Beechwood flexes muscles, rolls over CovCath
(Article from Sept. 18, 2021)
 |
| Beechwood defeated CovCath by a 27-7 score in 2021. (Photo by Jeff McCurry) |
FORT MITCHELL — Does it get any better than this — a resounding 27-7 victory over archrival Covington Catholic — for Beechwood players, coaches and fans?
It could in December. That’s when Beechwood could be hoisting the Class 2A state championship trophy for the second straight year. But that’s three months away.
As for the present, Friday night’s win over CovCath was memorable for several reasons. It marked Beechwood’s first victory against CovCath since 2014 and snapped a six-game losing streak against the Colonels.
The Tigers also extended their winning streak to 13 games. Beechwood has not lost since dropping a 28-20 decision to Dixie Heights on Oct. 2, 2020.
None of the current Beechwood players had ever walked off the field after defeating CovCath until Friday. The victory meant a great deal to quarterback Cameron Hergott, who ignited the jam-packed crowd with an electrifying 62-yard run on the first play from scrimmage.
“It means the world to me, my teammates, and our entire city,” Hergott said of beating CovCath. “It’s a big rivalry. They’re right down the street from us. We’ve dreamed of this since we were in the fifth grade, so it’s awesome to win this game.”
Four plays after Hergott’s 62-yard scamper, Mitchell Berger capped the 77-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0. CovCath responded by driving deep inside Beechwood territory, but a missed field goal from 36 yards allowed the Tigers to maintain their 7-0 lead.
Hergott engineered an 81-yard drive on Beechwood’s ensuing possession, capping with a 50-yard touchdown run to extend the Tiger advantage to 13-0. CovCath countered with a 67-yard drive that took nearly nine minutes, with Adam Holtz scoring on a 5-yard run to cut the Beechwood lead to 13-7 with just 2:20 remaining in the half.
Parker Mason, however, took the kickoff, found an opening and sprinted to the CovCath 12-yard line with a momentum-changing return. Four plays later, Hergott powered his way into the end zone behind the Beechwood offensive line for a 20-7 advantage with just 16 seconds left.
“That’s a very good football team,” CovCath head coach Eddie Eviston said of Beechwood. “No. 2 (Hergott) is a fine player. From a defensive standout, any time we had to kind of slow them down, he just made a play. He converted with his feet or his arm on third down all throughout the night.
“That was the difference. Offensively, we’re a little bit limited right now. We have to make plays, and we didn’t.”
Beechwood sealed the victory with a 73-yard drive in the third quarter. Avery Courtney finished the game-clinching drive by rushing for a 4-yard touchdown and a 27-7 advantage with 17 seconds left on the clock.
CovCath (2-3) marched inside the Beechwood 20-yard line late in the fourth quarter by converting a pair of fourth-down plays. But on fourth-and-six from the 18, Holtz’s pass fell incomplete and the Tiger fans began celebrating their first win against CovCath since 2014.
Hergott rushed for more than 100 yards for the second straight week. The reigning Kentucky Mr. Football has also established a trend of quick starts.
“Cameron sets the tone a lot of different ways,” Beechwood head coach Noel Rash said. “We have weapons everywhere. Our (offensive line) is playing their butts off. But I love snapping the ball to that guy (Hergott) every play.”
Comments
Post a Comment