By Matthew Dietz
NKyTribune sports reporter
Beechwood extended the state’s longest current winning streak in high school football to 27 games Friday behind a strong rushing attack and aggressive defense that carried the Tigers to a 30-7 victory over the visiting Simon Kenton Pioneers.
Beechwood picked up 216 of its 262 total yards on the ground with senior running backs Mitchell Berger and Landon Aylor each getting two touchdowns.
On defense, the Tigers opened the scoring with a safety, intercepted two passes in the second half and didn’t allow a touchdown until the final seconds.
The victory gives Beechwood a 4-0 record this season while Simon Kenton slipped to 2-2.
Simon Kenton had freshman Tucker Ober at quarterback instead of senior Chase Crone, who was injured in last week’s game. The Pioneers tried to establish a running game early, but they picked up only two first downs in the first half against Beechwood’s defense.
After the Tigers took a 2-0 lead on the safety, Berger continued his excellent start to the season by breaking off a 22-yard touchdown run and then kicking the extra point to give his team a 9-0 lead.
Aylor provided the next two touchdowns for Beechwood. On consecutive possessions, he scored on runs of 19 and 52 yards in the second quarter as the Tigers opened up a 23-0 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Simon Kenton’s first possession ended with a turnover on downs and the Tigers quickly took took advantage of it. Berger scored his second touchdown on a 35-yard run and kicked his fourth extra-point to make it 30-0.
Berger entered the game as the state’s leading scorer and will likely stay on top with a total of 91 points in four games. He also rushed for 90 yards on 14 carries to raise his season total to 621 yards.
Both of the Tigers’ pass interceptions in the second half came on fourth-down plays. Liam McCormack picked off the first one in the third quarter and Alex Courtney got the second one deep in Beechwood territory.
A 19-yard pass from Ober to senior Chase Williams in the final minute provided the only touchdown for the Pioneers, who finished with 201 total yards (148 rushing, 53 passing).
Simon Kenton’s defense allowed just seven points in the second half when senior linebacker Josh Bowling recovered a fumble for the team’s only takeaway.
Covington Catholic scored 34 points in the second quarter and went on to defeat Dixie Heights, 47-14, on Friday.
CovCath finished with a 423-163 advantage in total yards. Zacc Roberts stepped in as quarterback and completed 12 of 14 passes for 179 yards and four touchdowns. Three of his TD passes came in the team’s second quarter scoring binge.
In the closest game on Friday night, Conner quarterback Brennan Kahle scored rushing touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters and Andrew Herron converted both extra-point kicks to give their team a 21-20 win over Scott.
A 36-yard field goal by Tyler Smith with no time remaining lifted Brossart to an 11-8 win over Holy Cross. Cooper edged Campbell County, 28-26, and Holmes got past Newport, 32-28, in other tight games.
High school football scoreboard
THURSDAY
Newport Central Catholic 40, Walton-Verona 21
FRIDAY
Beechwood 30, Simon Kenton 7
Magoffin County 65, Bellevue 20
Lloyd 36, Boone County 15
Brossart 11, Holy Cross 8
Cooper 28, Campbell County 26
Conner 21, Scott 20
Covington Catholic 47, Dixie Heights 14
Estill County 21, Dayton 8
Highlands 24, Raceland 14
Holmes 32, Newport 28
Paris 42, Ludlow 8
Ryle 23, Daviess County 7