Kentucky Team of the Year: Beechwood
- Updated: January 5, 2017
Before the 2016 season started Beechwood (14-1) head coach Noel Rash said that this Tigers team had to play with a “fast and nasty demeanor.” They were an undersized, unproven group that had only 12 seniors on their preseason roster. The players embraced the role and when the dust settled Beechwood would capture the program’s 12th state title and first since 2008.
Beechwood Head Coach Noel Rash (photo by Cathy Lachmann/TriStateFootball.com)
Rash recognized where this squads strength and talent was. He gave them an identity, the kids bought in and dedicated themselves. They continued to get better as the year went on and it paid out the ultimate dividend in the end. Rash was able to pull the most out of his players by putting them in positions to maximize their production. He set his kids up to succeed and they responded magnificently.
The only loss during the regular season came in Week 4 at rival Covington Catholic (9-4). The Class 5A Colonels were just too big and deep. The smaller Class 1A Tigers just didn’t have the horses in the stable.
Beechwood responded with a thrilling 40-33 victory over Covington Holy Cross (10-4) the following week. Things were looking good but the Tigers had allowed an average of 32.3 points in their last three games of a 4-1 start.
That win would be the first of 11 in a row. The Tigers would sweep their district and also beat all four teams in Class 2A, District 6 to cap off the regular season.
Beechwood RB Aiden Justice (photo by Cathy Lachmann/TriStateFootball.com).
The momentum kept on going through the playoffs. Beechwood headed into the state title tilt having won 10 games in a row, the last nine by an average of 41.3 points per contest. The Tigers were clicking on all cylinders and in every phase of the game.
In the finale, Beechwood would fall behind but fight back to take a 14-7 lead over Hazard (12-3) at halftime. Hazard scored early in the fourth quarter to tie it up. The Tigers responded on the next drive. Beechwood would go in for the eventual game winning touchdown.
The 14 points that the Tigers gave up to Hazard were tied for the most they had allowed over their last 10 affairs. The Beechwood defense gave up just 75 points in that span including just 27 in five postseason games.
It was a dominating run. This was a Beechwood squad that will go down in history as one of the school’s best ever at closing games out. They put the pedal to the metal and never let up. It was impressive performance from a cast of characters who far exceeded the expectations of the show.
MILESTONES AND MORE
–Beechwood will head into next season with an 11-game win streak.
–Head Coach Noel Rash is now 90 games over .500 at 123-33 in 11 years at Beechwood. He has won three state titles in that span.
Beechwood QB Brayden Burch (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)
–11 of Beechwood’s 12 titles have come in the last 25 years. Mike Yeagle started the run in 1991 as Beechwood would go 6-1 in seven consecutive title games. Yeagle would win eight of the 10 finale’s he took the Tigers to during his tenure.
–The Tigers did not have one player named first team All-NKY (NKFCA) but six players were named second team All-NKY. Bechwood’s second team members included senior OL Sam Talley, sophomore OL Noah Fisher, sophomore WR Logan Castleman, sophomore DL Adam Derry, senior LB Trevor Soward and junior DB Elijah McKenney. Castleman had 11 touchdowns on just 47 offensive touches. McKenney came away with nine interceptions and returned a fumble for a score.
–Junior quarterback Brayden Burch threw for 2,407 yards and 26 touchdowns.
–Senior running backs Aiden Justice and James Davis combined to run for 1,960 yards and 30 touchdowns. Justice had 1,107 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 32 passes for 604 yards and seven more scores. Davis ran for 853 yards with 16 total touchdowns including three on kick returns.
–Beechwood has never lost a regular season district game under Rash. The Tigers are a perfect 40-0 including winning the last 18 in their current Class 1A, District 4.
Join us as we recognize Beechwood, Team of the year winners from Dayton, Cincinnati & Indiana, Player of the year finalists from all of those areas, WCPO Player of the Week winners and all members of the 2016 Postseason All-TSF squad as they will be recognized at our upcoming TSF Year in Review Show on Monday, February 20th at The Holy Grail – Banks in downtown Cincinnati.
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