2 minutes ago, WHO'S NEXT? said:

Which just proves they were overrated. Rankings are fun and all, but they are just someone's opinion and they've never won any team a playoff game. In a state where everyone makes the playoff, one of those Beechwood opponents made a first round playoff appearance, the other second round. ?‍♂️

Mayfield vs. Simon Kenton or especially Mayfield vs. Dixie would have been something else to watch. 

79-55 Cards in the poll right now.

16 minutes ago, theguru said:

79-55 Cards in the poll right now.

Well, we finished way behind in the poll last week , take the poll with a grain of salt. Beechwood can win this game, no doubt. And I always like to see how the members voted, none of that secret stuff.

On 11/18/2023 at 6:36 AM, Breds82 said:

These two just can’t get away from each other which is awesome for us fans, maybe not so much for either teams supporters. Watched a lot of the Mayfield game last night. We were warned about how big of homers the play by play guys were, and they were, but it was awesome. Love to hear what the educated fans think and feel, not the neutral voice we get from paid pay by play guys. Mayfield answered every time LCA scored. Beecheood not being tested since the 5-6th week of the season is got me leaning Mayfied, but Beecwood has a very good offense as well, so I’ll take the Tigers (NKY bias? Yes). I’m assuming this will be live again? Good luck to both teams and safe travels.

Live on Red Helmet Video 7PM central this Friday.

I have been studying film for 3 days now. The Cards should do real well on the ground. It would appear the other side is that the Tigers throw so much due to lack of a serious running attack. Yes, Tigers have a passing game but, when qb gets pressured, it’s a lot like Boley. I really like how the Tigers utilize the 3-4 receivers on one side with only 1 receiver to the other to open up space for the solo receiver side. The wheel route by rb is going to be a big part of their game. After watching what I have, I think it’s going to be difficult for the Tigers to stay closer than 20 points down. 

28 minutes ago, still 55 said:

I have been studying film for 3 days now. The Cards should do real well on the ground. It would appear the other side is that the Tigers throw so much due to lack of a serious running attack. Yes, Tigers have a passing game but, when qb gets pressured, it’s a lot like Boley. I really like how the Tigers utilize the 3-4 receivers on one side with only 1 receiver to the other to open up space for the solo receiver side. The wheel route by rb is going to be a big part of their game. After watching what I have, I think it’s going to be difficult for the Tigers to stay closer than 20 points down. 

I also think this is just a bad matchup for Beechwood. They rely so much on the passing game and in doing that against Mayfield is where you have to beat all their athletes in the backend of the defense. And you’re just not going to out-athlete Mayfield. If both teams play a clean game I just don’t see how Beechwood wins. They’re going to need to force a couple turnovers on the other side of the ball to stay in this one in my opinion. But I have definitely been wrong before and will be wrong again at some point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttu-8tXNPkw

 

Red Helmet boys Mayfield vs Beechwood, too funny!

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=849630087163228&set=a.517572713702302

On 11/18/2023 at 10:52 AM, Voice of Reason said:

Some of this may sound familiar, because it is. Many of the comments below were made just last year when the Tigers and Cardinals faced each other in the state title game. Beechwood won that one 14-13 to build on the previous year's 38-7 win over Mayfield in the 2A semifinals. Beechwood has one more notch they need to add to their belt - a win at War Memorial over the Cardinals. The Tigers will give that one another try on the day after Thanksgiving in the 2023 2A semifinals. So let's talk....

They're baaack. Yes, here we go again - but we all love it. Two great programs face off as they march on toward another hoped for state title. The Beechwood Tigers and Mayfield Cardinals are no strangers to state title games and they are no strangers to each other. Despite their many playoff battles, last year was the first time in 20 years these two met in a championship game. These two teams are at the top of class 2A in team defense with the Tigers. More impressive though is their ranking in scoring margin in the entire state all classes with the Tigers ranked #4 outscoring opponents by 35.8 per game and the Cardinals ranked #3 outscoring opponents by 36.3 points per game. This game looks like another classic matchup. Despite the emotion and playoff rivalry between these two teams, there is mutual respect for each other. It should be another classic playoff battle but this year's game looks different to me.

Mayfield did it again this year. For the second year in a row they defeated the very highly esteemed Lexington Christian Eagles in the playoffs - despite virtually no one thinking they could do it. The Tigers have been there and done that themselves in the past few years. The Cardinals have added to the mystique of their vaunted War Memorial home field advantage with those wins. Very experienced Sr. QB Zane Cartwright has completed 72.4% of his passes for 1,858 yards, 28 TD passes and only 2 interceptions. Sr. RB Jutarious "JuJu" Starks has 1,140 yards rushing and averages 8.8 yards per carry. Starks had a huge game against LCA last week and was arguably the key to victory for the Cardinals. He rushed for 104 yards against Beechwood in last year's title game. I think the Tigers would be very happy if the could hold Starks to 104 yards again in this week's game. Mayfield has three excellent receiving options - Sr. Braden Morris 25 catches, 436 yards, 6 TD's; Sr. Xavier Biggers 18 catches, 394 yards, 9 TD's; So. Mak Hoover 19 catches, 369 yards, 5 TD's. All three of those receivers are standouts on defense - Morris 3 INT's, Hoover 3 INT's and Biggers 2 INT's (these stats may not include last night's game against LCA). Juniors Ian Williams and Carter Morris are leading tacklers for the Mayfield defense.

Beechwood is traveling to Mayfield for only the second time in the last 10 years. The last trip was Beechwood's first season in 2A and Mayfield handled the Tigers 35-7 in that game. That is the last time Beechwood lost a game in 2A. In fact, that is the only 2A game Beechwood has lost in their 5 years in 2A. This year's Beechwood team is different than last year's. Last year Beechwood's defense was dominating - one of their best ever and Mayfield experienced that in the title game. This year's team is led by one of the best passing attacks in the entire KHSAA. Jr. QB Clay Hayden may be the most underrated QB in the state. Hayden currently has the 4th best completion percentage in a season in KHSAA history, completing 74% of his passes. His 266 yards passing per game is #6 in the entire state. Hayden has 40 TD passes against 5 INT's. Hayden has a crew of underclass receivers that are one of the top trios of receivers in the state. Jr. Luke Erdman went over 1,000 yards on the season last night. Jr. James Cusick has over 600 yards and 12 TD's. Freshman Tyler Fryman is closing in on 1,000 yards and has 10 TD's. Fryman is an outstanding athlete who was offered a D1 baseball scholarship by UofL as an 8th grader. Jr. RB Chase Flaherty is a versatile back who is a threat both rushing and receiving, with over 1,000 yards combined. The defense's strength is on the back end. Beechwood is #7 in the state in passing yards allowed. The Tiger defense is one of the leading teams in interceptions in the state with 22 on the year. Sr. Talon Linder has 5 INT's and Sr. Shawn Sowder has 3 INT's as do Fryman and Cusick. Sr. Xavier Campbell is a 4 year starter and team leader on defense. The Beechwood defense under new head coach and defensive coordinator Jay Volker had some growing pains early in the season. However, only one team has scored a TD against Beechwood since the Covington Catholic game. Is that a function of the SOS or has the defense improved that much? Friday night will tell the tale. 

The Tigers have thrown some Cardinals demons to the wayside over the past few years. Can they eliminate one more and get a win on the road at War Memorial Stadium? 

Excellent write up.  Somerset was actually the first 2A team to defeat the Tigers after they moved up to 2A when they won 46-14 at Somerset in week 2 in 2019.  

 

As for this game, either team is capable of winning, but last year and this year have me believing in that  War Memorial magic.  I'll take Mayfield 38-24. 

41 minutes ago, Toothpick said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttu-8tXNPkw

 

Red Helmet boys Mayfield vs Beechwood, too funny!

 

I wonder if this is how their parade looked like. 

2 minutes ago, Jason Bucklen said:

I wonder if this is how their parade looked like. 

We only have parades for state championships but yes it will probably look something like that if we can pull it off this year haha.

2 minutes ago, Jason Bucklen said:

I wonder if this is how their parade looked like. 

J has lca had that parade they were talking about having when they arrived home from Mayfield yet?  I would love to attend that!

3 minutes ago, Astro Domino said:

We only have parades for state championships but yes it will probably look something like that if we can pull it off this year haha.

lol I was talking about the team that lost last week since they said they would have a parade when they got home. 
 

1 minute ago, Toothpick said:

J has lca had that parade they were talking about having when they arrived home from Mayfield yet?  I would love to attend that!

Haha I was in bed so I couldn’t attend it. 

I really can’t wait for Fri night. I just watched the Red Helmet Video pregame.