By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Cameron Hergott entered the season as the only returning offensive starter on the Beechwood football team. The junior quarterback knew the Tigers needed him to perform at a high level to continue the program’s proud winning tradition, and he hasn’t let them down.
Beechwood quarterback Cameron Hergott has provided 73 percent of his team’s offense with his passing and rushing.
Hergott has provided 73 percent of his team’s offense by passing for 1,350 yards and rushing for 413 yards in nine games. He’s the reason Beechwood won its three Class 2A district games by wide margins and takes a 5-4 record into the regular season finale against Newport Central Catholic (7-2) on Friday.
When Beechwood got off to a 1-4 start with mostly first-year starters in the lineup, it looked like the program’s run of winning seasons that began in the 1970s might be in jeopardy. But the Tigers won their last four games and need a victory Friday to make sure their long streak of winning seasons continues.
Hergott transferred to Beechwood last year. With a veteran offensive line in front of him, the newcomer threw for 1,671 yards and 24 touchdowns on the Tigers’ Class 1A state championship team. He also rushed for 547 yards and seven TDs.
Hergott is on track to surpass last year’s passing and rushing totals after leading Beechwood to four straight wins in October. In those four games, he passed for 629 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 172 yards and three TDs. He’s now averaging 150 passing yards per game, which ranks sixth in Northern Kentucky.
One of the local quarterbacks ahead of Hergott in passing statistics is Newport Central Catholic senior Paul Kremer, who is averaging 159.4 yards per game. The Thoroughbreds have won six straight with Kremer throwing for 1,018 yards and 17 touchdowns during the streak.
NewCath senior wide receiver Caleb Jefferson has caught 34 passes for 616 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. How well the Beechwood defense handles him could be a key to the outcome of Friday’s game.
Another quarterback who has put up big numbers this season is Conner senior Jared Hicks. He enters Friday’s home game against George Rogers Clark with 1,982 passing yards. He needs 19 more to become the first Conner quarterback to pass for more then 2,000 yards in a season since Drew Barker did it in 2013.
Dayton has a 4-5 record going into its final regular season game at Carroll County on Friday. If the Greendevils win, they’ll end a 10-year string of finishing the regular season with a losing record.
Campbell County is the only local team without a win going into the final week of the regular season. The Camels need to break that streak in Friday’s game at Boone County to avoid going 0-10 for the first time since 2002.
High school football schedule
Friday’s games
Newport Central Catholic at Beechwood, 7:30 p.m.
Holmes at Bellevue, 7 p.m.
Scott at Dixie Heights, 7 p.m.
Brossart at Pendleton County, 7:30 p.m.
Dayton at Carroll County, 7:30 p.m.
Campbell County at Boone County, 7 p.m.
George Rogers Clark at Conner, 7:30 p.m.
Holy Cross at Ludlow, 7 p.m.
Elizabethtown at Lloyd, 7:30 p.m.
Simon Kenton at Little Miami (Ohio), 7 p.m.
Walton-Verona at Louisville Holy Cross, 7:30 p.m.
