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Preview: Beechwood at Simon Kenton

Beechwood RB/DB Joshua Derry (photo by Mitchell Cook/TriStateFootball.com)

It’s off to the commonwealth for the U.S. Marines Battle of the Gridiron Series as Beechwood travels to Simon Kenton in northern Kentucky’s premier battle on Friday night. Two road weary squads will duke it out in what should be a huge confidence booster for the winner.

BEECHWOOD TIGERS (3-2) at SIMON KENTON PIONEERS (5-1)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m at Chlorine Menifee Stadium
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PLAYERS TO WATCH: The 6-foot-3, 275-pound C/DL Adam Derry is one of the top linemen in northern Kentucky. The Beechwood senior has verbally committed to Middle Tennessee State. Younger brother RB/DB Joshua Derry is one touchdown away from 10 in a Tigers uniform. Senior RB/DB Logan Castleman leads Beechwood with 410 yards and five touchdowns rushing. One of the best all-around players in school history, Castleman has 935 yards rushing, 89 receptions for 1,251 receiving yards, nine interceptions, 170 interception return yards and 43 total touchdowns (21 rec, 19 rush, two ko ret, on int ret) in his career. Sophomore QB Cameron Hergott has been steady completing 58.3% of his passes for 644 yards with nine touchdowns and only on interception. His top target is WR/DB John Odom who has 13 receptions for 254 yards and three touchdowns.

Seniors are the stars for Simon Kenton. Offensively, QB Caleb Farfsing has accounted for 1,207 (598 pass, 609 run) yards of total offense and accounted for 13 touchdowns (four pass, nine rush). Classmate RB Jon Sergent has racked up 821 all-purpose yards (392 rush, 154 rec, 275 ret) while finding the end zone nine times. Defensively, DL JJ Courtney has seven-and-half sacks, 10.5 tackles for losses and returned a fumble for a score. The relentless play of LB Clay Cogswell sets the tone for the Pioneers. Cogswell has a team high 21 solo tackles with seven-and-half tackles for losses and a pair of sacks.

TEAM TRENDS: This will be the first home game this month for Simon Kenton. Beechwood hasn’t played at home since August 31st. This the 13th season for Noel Rash as the head coach of Beechwood. The Tigers have won 137 of the 174 games and three state titles under his command. Simon Kenton is looking for its fifth straight season with at least 11 victories. Eight times in the last 10 years the Pioneers have won at least 10 games (nine in another season) under head coach Jeff Marksberry.

Over its last 43 contests (dating back to 2015) the Beechwood defense has recorded 13 shutouts and held 11 other opponents to less than 10 points. The Tigers are 37-6 in that span.

The nine points that Simon Kenton scored last week marked the first time in 45 games that the Pioneers had fewer than 10 points in game. The last time it happened was November 21st, 2014. Simon Kenton was shutout 24-0 by Dixie Heights in the third round of the playoffs. The Pioneers defense has been outstanding against the run allowing just 72.9 yards per contest but has only produced 10 turnovers. They have just two interceptions.

BEECHWOOD’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The Tigers won’t be in awe of who lines up across from them. Their schedule prepares them for big games. Beechwood will have to play flawless football. Negative yardage plays must be minimalized. Stupid penalties and turnovers will make for an uphill climb.

SIMON KENTON’S KEYS TO VICTORY: One thing the Pioneers do well is put pressure on quarterbacks. That should work in their favor by forcing young Hergott’s hand to make plays. The Simon Kenton offense needs to show balance so that Beechwood doesn’t stuff the box to stop the run.

Prediction: SIMON KENTON 27, BEECHWOOD 17

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