By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Noel Rash’s return as head coach of the Beechwood football team means he’ll be taking part in the Tigers’ biggest regular season game once again Friday at Covington Catholic.
CovCath won the last three games between the down-the-road rivals when Beechwood’s head coach was Jay Voelker. He stepped down last spring and Rash came back to lead the program.
During Rash’s previous 17 seasons as head coach, Beechwood had a 3-14 record against CovCath. The Tigers last win in the series came during the 2021 season when they went 15-0 and won the Class 2A state championship under Rash, who now has 200 career wins.
Beechwood enters Friday’s game ranked No. 1 in Class 2A in the statewide media poll with a 3-0 record. CovCath (3-1) is ranked No. 3 in Class 4A, so expect a huge crowd for the 7 p.m. kickoff.
Both teams have balanced offensive attacks. CovCath is averaging 400.3 yards per game (241 passing, 159 rushing) and Beechwood is close behind at 383.6 (217 passing, 166 rushing).
The Tigers have a senior-laden lineup that includes quarterback Emmett Queen, running back Nathan Pabst and wide receiver Tyler Fryman. They were all starters in last year’s 42-14 loss to the Colonels on their home field.
Queen, who started his high school career at CovCath, completed 37 of 48 passes for 652 yards and six touchdowns during the team’s 3-0 start this season. The Wake Forest University recruit’s 77.1 completion percentage ranks seventh in statewide statistics.
The Tigers outscored their first three opponents, 124-3, with Fryman getting three touchdowns rushing, two receiving and one on a kickoff return. The speedster was recruited by the University of Kentucky to play football and baseball.
CovCath coach Eddie Eviston has a blend of varsity veterans and first-year starters in this year’s lineup.
The offensive leaders after the first four games are junior quarterback Dylan Courtney, sophomore running back Kiyan Miller and senior pass receivers Mac Cogswell and Jason Fedor.
Cogswell scored on a 66-yard run during last year’s win over Beechwood. Junior linebacker Cash Myers, who had 10 tackles in that game, is also back in CovCath’s defensive unit. But Courtney and Miller have never played against the Tigers.
In their first four games as varsity starters this season, Courtney has passed for 964 yards and nine touchdowns while Miller has 397 yards rushing, 105 yards receiving and 11 total touchdowns.
Friday night high school football schedule
Beechwood at Covington Catholic, 7 p.m.
Bellevue at Louisville Iroquois, 7:30 p.m.
Boone County at Mason County, 7:30 p.m.
Brossart at Nicholas County, 7:30 p.m.
Campbell County at Lloyd, 7 p.m.
Conner at Simon Kenton, 7 p.m.
Cooper at Louisville Manual, 7:30 p.m.
Frankfort Western Hills at Dayton, 7:30 p.m.
Dixie Heights at Lexington Henry Clay, 7:30 p.m.
Highlands at Ryle, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at Eminence, 7 p.m.
Ludlow at Gallatin County, 7:30 p.m.
Paris at Newport, 7:30 p.m.
Raceland at Newport Central Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
Scott at Bourbon County, 7:30 p.m.
Walton-Verona at Harrison County, 7:30 p.m.