Sophomores have Tigers Barreling toward another Title. @ClayHayden7 @FlahertyChase @iamxcc34 @tigersontheair @rash_julie @minguabeefjerky @1776Bank @PrepSpin @KyHighFootball @kyhighs @HLPreps @MaxPreps

The OL play from the Tigers in '22 has been incredible

Hayden and Flaherty approach perfection in Regional Championship win over Shelby Valley

Things got a little dicey when Beechwood’s “Mr. Football” candidate, Mitchell Berger, was lost in game eight (8) for the season. Many thought the Tigers chances to repeat may have taken a beating. A pair of sophomores and one of the commonwealth’s premier OL have proven the Tigers are far from tamed yet.

Fletcher Long, KPGFootball’s Director of Scouting

There are losses one doesn’t figure a program can withstand. One such loss would be your “Mr. Football” candidate at RB going down with season-ending surgery in game eight (8).

Well, if the Beechwood Tigers were the least bit anxious about it, it certainly hasn’t manifested in the team’s game play. Coach Rash certainly hasn’t appeared to be sweating it much.

We’re playing guys that haven’t played a whole lot

Noah Rash, Head Coach, Beechwood Independent

“We’re playing guys that haven’t played a whole lot,” Rash told an area publication. “[We] have a sophomore quarterback and a sophomore tailback. They’re working their way through it…”

C. Hayden

Talk about your understatements. From where we have been observing the proceedings, Clay Hayden (’25) and Chase Flaherty (’25) have been doing quite a bit more than just “…working their way through it…”

In the Regional Championship game against Shelby Valley, Hayden was efficient though sparsely used. The sophomore signal caller completed 10 of his 12 passing attempts for 114-passing yards and 2-TD’s. Any performance which come that close to statistical perfection is an effort worthy of celebration.

Flaherty (’25) rushed the football 11-times against Shelby Valley, gaining 133-yards and 3-TD’s

KHSAA’s online statistical site

Statistically speaking, Flaherty was a bit more dynamic, though no more effective with usage just as sparse as the other sophomore. Flaherty (’25) rushed the football 11-times against Shelby Valley, gaining 133-yards and 3-TD’s.

C. Flaherty;
Photo: beechwoodphotos.com

The senior EKU baseball commitment, Mitchell Berger, gained 1,119-yards on 121-carries with 21-TD’s over the eight games in which he played prior to injury. Since falling to injury, Flaherty has carried the ball 72-times, gaining 606-yards, and scoring 15-TD’s.

Flaherty has scored 94-points on the season. That total is second only to Berger’s 162.

Beechwood’s offensive line has been dominant. They have remained injury free and it is believed, as long as that remains the case, the Tigers could throw Mr. Ed, the talking horse, into its backfield and it wouldn’t make a ton of difference.

We don’t know about that. However, we do know these two sophomores for the Tigers are tearing it up this season. We also know these Tigers continue to turn in impressive performances along the way to a potential date on Kroger Field.

Beechwood’s offensive line has been dominant.

HB Lyon, KPGFootball‘s Senior Sports Writer

The Tigers are 12-1 now. Two more weeks of what they have been doing and we can hand Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky another title. Put it over there with those others…

This is Coach HB Lyon, reporting for KPGFootball, and we’re JUST CALLING IT LIKE WE SEE IT!

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About Henry Lyon 1210 Articles
Have coached at the high school and middle school level. Have worked in athletic administration. Conceal my identity to enable my candor on articles published by this magazine. Only members of the editorial board are aware of my true identity.

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