Bengal Boy

Thanks for correcting me ASJ but in the original post he also had the Atwell kid and others listed that played in classes other than 6A. If I recall Atwell played and lost to Beechwood in the 2A finals. Hayden’s numbers are just as impressive and he has led Beechwood to not 1 but 2 state championships in the last 3 years. How many state championships has OC won the last 3 years. I will take championships over stats any day. My vote for all state QB goes to Clay Hayden!

Also forgot to mention Chase Flaherty from Beechwood. Kid ran for over 1500 yards on very limited carries. Most fans think of Beechwood as more of a passing team with their record breaking QB and their speedy wideouts but don’t sleep on Flaherty he was a beast the entire season.

You don’t have any of Beechwood’s players on your list. Beechwood was written off against the big bad offensive line and running attack of LCA in the semis then was written off again the next week against the all world Brady AtwellI in the finals then almost put a running clock on both teams. I can think of at least 4-5 players that should be on that list. Clay Hayden, James Cusick, Luke Erdman, Cole Howard and Jack Meier. All 5 of these players were standouts the entire season and definitely 5 of the best players in NKY.

It would be a great job for the right guy. Large school with a lot of winning tradition, great facilities, a growing community in Independence, consistently has great athletes in all sports, great community support. If they get the right guy who can bring in a hard working culture they could be a real problem in a few years. Personally I would choose a guy with more of a defensive background and let him bring in an offensive coordinator who runs a balanced scheme. You have to be able to run the football and control the clock in high school football. You can’t bring in the guy who runs the uptempo spread offense and put huge numbers up but loses in the 2nd and 3rd round every year. If you are going to play with the big boys in Louisville you better be able to run the football.

The Pikeville crew thinks the Panthers will return to the top of class A next season but with all Campbellsville has returning I would not be so sure. WOW most of a very good team is returning so based on that my early pick for class A is Campbellsville.

You forgot Andy Murray who started at inside linebacker and running back. Kid was an absolute beast. Him, Pfeiffer and Cardwell Gardner all ended up at UK together. I think Gardner finished his college career at Louisville before a long NFL career with Buffalo. Those were some really good Trinity teams.

Let the big dawg eat! Order the bone in ribeye Chase.

VOR you are the man. Since we are giving out recognition I can’t not recognize a few more players who have had great impact for the Tigers all season. Brady Waddell has been a complete beast on defense and on the o line all season. Maddox Kelly has led the team in sacks and had a great season and Bo Sowder has stepped in for the injured Brody Aylor after his season ending injury and has been one of their best defenders for the last part of the regular season and the playoffs. He is only a sophomore and definitely a name you will hear a lot over the next few years in NKY football. If I left someone out I apologize. Beechwood has had so many individual standouts all season but the reason they keep winning is they don’t worry about the individual accomplishments they just go out and play for the team. A lot of people are saying they will have a down year next season because they are losing that talented senior class but I don’t buy it. Beechwood will be back next year and the next year after that and the year after that…….because the culture that they have created over the years. Beechwood expects to win a state championship every year and most of the other schools hope to win a state championship.

VOR you forgot to mention a few standouts. Chase Flaherty played on an ankle that almost anyone else would have decided to sit this game out. Not only did he play but he scored 4 TDs and won the game MVP. And how could you leave Cole Howard off the list. The kid has been the best O lineman in NKY the entire year and had a huge game again tonight. The Beechwood line led by Howard absolutely dominated O Cath tonight and did the same thing against Lexington Christian Academy last week. The big boys up front don’t hear their names often but I see you.

Where is the Works kid who transferred down from Dayton? Pretty sure he signed with UK today. Gotta give it to Coach McPeek, he gets his guys to the next level.

Highlands and Cov Cath has a lot of talent returning next season. Not real sure about what they have returning up front although Highlands has the Merz kid back. I agree the champion will come from that small group but I am going with The Bluebirds to get back to the promised land next season.

More crazy talk from the Bluebird faithful. That ship has sailed. This time next year Highlands will be getting ready to play in the state championship game and Coach Sphire will be the toast of the town.

Well then that makes it even easier since Boyle will probably take a step back. Cov Cath will probably be their top competition in 4A. And another thing, if you armchair QBs think for a minute that Coach Bathiany is leaving Moeller to come to Highlands then you are completely crazy. Don’t get me wrong Highlands is a great program and a great job but Moeller is probably one of the best high school jobs in the entire country. And he’s probably going to wake up Saturday morning as the coach of the Ohio D1 state champions. Why would he leave Moeller?

This is crazy talk. This guy has turned the Highlands program around. Just a few years ago they were 5-6 and now they are playing for a spot in the finals. And if you follow the program you know that the best classes are their classes coming the next several years. I will go out on a limb and say Highlands will be the favorite in 5A next season. Come on man!

Oh yeah and I forgot to suggest that maybe the Highlands fans and the Cov Cath fans can carpool down to Lexington together to watch the Beechwood game.

Maybe you Highland fans can come down to Lexington on Friday and see Beechwood up close and personal or you can go watch the basketball team play since your season is over.

I agree with The Bull. That Beechwood OL has been dominating the whole season. There was alot of question marks up front but they have answered them all. The Howard kid that transferred from Moeller has been a god send. He has absolutely dominated everyone he has faced the entire season. He may not get as much pub as the kid from Highlands and the kid from Conner but as far as the play on the field he has been the best Olineman in NKY this season. Two others who don't get the respect they deserve is Waddell and Chance Baugh. That line has given Hayden a clean pocket all season and cleared a path for Flaherty to rush for almost 1500 yards. I think they will continue their dominance against O Cath and bring home #18.