line with 1:09 left in the fourth quarter to clinch a 21-20 win for his team in front of 6,152 fans at Kroger Field.

Beechwood defensive back John Odom, right, intercepts a pass at the goal line to clinch the 21-20 win for his team. (Photo by Dale Dawn)

Before that game-saving take-away, Pikeville wide receiver Christian Billiter caught a 39-yard pass from quarterback Connor Roberts on a fourth down play to keep the Panthers’ final drive alive.

Odom was one of the defenders around Billiter on that pass play and he felt bad about not being able to break it up.

“I thought I lost it for us,” Odom said. “I was just so glad to be able to get it back for my team (with the interception). It’s just a blessing.”

This is the third straight year that Beechwood has won the small-school state title and gives the program a 14-5 overall record in Class 1A state championship games.

The Tigers will move up to Class 2A next year and they wanted to make the transition on a high note. But their crowning victory in Class 1A didn’t come easily Friday. For the first time in a long time, Beechwood had to come from behind to come out on top in a playoff game.

“That’s one of the things I love about our program is handling adversity,” said head coach Noel Rash. “And John Odom is such a great kid. Him making a great play at a critical moment like that is nothing new to us.”

Pikeville got 243 of its 308 total yards in the air, and more than half of those passing yards came on scoring plays of 57, 65 and 25 yards.

Late in the third quarter, the Panthers took a 20-14 lead on a 25-yard strike from Roberts to Billiter followed by a two-point conversion run by Roberts.

Beechwood defensive end Duncan Baugh, right, tries to bring down Pikeville quarterback Connor Roberts. (Photo by Dale Dawn)

But Beechwood came right back with a 12-play, 45-yard touchdown drive that includes two key fourth-down conversions. After  sophomore quarterback Cameron Hergott scored on a 1-yard dive, Colin Graman kicked the extra point to give the Tigers a 21-20 lead with 9:42 remaining.

Pikeville punted on its next possession, but the Panthers recovered a fumble by Hergott at their own 21 with 3:38 left on the clock to get one more chance to win the game.

Fans on both sides of the stadium were on their feet and cheering wildly when Pikeville’s quarterback scrambled to evade a pass rush and made the throw to the end zone that Odom picked off.

The Tigers were able to run out the clock after that dramatic play and took home the championship trophy for the third straight year. 

“This was a test of wills for sure,” said Beechwood senior Adam Derry, a two-way starter at offensive tackle and linebacker. “This is an amazing feeling. To be the second team in school history to get a three-peat. I’m just in awe and at a loss for words.”

Beechwood finished with 290 yards in total offense and Hergott received the game’s most valuable player award for being the team leader. In his first-ever state championship game, the sophomore rushed for 116 yards on 23 carries, scored a touchdown and completed 8 of 11 passes for 74 yards and two TDs.

Beechwood coach Noel Rash reacts after a play. (Photo by Dale Dawn)

“Our offensive line is the best in the state,” Hergott said. “I’m really comfortable in the backfield with them and just have to go out and do what I’m coached to do.”

Hergott had to run the ball more then he expected in the title game. He ended up with more rushing yards than senior tailback Logan Castleman, who picked up 101 on 25 carries and caught one of the TD passes.

“It was more taking what they were giving us,” Hergott said of his rushing yards. “Logan Castleman ran over every team we played up to this game. They didn’t shut him down, but they keyed on him a little bit and that opened up the running game for me.”

Beechwood senior Luke Bolger is another two-way starter who had a big game against Pikeville. He scored the team’s first touchdown on a 24-yard pass from Hergott and made seven tackles, including a quarterback sack, as a defensive end.

The Tigers only had only three underclassmen listed as starters for Friday’s game. That means the coaching staff will have to find replacements for 10 starters on offense and nine on defense before the team’s first season in Class 2A.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” coach Rash said. “But that’s the thing about us. Our offseason work, I’ll take ours against anybody’s. I guarantee you we’re right up their with the best of them.”

BEECHWOOD    0  14    0   7 — 21
PIKEVILLE          0    6  14   0 — 20

B – Bolger 24 pass from Hergott (Colin Graman kick)
P – Hensley 57 pass from Roberts (run failed)
B – Castleman 13 pass from Hergott (Graman kick)
P – Hensley 65 pass from Roberts (pass failed)
P – Billiter 25 pass from Roberts (Roberts run)
B – Hergott 1 run (Graman kick)
RECORDS: Beechwood 12-2, Pikeville 11-3


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