2021 TSF Kentucky Team of the Year: Beechwood
- Updated: February 21, 2022
Beechwood head coach Noel Rash (Dan Clasgens/TriStateFootball.com)
An experienced squad took care of business in grand fashion as Beechwood (15-0) went unblemished to capture its second straight state championship and fifth in the last six years. It was the 16th title for the program, seventh under head coach Noel Rash and second at the Class 2A level (the other 14 were in Class 1A). Those accomplishments were more than worthy enough to have the Tigers be named the 2021 TriState Football Kentucky Team of the Year.
Beechwood dominated on both sides of the ball. The Tigers had an average margin of victory of 39.0 points per game. There were only a pair of close calls all season. A 21-14 win over Dixie Heights in Week 6 and two-point, 23-21, victory in the state title tilt against Lexington Christian. The other 13 triumphs were by at least 20 points including eight wins of 48 points or more.
The defense gave up eight points or less 12 times with five shutouts. Beechwood was the states top scoring defense giving up just 6.9 points per contest. They held Kentucky’s top scoring offense, Lexington Catholic to 26 points below its season average in the state championship game.
On offense, the Tigers lit up the scoreboard at a 45.9-point clip per game, third most in the state. Beechwood topped 48 points or more 10 times. They averaged 388.5 yards of total offense per game (220.7 rush, 167.8 pass) and found the end zone 94 times (59 rush, 35 pass).
As for Rash, Beechwood is 179-45 in his 16 years at the helm. This was the first time that the Tigers have finished undefeated with Rash at the helm. Under his tutelage, the program has never had a losing season and had at least eight victories every year with 11 campaigns of 10 victories or more. In the postseason, Beechwood is a combined 57-9 (seven of those losses were to Mayfield) for an .864 winning %, with seven state titles and 14 trips to the state semi-finals (final four), in the last 15 years with Rash leading the way.
Kentucky Teams of the Year
2021 – Beechwood
2020 – Beechwood
2019 – Covington Catholic
2018 – Covington Catholic
2017 – Covington Catholic
2016 – Beechwood
2015 – Simon Kenton
2014 – Highlands
2013 – Simon Kenton
2012 – Highlands
2011 – Highlands
2010 – Newport Central Catholic
2009 – Highlands
2008 – Highlands
2007 – Highlands
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