1 hour ago, audienceofone said:

Well, from some very reliable inside knowledge, Xavier Brown suffered a fractured shoulder and labrum tear early in the 2nd quarter. Only touched it 2 times after that injury BUT showed a lot of heart and came back in to return that last kickoff and dang near house called it! Then their starting center went down with an ACL in mid 3rd quarter which forced moving their soph starting tackle to center and bringing in a true freshman at right tackle which further limited the playbook. Adversity is just part of it but they still had several legit opportunities to win the game. 

Yet they didn't -- do you think that LCA took Beechwood a little too lightly? I could understand that in 2020 -- I absolutely can not understand that in 2021.  Did you think that LCA should have had a running clock on Beechwood by halftime? 

 

LCA was most certainly the real deal--but I can't help but think that the approach vs Beechwood worked against LCA. You mentioned coaches at LCA -- Coach Rash doesn't have any coaches in house--all of his assistants are paraprofessionals as well, many of which again are volunteers. Beechwood also did not have 2 of their better players available #6 -- who I am sure LCA remembers from last year and #26 who did a great job at RB this season. 

 

So again--not trying to call LCA out--but they don't own exclusive rights on paraprofessional coaches, injured athletes, etc. I also never heard or read where Coach Rash made statements where the state championship was the only option for their season (again--read that in the Herald Leader on the Saturday after the win against Middlesboro). Was that really the only acceptable option there? As I said last night--I think that took all the pressure off Beechwood and caused LCA to play extremely tight in the first half. So tight in fact that a team that their fans vocally stated would most likely be under a running clock by halftime ... was out 20 to 0 pretty quick. 

 

In the past, Beechwood has been hammered on this site and others when expectations are not met. That is part of the deal. But at the same time--I didn't see Beechwood take the approach publicly that it all or nothing and I definitely did see them try to poke the bear and give other teams plenty of ammunition by acting like they had complete control of whether or not they won the state championship. 

 

I am still baffled with the thought that people from all over ... those who had actually seen both teams play in person and on film thought that LCA was just going to roll all over Beechwood. Is it arrogance? Honestly it feels like it -- and I truly think that type of thought process benefits the kids, coaches at Beechwood significantly. 

47 minutes ago, gbballfan21 said:

Yet they didn't -- do you think that LCA took Beechwood a little too lightly? I could understand that in 2020 -- I absolutely can not understand that in 2021.  Did you think that LCA should have had a running clock on Beechwood by halftime? 

 

LCA was most certainly the real deal--but I can't help but think that the approach vs Beechwood worked against LCA. You mentioned coaches at LCA -- Coach Rash doesn't have any coaches in house--all of his assistants are paraprofessionals as well, many of which again are volunteers. Beechwood also did not have 2 of their better players available #6 -- who I am sure LCA remembers from last year and #26 who did a great job at RB this season. 

 

So again--not trying to call LCA out--but they don't own exclusive rights on paraprofessional coaches, injured athletes, etc. I also never heard or read where Coach Rash made statements where the state championship was the only option for their season (again--read that in the Herald Leader on the Saturday after the win against Middlesboro). Was that really the only acceptable option there? As I said last night--I think that took all the pressure off Beechwood and caused LCA to play extremely tight in the first half. So tight in fact that a team that their fans vocally stated would most likely be under a running clock by halftime ... was out 20 to 0 pretty quick. 

 

In the past, Beechwood has been hammered on this site and others when expectations are not met. That is part of the deal. But at the same time--I didn't see Beechwood take the approach publicly that it all or nothing and I definitely did see them try to poke the bear and give other teams plenty of ammunition by acting like they had complete control of whether or not they won the state championship. 

 

I am still baffled with the thought that people from all over ... those who had actually seen both teams play in person and on film thought that LCA was just going to roll all over Beechwood. Is it arrogance? Honestly it feels like it -- and I truly think that type of thought process benefits the kids, coaches at Beechwood significantly. 

You are probably correct in some of your opinions but respectfully, I wasn’t referring to BW or any other specific program when I was speaking about all the coaches being paraprofessionals. Have no idea nor do I really care about who or how other school’s staffs are put together. Was simply stating how LCA’s is structured. To be clear, I’m 100% positive that no one on LCA’s staff took BW lightly or thought about a running clock. That would be ludicrous. Heck, I heard the HC tell his kids more than once that until someone knocks BW off, that BW is the better team and on Friday, December 3rd, BW proved it was the better team by just enough. I’m sure as a BW fan, you or at least several of your fellow fans (not being arrogant) went into West Carter last year thinking it was going to be a blowout. Ended up taking a gutsy call & tough 2 point conversion to escape. What I know is that both BW & LCA are elite top 10 teams in my opinion and are both capable of beating each other on a given night. What I also know is these kids & coaches are not robots and there is a reason they actually play the games vs. declaring a winner. I realize us fans can be biased and not very objective at times but LCA, like BW and several other’s football programs are about so much more than winning football games. I personally attended LCA’s celebration at the school after the championship game and it was awesome. In the HC’s remarks to the players and their families, he reminded us of the favor the Lord has had on our program and that while we all are disappointed in the outcome,  that we should not let the devil still our joy of all of the success they’ve had. He said it’s easy to celebrate winning but when you suffer a tough loss, that’s when your character, faith & relationships kick in. He shared that the game of football is a microcosm of life and to keep things in perspective. Finally, he told them the the sun was coming up tomorrow and that the Lord is still on the throne! We all ended with everyone singing “Victory In Jesus”. From a fan’s standpoint, I generally just know enough to be dangerous about what is really going on with game plans, personnel, etc but what I witnessed first hand the other night makes me proud to be an Eagle fan! 

4 hours ago, gbballfan21 said:

Yet they didn't -- do you think that LCA took Beechwood a little too lightly? I could understand that in 2020 -- I absolutely can not understand that in 2021.  Did you think that LCA should have had a running clock on Beechwood by halftime? 

 

LCA was most certainly the real deal--but I can't help but think that the approach vs Beechwood worked against LCA. You mentioned coaches at LCA -- Coach Rash doesn't have any coaches in house--all of his assistants are paraprofessionals as well, many of which again are volunteers. Beechwood also did not have 2 of their better players available #6 -- who I am sure LCA remembers from last year and #26 who did a great job at RB this season. 

 

So again--not trying to call LCA out--but they don't own exclusive rights on paraprofessional coaches, injured athletes, etc. I also never heard or read where Coach Rash made statements where the state championship was the only option for their season (again--read that in the Herald Leader on the Saturday after the win against Middlesboro). Was that really the only acceptable option there? As I said last night--I think that took all the pressure off Beechwood and caused LCA to play extremely tight in the first half. So tight in fact that a team that their fans vocally stated would most likely be under a running clock by halftime ... was out 20 to 0 pretty quick. 

 

In the past, Beechwood has been hammered on this site and others when expectations are not met. That is part of the deal. But at the same time--I didn't see Beechwood take the approach publicly that it all or nothing and I definitely did see them try to poke the bear and give other teams plenty of ammunition by acting like they had complete control of whether or not they won the state championship. 

 

I am still baffled with the thought that people from all over ... those who had actually seen both teams play in person and on film thought that LCA was just going to roll all over Beechwood. Is it arrogance? Honestly it feels like it -- and I truly think that type of thought process benefits the kids, coaches at Beechwood significantly. 

What would you expect the players to say when being interviewed about being in the state finals?  "We're just happy to be here?"  After coming up just short the year before, I'd hope that their mindset was to accept nothing less than winning it this time.  

As for the running clock thing:  Who cares what a bunch of fans were saying in the concourse before the game?  I'm sure if you asked fans of any of the teams in the finals they had in their heads that they were going to win--even the underdogs would have some game plan in their minds that would work.  

All that matters is what was said in the locker room between the coaches and players leading up to the game.  I'm sure that they had a healthy respect for the team that defeated them for the title in 2020.  I'd also be willing to be that they didn't fear Beechwood, and expected to beat them.  I don't see what is wrong with that or having a slogan for a season.  To get on here almost two weeks later and call out the fans, coaches and players for how they approached the season and finals seems kind of condescending and is not a very becoming look.  It's easy to thump your chest and pull the disrespect card when the game is over.   

Reality of football is someone has to lose their last game..... LCA had a good run last two years did not have enough to win it all. It happens. 

On 12/15/2021 at 10:29 PM, BEChargers said:

As much as the Boyle game helped Boyle I think in the long run wasn't good for LCA.  The offense they used in that game was only used again against CAL.  QB play was the reason they could not beat Beechwood. 

In LCA's 3 losses the last two seasons the passing numbers were:

6/14 for 138 0 int's 1 TD.  2021 State game vs Beechwood

12/26 for 138 3 int's 0 TD. 2020 State game vs Beechwood

17/40 for 177 4 int's 1 TD. Freddy D.

__________________________________

35/80 483 7 interceptions 2 TD's

I have said it to people around me that know football. If LCA’s QB would’ve played against Boyle and they came in with the game plan that Boyle prepared for. Boyle would’ve won that game and probably by 2-3 scores. With that said Kudos to LCA for installing a new offense in a week and keeping it a secret until kickoff. 

2 hours ago, WestDanville said:

I have said it to people around me that know football. If LCA’s QB would’ve played against Boyle and they came in with the game plan that Boyle prepared for. Boyle would’ve won that game and probably by 2-3 scores. With that said Kudos to LCA for installing a new offense in a week and keeping it a secret until kickoff. 

Of course they would have....... The simpler offense they ran instead, where they just ran over you guys the entire night.... Yes,  surely was better than what they been running for three years. To me this game made your season at Boyle kids got after and became physical after not being. 

3 minutes ago, FLYGUY said:

Of course they would have....... The simpler offense they ran instead, where they just ran over you guys the entire night.... Yes,  surely was better than what they been running for three years. To me this game made your season at Boyle kids got after and became physical after not being. 

Personnel changes were made after the LCA game and yes this game made Boyle much more physical and I do think the offense they showed up with was harder to stop with no game plan for it. 

23 hours ago, DearToday said:

Against Beechwood, Xavier Brown and Mason Moore touched the ball 16 of 49 offensive plays (looking at stats from KHSAA). 

Against Boyle, Xavier Brown and Mason Moore touched the ball 47 of 60 offensive plays (again look at stats from KHSAA). 

Normally, when you get the ball in your best players hands, good things tend to happen. 

 

 

If you look at the first half against BW, I believe Brown and Mason either touched the ball or were targeted on passes on two thirds of the plays. Halftime score BW 20 LCA 7.

As fan of HS football, of coaching and of the players that play the game, I'd have to say the origin of this post is fairly sad. Those that know the game don't make such concrete statements about the game as this post contains without some previous history or previously chapped backside somewhere.  To suggest QB play based on stats were the key to their 3 losses in 2 years is quite shortsighted.  Scheme, injuries, turnovers and missed assignments are all part of the game.  I might add that Beechwood had something to do with the outcome as well.  Have friends on multiple staffs across the state (including LCA). From my LCA friends I can assure you that the sentiment of the post implied about "LCA running clock by halftime" was fan chatter.  Certainly not from coaches. From what I've gathered from the LCA program, they're in pretty good shape.

Gotta chime in since Beechwood is a common theme here. LCA fans, ya got a great program, great players. But everyone in 2A needs to recognize that when a Beechwood enters the scene, it’s game on. Beechwood plays up every chance they get, anywhere folks will accept them to come in. The kids handle their business, are committed, and work all the time, together. Not saying other don’t, but there are no lock room shenanigans, no one skipping workouts, nothing you see most places. They are focused, and when they get called out or dis-respected, ya better pack your lunch. Because no matter how many stars you next to your name, that BW kid is gonna lay the wood. 
 

as far as the championship game goes the last two years, I’ll leave two things here. 
 

1. For whatever reason, this photo and the phrase “It’s in the bag” circled BW, and gave bulletin board material. Right or wrong, it was not received well. And the BW kids took notice. 
 

2. outside your control. Being a NKY team, it’s commonly understood that strength of schedule up here is not appreciated across the Bluegrass. Is what it is. But when you have “local writers” and experts called BW 20+ underdogs…… now 2 people have upset the BW nation and the kids will react. That’s outside your control. NKY football is legit folks. Maybe not everyone, but I challenge any other 2A team to play a CovCath, Dixie, Ryle, Cooper, and whomever else will schedule the Tigers, and see what that score would be. It’s a battle week to week. 
 

to wrap, all great conversations on BGP. I’ve greatly enjoyed my 4 years on here, and will continue on. I’m not trying to throw shade here, just pointing out what was behind the back to back state title games from another perspective. Hopefully it’s comes across as intended. Bottom line is LCA is a great program, with great players. It’s not in trouble…….

 

happy new year everyone!