The 1A #2 ranked Beechwood Tigers travel to Ludlow's remodeled stadium for this year's district battle. The Panthers are having their best season since 2009, coming into this game at 5-3 and having been ranked in the 1A top 15 during a big part of this season. However, Ludlow has not scored on Beechwood in their last three games and these two have not played a close game since when?

 

Does this Panther team have enough to compete with the Tigers? Or is Beechwood once again too much for Ludlow? Predictions?

No offense directed towards the Green Devils of Dayton....but this should be a "smidge" better than the Dayton game. Beechwood wins big. Hope for an injury free game on both sides.

The 1A #2 ranked Beechwood Tigers travel to Ludlow's remodeled stadium for this year's district battle. The Panthers are having their best season since 2009, coming into this game at 5-3 and having been ranked in the 1A top 15 during a big part of this season. However, Ludlow has not scored on Beechwood in their last three games and these two have not played a close game since when?

 

Does this Panther team have enough to compete with the Tigers? Or is Beechwood once again too much for Ludlow? Predictions?

 

Probably since 2004 when Beechwood won 28 to 0 but it was 14 to 0 most of the game.

Considering the Bellevue-Ludlow score, it should be a lopsided win for Beechwood. I agree with RH1183, the biggest desire in this game is for everyone to get through it healthy.

I can't get the 5 point win over Dayton out of my mind. BW 57-0

While an injury free game is always desired, these district games do nothing to help Beechwood in the post season at all.

While an injury free game is always desired, these district games do nothing to help Beechwood in the post season at all.

 

From a competitive standpoint I agree. What is does is give Rash a chance to let some kids heal up and get fresh. BW played a pretty tough first half schedule, they know what they have. This conversation was played out in another thread. What good did district play ever do NCC? Highlands? They all play cupcakes. That's why BW and NCC finish with each other I would imagine, to get back in the swing

While an injury free game is always desired, these district games do nothing to help Beechwood in the post season at all.

 

Not the 2014 post season, but maybe the 2015 post season with underclassmen getting a lot of PT. :sssh:

Beechwood wins big.

Beechwood has their starters out halfway through the 2nd.

 

Beechwood-56

Ludlow-0

Probably since 2004 when Beechwood won 28 to 0 but it was 14 to 0 most of the game.

 

Sluggish Beechwood gets by Ludlow

 

Sluggish Beechwood gets by Ludlow

 

 

By Ryan Ernst

Enquirer staff writer

 

In a bizarre scene of postgame reactions at Ludlow on Friday night, the winning coach hurriedly left the field in frustration, while the losing coach held his daughter at midfield, looking oddly satisfied.

 

Beechwood, a football dynasty built on discipline and execution, looked sluggish in its 26-0 win over once lowly Ludlow. And with the state's top-ranked 1A team Newport Central Catholic looming next on the Tigers' schedule, coach Mike Yeagle didn't mince words about what his team needs to do.

 

"We got to get a whole lot better in a lot of phases or we're in trouble," he said. "(We have to) make every single adjustment we can make, I can tell you that. Because (NewCath is) a much better football team than us and Ludlow.

 

"... But I don't want to make any excuses. Ludlow played great football and I think they caused a lot of the problems that happened."

 

Beechwood showed how well and how poorly it could play Friday. The Tigers outgained Ludlow 423 yards to 137 and moved the ball at will at times.

 

Junior quarterback Pat Muth opened the scoring with a one-yard sneak in the first quarter, capping an eight-play 83-yard drive. He then found Eric Sawyer for a 27-yard touchdown pass and Beechwood took a 19-0 lead into halftime after Dustin Menetrey's seven-yard touchdown run.

 

But the Tigers also turned the ball over three times in the first half. They accumulated nine penalties totaling 85 yards. On back-to-back possessions in the third quarter they punted on third-and-36 and fourth-and-24.

 

"We absolutely played the worst game I think I've ever seen in my high school career," said Menetrey, who led the Beechwood offense with 154 yards on 27 carries.

 

But while Beechwood's offense sputtered, its defense kept Ludlow out of the game. The Panthers totaled only 54 yards rushing, and couldn't take advantage of two turnovers inside the Beechwood 25-yard line.

 

The teams traded punts throughout the third quarter, before Muth found Chris Curley on a 13-yard pass to start the fourth quarter and end the scoring. Muth finished the game 9-of-18 passing for 188 yards.

 

For the previously unbeaten Panthers, the loss was their best showing against Beechwood since a 29-0 playoff loss in 1999. In the two teams' four meetings since then, the Tigers had won by an average score of 52-5.

 

Ludlow coach Steve Hensley, who last year took over a program that hadn't won in three years, wouldn't claim a moral victory but said he was proud of his team.

 

"Anytime we lose I think we're disappointed. Our only team goal is to win the next game and we came up short tonight, so we have to refocus."

 

Beechwood, ranked sixth in the Enquirer coaches' poll, must also refocus before its matchup next Saturday with No. 2 NewCath. Menetrey said given Beechwood's underdog status that shouldn't be a problem.

 

"It's to our advantage and it's going to get us fired up," he said. "Because we don't think we're getting the credit we deserve."

Do you really think that Beechwood players would be fired up to play Ludlow??? Dayton??? Honestly I don't see how this helps Beechwood become a better team I know they have to play who they have to play.

Do you really think that Beechwood players would be fired up to play Ludlow??? Dayton??? Honestly I don't see how this helps Beechwood become a better team I know they have to play who they have to play.

 

Again, why is this such a hot topic? Is New Cath fired up to play Holy Cross? Lloyd? Brossart (Daytons only W)? Was Highlands fired up to play Holmes? Harrison County? It's district play, it is what it is. Get healthy, play lots of kids. New Cath next week, time to ramp it back up.

Do you really think that Beechwood players would be fired up to play Ludlow??? Dayton??? Honestly I don't see how this helps Beechwood become a better team I know they have to play who they have to play.

 

Who said it helps them to become a better team? I believe someone mentioned that it helps the program because of younger kids getting Varsity time. That is definitely True. They don't care that it's Ludlow, they look forward to these games.

 

You don't have to get fired up, but as the article from 2004 pointed out, you need to maintain your focus and execute. Its like a good practice. You don't have to get fired up for it, but you better be focused and have great practices leading into New Cath and the Playoffs.

Who said it helps them to become a better team? I believe someone mentioned that it helps the program because of younger kids getting Varsity time. That is definitely True. They don't care that it's Ludlow, they look forward to these games.

 

You don't have to get fired up, but as the article from 2004 pointed out, you need to maintain your focus and execute. Its like a good practice. You don't have to get fired up for it, but you better be focused and have great practices leading into New Cath and the Playoffs.

 

I agree about the other teams you mention samething, just don't see players staying focused and excuting when it's to easy but thats the coaches job.