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By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
In big games, Brett Slusher plays nearly every down on offense, defense and special teams for the Beechwood Tigers. The senior showed why he’s so indispensable during his team’s 31-14 win over Newport Central Catholic on Friday.
Slusher caught 10 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for 25 yards on four carries, recovered two fumbles and even made a big play as a punter for the Tigers, who won their sixth straight game to close out the regular season with a 9-1 record.
Slusher also had a 29-yard kickoff return to give him a total of 252 all-purpose yards in one of the best games of his high school career.
“It’s definitely up there,” he said, “but I’ve got to put this one behind me and make the next few games my best games of my career so we can get the state title. That’s our ultimate goal this year.”
A high-scoring offense is the main reason Beechwood is ranked among the leading contenders for the Class A state championship going into the playoffs next week. The Tigers are averaging 48.7 points per game.
Slusher’s versatility has a lot to do with his team’s offensive success. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior lined up at wide receiver, slot back and running back in Friday’s game and made plays in each position. That’s why coach Noel Rash considers him one of the premier players in the history of the Beechwood football program.
“We’re blessed to have great players every year, but he’s in that elite category,” Rash said.
“He is one of the best players in the state, hands down, but he’s even better off the field,” Rash added. “And when you have that kind of a guy leading your program, that is immeasurable.”
In Friday’s game, the Tigers’ first two offensive possessions ended with Slusher catching touchdown passes from senior quarterback Kyle Fieger.
NewCath scored on a 61-yard run by senior running back Jacob Smith to cut Beechwood’s lead to 14-7. A few minutes later, however, Slusher caught a short pass near the sideline, plowed through two tacklers and raced 80 yards for his third TD with 6:35 left in the first half.
The Thoroughbreds got the ball back with less than a minute left before halftime and managed to score. In the final seconds, quarterback Pat Henschen lobbed an 18-yard pass into the end zone and Trent Wrobleski made a leading catch over a defender for a TD that sliced the home team’s lead to 21-14.
NewCath opened the second half with a drive to the Beechwood 12-yard line, but a field goal attempt failed. That turned out to be the only scoring opportunity the Thoroughbreds would get in the second half as they turned the ball over three times on fumbles.
“I like the fact that we pitched a shutout in the second half,” coach Rash said. “It took creating some turnovers to do it, but it was a positive ending for us.”
After a 24-yard field goal by Dan Mescher extended Beechwood’s lead to 24-14, NewCath fumbled on the ensuing kickoff. But a pass interception kept Beechwood from capitalizing on that turnover.
In the fourth quarter, NewCath fumbled on two plays from scrimmage and Slusher recovered the loose ball both times. He also had a nice punt that went out of bounds inside the 5-yard line to create more problems for the Thoroughbreds
Shorty after that punt, Slusher recovered a fumble and returned it to the 3-yard line to set up his team’s final touchdown. The Tigers were tackled for a loss and flagged for delay of game before Fieger threw a 10-yard TD pass to Ethan Stringer that made it 31-14 with 3:47 left on the clock.
Fieger completed 17 of 24 passes for 253 yards and four TDs. Stringer was the game’s leading rusher with 125 yards on 29 carries. The Tigers finished with 398 total yards of offense.
“The only reason I was really in the game offensively was because the O-line was driving them and making them look heavy on the run and that got me open opportunities,” Slusher said. “Kyle hit it (with passes) and Ethan was running hard like he does every game.”
NewCath ended up with 271 yards. Henschen was 9-of-12 for 128 yards passing and Smith rushed for 110 yards on 15 carries. The Thoroughbreds fumbled eight times during the game and turned the ball over on four of them.
BEECHWOOD 7 14 3 7 – 31
NEWCATH 0 14 0 0 — 14
B – Slusher 10 pass from Fieger (Mescher kick)
B – Slusher 2 pass from Fieger (Mescher kick)
NC – Smith 61 run (Hans kick)
B – Slusher 80 pass from Fieger (Mescher kick)
NC – Wrobleski 18 pass from Henschen (Hans kick)
B – Mescher 24 FG
B – Stringer 10 pass from Fieger (Mescher kick)
RECORDS: Beechwood 9-1, NewCath 5-5.