KPGFootball’s Preseason Top-Five (2A)

June 12, 2025 Fletcher Long 2

It is that time of year. It is time to start figuring which teams, entering the ’25 season, figure to factor in the title chase. We have detailed what we think here and it is based on our study of the incoming, ’25 rosters, what players return, what players graduated, and other various factors we have perfected through the years to render such predictions. We plan to do this for all of Kentucky’s six classifications and there is no guarantee we will go in order from the top down, or the bottom to the top. There are good football teams in the KHSAA and there are bad ones and those teams span all of the six classes. Enjoy today’s look at 2A. Keep checking back as we may drop another class any time we feel like it.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: Noel Rash built a tremendous legacy at Beechwood @BeechwoodFB, @beechwood_tiger, @PikevilleHSFB, @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @CentreFootball

June 3, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Noah from the Bible’s Ark isn’t the only famous “Noah.” He wouldn’t be the first famous “Noel” either, which is slightly more germane. The biblical “Noah” is just the most renown, “Noah.” Our “Noel,” not to be confused with “Noah,”the one with the surname “Rash,” who was pretty obviously NOT named for the original “Noah” is pretty famous too. Noel Rash helped construct the Ark of powerhouse football being captained around the Northern Kentucky area and the KHSAA. Rash won 200-games and eight (8) titles run 17-years before riding off into the sunset. Rash is missed, but they were winning championships at Beechwood before him and they will win titles after him, as they have in fact done. Still, we should take a moment to recognize and remember a coach who did it as well as anyone has before or since. Enjoy this installment of our “Slow Motion Replay” series as we look back at Noel Rash.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: Paul Rains; Lord he was born a rambling man @coachpaulrains, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @GCwarhawksfball, @LCAKYEagles, @LCAEAGLESFB

June 1, 2025 Fletcher Long 2

Paul Rains won a title at LCA over Mayfield in 2009, two years after coming up just three points short to Beechwood. Rains had these guys yearly in discussion. Rains, over 29-years, won 209-games and a title while journeying all over Kentucky and competing at various classifications. No doubt in our mind Paul Rains is among the greatest of all-time football coaches across this great commonwealth. Rains was the consummate “Rambin’ Man.” Enjoy this feature and remember, in the end, we’re all just trying to make a living doing the best that we can.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay, Series Article No. 50: The near misses, the guys who would likely have been HOFers if they hadn’t moved on to something else @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @LCAEAGLESFB, @mercer_football, @CentreFootball, @HighlandsFB

May 18, 2025 Fletcher Long 3

We all know Phillip Haywood and Dudley Hilton are the two winningest football coaches in the KHSAA history. Haywood at 491 will be tough to catch but Hilton is 30 or so behind him and he’s still going strong. What about the guys who shone like bright, shining stars then moved on to “greener pastures.” Could some of those guys have been “the best?” Perhaps. If there is a short-timer who could be considered, we believe he may be in this particular grouping of three. Enjoy this feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: Maybe all I know about Mike Yeagle, in the end, is he was a fine football coach @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @BeechwoodFB, @beechwood_tiger, @BeechwoodA

April 26, 2025 Fletcher Long 1

Mike Yeagle was as fine a football coach as the KHSAA has ever known. He coached football for 15-years, winning 183-games and losing a scant 27-times. Yeagle took over a Beechwood team which had one title prior to his being hired (1984) and turned the same Tiger squad into the KHSAA team of the 90s (7-titles in 10-years). At the end of the day, we have no idea how many titles nor games he might have won had he not retired when he did nor passed when he did. Sixty-two years old is mighty young to be passing on to your reward. Still, the Lord takes us when He is ready for us and when He thinks we have our best chance of redemption. In the end, Yeagle is missed and will never be fully replaced. Enjoy this feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: The late Bob Schneider could orchestrate an attack and diagram a sentence with equal alacrity @TBredsFB, @NKyTribune, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @CountyMustangs, @KyHighFootball, @khsaafootball, @EddieEviston

April 25, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

We (perhaps) have never been any more excited nor anxious about this particular feature. You see, we are professional writers and are enamored with the overall craft of writing. Sure, Bob Schneider retired from coaching the KHSAA’s all-time wins leader, when he stepped aside in 2009. Sure, Bob Sneider was inducted into both the Norther KY HS Sports (1991) and the KHSAA (Dawhares) Halls of fame (2006). So why the anxiety? Well, because he taught English at Newport Central Catholic for 50-years. This would be a terrible time for splitting infinitives. Enjoy this look at one of the KHSAA’s all-timers and let’s pray my verb tenses remain consistent throughout each paragraph.

Friday Night Fletch

Austin Sperry from Breathitt High is the @minguabeefjerky Protein-packed Performer of the Week @bigassfans, @KyHighFootball, @AustinSperry, @BreathittFB

November 13, 2024 Fletcher Long 0

Austin Sperry is a human highlight reel on the basketball court. He’s pretty dad-burn good at football too. He has been averaging over 30-yards a reception this season, and we are taking about a pretty good sample size (20-receptions, 7 for TDs). Enjoy this feature and remember to both stop and smell the roses and #SavorTheFlavor.

Fletcher W. Long

Cash Harney, from Covington Catholic, is Ca$h Money! @KyHighFootball @sfitz_840whas @840WHAS @minguabeefjerky

September 17, 2024 Fletcher Long 2

Cash Harney is probably the most dangerous backfield threat in Northern Kentucky. The Beechwood transfer has settled into his new home and has knotted the Colonel’s record at two’s. Beechwood comes to town this Friday Night. If Cash Harney continues to be Cash Money, like he’s been, the Tigers may find the Colonels have sprung a trap. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch.

Durell Turner from Simon Kenton is the @minguabeefjerky Protein-packed Performer of the Week- @rell_turner1 @SKHSFootball @1776Bank @PrepSpin @KyHighFootball @kyhighs @HLpreps @MaxPreps @HopkinsCentral @evans02_Mike @840WHAS @sfitz_840whas @evans02_Mike

September 13, 2023 Fletcher Long 1

Not all winner of this prestigious award come from teams who necessarily won their last contest. This guy here labored in defeat but did so brilliantly and valiantly. Enjoy this feature and join us again next week when we recognize another outstanding athlete. Till then, pop some of Kentucky’s finest jerky products in your mouth and savor the flavor! #SavorTheFlavor! FL

Clay Hayden from Beechwood High is the @minguabeefjerky Protein-packed Performer of the Week! @ClayHayden7 @QBHitList @BHSTigerFBall @1776Bank @PrepSpin @KyHighFootball @kyhighs @HLpreps @MaxPreps @DeuceBailey1 @minguabeefjerky @HopkinsCentral @evans02_Mike

August 30, 2023 Fletcher Long 0

Clay Hayden is one of Kentucky’s top QB’s and he is only a junior (’25). This may sound like a recording, but it isn’t, it is original material. It seems we are always bragging about the quality of Beechwood’s roster and individual stars. There is a reason for that. The 17-time, Kentucky football champions are ALWAY GOOD! Enjoy this feature and join us again next week when we recognize another outstanding athlete. Till then, pop some of Kentucky’s finest jerky products in your mouth and savor the flavor! #SavorTheFlavor! FL