By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Dozens of Beechwood football fans came to Friday’s season-opening home game wearing t-shirts celebrating the return of head coach Noel Rash and the team did its part by rolling to a 42-0 win over Indian Hill of Ohio.
The bright red t-shirts have a drawing of Beechwood players huddled around Rash with the words “Giddy Up” across the top.
The coach said it’s a term of affirmation for doing something good and that was indeed fitting following Friday’s game. After scoring on the opening kickoff, the Tigers dominated play on both sides of the ball and opened the season with a shutout victory for the first time since 2022.
“We love bagels,” Rash said of the zero on the scoreboard. “I know it looked good, but there’s still some things we’ve got to get cleaned up. And we will.”
That’s the never-satisfied attitude that enabled Rash to win eight state championships in his 17 previous seasons as Beechwood’s head coach.
He was rehired this summer and returned after a three-year hiatus to lead a highly talented team that’s expected to be a contender for the Class 2A state title.
Beechwood senior Nathan Pabst set the tone for Friday’s game by returning the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. He also scored two rushing touchdowns in the first half. His second one followed by Jack Mercer’s point-after kick put the Tigers ahead 35-0 and started a running clock.
“It’s all won up front in every game,” Pabst said. “Defense and offense, our boys won the battle up front and that’s why we killed them tonight.”
Rash calls signals for the defensive unit. He said the main focus was containing Indian Hill double-threat quarterback Devlan Daniel, who had two touchdowns passing and one rushing in a win over Roger Bacon last week.
“We spent the week on that,” Rash said of containing Daniel. “It’s nice when you have kids respond to what you teach them to do and they did it well.”
Beechwood senior quarterback Emmett Queen connected with seniors Bo Sowder and Tyler Fryman on touchdown passes of 23 and 55 yards. Fryman also scored on a 47 -yard run.
After the game, fans sought out Rash to congratulate him for the impressive homecoming victory. Many of them were wearing the “Giddy Up” t-shirts that were printed for the occasion.
“I just don’t want this to be about me,” Rash said. “I know its my first game here in three years, but (our players) don’t care, nor should they. All those kids need to worry about is the season. This is their senior year, (for many of them), and that’s what we’re driving for.”
INDIAN HILL 0 0 0 0 — 0
BEECHWOOD 21 14 7 0 — 42
B — Nathan Pabst 99 kickoff return (Jack Mercer kick)
B — Tyler Fryman 47 run (Mercer kick)
B — Pabst 23 run (Mercer kick)
B — Bo Sowder 23 pass from Emmett Queen (Mercer kick)
B — Pabst 18 run (Mercer kick)
B — Fryman 55 pass from Queen (Mercer kick)
RECORDS: Beechwood 1-0, Indian Hill 1-1.