Football Flashback is a new sports series that looks back on local high school games played on the calendar dates during each week of the 2024 season. We hope you enjoy it every Monday.
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
On fourth down with the ball at the 1-yard line and 25 seconds left on the clock, Beechwood coach Mike Yeagle let his players pick the play that resulted in a 28-23 win over Covington Catholic on Saturday, Sept. 12, 1997.
Yeagle called a timeout to ask his players what they wanted to do. They decided to give the ball to senior running back Adam Wulfeck, who dove into the end zone over right tackle for the winning score.
That play made amends for Wulfeck’s two errors earlier in the annual game between the down-the-road rivals. He dropped a pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter and lost a fumble that led to a CovCath touchdown in the second quarter.
Beechwood’s other three touchdowns came on pass plays from Derek Estep to Joey List. CovCath running back Jeremy Madden picked up 84 of his 147 rushing yards on one breakaway run and scored three times.
It was Beechwood’s fourth consecutive win over CovCath. In the 1997 state playoffs, Beechwood won the Class 1A title to complete a perfect 14-0 season and CovCath was the Class 3A champion.
Here’s a look back at some other Northern Kentucky high school football games played between Sept. 8-14 over the last five decades.
Friday, Sept. 9, 1983 — An 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bob Burkhart to tight end Steve Beagle late in the fourth quarter gave Highlands a 14-10 win over Newport Central Catholic. A fumble recovery by Highlands safety Rich Maile set up the winning score. It was the 22nd consecutive win over three seasons for the Bluebirds, who won back-to-back Class AAA state championships in the 1981 and 1982 seasons.
Friday, Sept. 12, 2003 — Ben Kelly returned the second half kickoff 88 yards to score the only touchdown in Newport Central Catholic’s 10-0 win over Campbell County. Curt Graham kicked a 25-yard field goal to account for the team’s other points. The Thoroughbreds’ leading rusher was Kevin Smith with 69 yards. On defense, NewCath intercepted four passes to post the shutout.
Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 — Brossart senior Bryce Donnelly broke team records in career receiving yards and career touchdowns during a 23-16 win over Newport. Donnelly caught three passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. He would’ve had three TDs, but he fumbled the ball before crossing the end zone on a 54-yard play. His final career totals were 89 receptions, 2,020 yards, 35 TDs.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2020 — In the opening week of the 2020 season that was postponed due to the pandemic, Simon Kenton quarterback Chase Crone accounted for 291 of his team’s 399 total yards in a 27-14 win over Highlands. Crone completed 16 of 32 passes for 253 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 46 yards. Highlands turned the ball over on downs three times. One of those stops came late in the fourth quarter at the 5-yard line.