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Preview: CovCath at Beechwood

Beechwood QB Cam Hergott (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

It’s a battle of Bluegrass high school football royalty. Covington Catholic travels down Dixie Highway to take on local rival Beechwood in the Blitz 5 Game of the Week. The two schools have combined for 23 Kentucky state championships with 10 of those coming since 2004. The head coaches have a combined record of 276-70. 

It will be a night to pay homage to a pair of programs that have done it the right way, throughout the years. This affair promises to be another great chapter in the history of this rivalry. 

#11 COVINGTON CATHOLIC COLONELS (3-1) at #18 BEECHWOOD TIGERS (4-0)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Edgar McNabb Field
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PLAYERS TO WATCH: Covington Catholic has a running game by committee with senior running backs Reid Hummel, Preston Agee, Brayden Collins and classmate quarterback Adam Holtz. The quartet has combined for 621 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Defensive lineman, Trevor Wilson, offensive lineman Peyton Dietz and linebacker Aiden Jones are all capable of dominating at their positions.

Reigning Kentucky Player of the year and TriStateFootball Northern Kentucky Offensive Player of the Year, Cam Hergott, captains the ship for Beechwood. He has been sensational, having amassed 1,161 yards of total offense (770 pass, 491 rush) while accounting for 15 touchdowns (eight pass, seven rush) with no interceptions in four games. Hergott has accounted for 99 touchdowns in his career (73 pass, 26 rush). 

Avery Courtney (18), Mitch Berger (15), Parker Mason (12) and Brady Moore (12) have all found the end zone more than 10 times in their careers for Beechwood. Offensive lineman and Western Kentucky commit Luke Slusher paves the way for them up front. Sophomore defensive lineman Xavier Campbell has eight sacks.

TEAM TRENDS: Since this series rekindled its flame back in 2003, Covington Catholic is 15-3 overall. They are winners in 11 of the last 12 tilts, including six straight victories over the Tigers. 

In the last 20 years, Beechwood has been to the state championship game 10 times. The Tigers are 7-3 in those affairs including being winners of the past two and four of the last five title tilts that they have played in.

Beechwood has scored 49 points in each of its last three contests. The Tigers’ defense has given up just 21 points on the year. Covington Catholic is averaging 19.8 points per game.

HEAD COACHES:
Covington Catholic: Eddie Eviston (71-16 at Covington Catholic, seventh year, 106-24 overall, 10th year)

Beechwood: Noel Rash (170-46 at Beechwood, 16th year; 170-46 overall)

PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Covington Catholic
State Champion (eight) – 2019 (5A), 2017 (5A), 2006 (3A), 1997 (3A), 1994 (3A), 1993 (3A), 1988 (3A) & 1987 (3A).

State Runner-up (one) – 2018 (5A).

Beechwood
State Champion (15) – 2020 (2A), 2018 (1A), 2017 (1A), 2016 (1A), 2008 (1A), 2007 (1A), 2004 (1A), 1999 (1A), 1997 (1A), 1996 (1A), 1994 (1A), 1993 (1A), 1992 (1A), 1991 (1A) & 1984 (1A).

State Runner-up (five) – 2015 (1A), 2003 (1A), 2002 (1A), 1995 (1A) & 1974 (1A).

COVINGTON CATHOLIC’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Establish the run and let the clock be your friend. The longer the Colonels can keep Hergott off the field the better their chances for victory. The defense has done a good job of creating turnovers. They will need to do more of the same in this game. 

BEECHWOOD’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Get to the quarterback. Make Holtz prove he can handle pressure. If the Tigers offense can get an early lead, it will allow their defense to dictate the flow of the game. 

Prediction: Beechwood 28, Covington Catholic 21

 

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