Preview: #24 Beechwood at Simon Kenton

Last season’s 58-54 Beechwood victory over Simon Kenton was such a blast that the Blitz 5 Game of the Week decided to come back for an encore performance. With many of the same cast members back this game has all the makings of another high-scoring classic.

#24 BEECHWOOD TIGERS (3-0) at SIMON KENTON PIONEERS (2-1)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., September 13th, 2024
Chlorine Menifee Stadium; Independence, KY
Follow on X: @TSFootball

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Beechwood has playmakers all over the field on offense. Senior quarterback Clay Hayden has thrown for 6,742 yards with 80 touchdowns passes (only 11 INTs), in his career. Classmates Chase Flaherty (44 – 40 rush, four rec), Luke Erdman (29 – 22 rec, five rush, one KR, one IR) and James Cusick (20 – 19 rec, one rush) have combined for 93 touchdowns in their careers. Sophomore Tyler Fryman has found the end zone 19 times (11 rec, seven rush, on FR) in his first 16 games.

Simon Kenton QB Brady Lee (photo by: Chris Granger / X: @regnargc)

Quarterback Brady Lee fuels the Simon Kenton offense. He is averaging 301.3 yards per game passing with 12 touchdowns (six pass, six rush). The senior also leads the Pioneers with 160 yards rushing. The receiving tandem of junior Grayson Harris and sophomore Tysin Weaver have been sensational. Harris had 29 receptions for 494 yards (164.7 yards per game) and a pair of touchdowns. Weaver has scored four times on 15 catches for 216 yards.

TEAM TRENDS: Last year’s track meet saw these schools combine for 1,219 yards of total offense – Simon Kenton 655 yards (317 pass, 338 rush), Beechwood 564 yards (427 pass, 137 rush) and 112 points. Seven of the nine players that found the end zone in this affair a year ago return (Brown, Lee, Weaver, Cusick, Fryman, Hayden, Erdman, Cusick). Fryman had three touchdown catches.

Beechwood has weapons everywhere on offense. They are averaging 37.0 points per game. Dating back to Week 2 of last season, the Tigers have scored 40 points or more 13 times in 16 games with seven tilts of more than 50 points.

Simon Kenton has had a porous defense allowing 39.0 points per game. On the bright side, the offense is averaging 38.0 points per contest. In their last 12 games the Pioneers have scored 40-plus six times and 50 or more on four occasions.

HEAD COACHES:
Beechwood: Jay Volker (15-2 at Beechwood, second year; 18-18 overall, fourth year)

Simon Kenton: Roy Lucas, Jr. (23-32 at Simon Kenton, sixth year; 84-98 overall, 16th year)

PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Simon Kenton
State Runner-up (one) – 2008 (6A).

Beechwood
State Champion (17) – 2022 (2A), 2021 (2A), 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).

BEECHWOOD’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Make Lee one dimensional by taking away his run game and make him rely on his arm. If that happens, the secondary will have to lock down Weaver and Harris. Doing that should lead to opportunities for takeaways as well. Lee has already thrown seven interceptions.

SIMON KENTON’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Take care of the football. Every possession is going to be precious in what could be a night that sees the scoreboard explode with points. The offense needs to produce long drives and keep the potent Tigers skills players off the field as much as possible. The defense must create more opportunities for turnovers, getting off the field as quick and as often as possible will be big in this battle.

Prediction: Beechwood 38, Simon Kenton 35

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