Note: The Commonwealth-Journal in Somerset contributed to this report.
The Beechwood Tigers took their dominating act on the road dominating the Somerset Briar Jumpers, 47-0 in a battle of Class 2A teams. Beechwood won its 26th straight game in the process.
Beechwood (3-0) has outscored all three opponents, 129-7 on the season. The Tigers have two shutouts this season have recorded 12 during the winning streak.
The Tigers outgained the Briar Jumpers, 417-73 in total offense including a 197-22 on the ground. Beechwood senior running back Mitchell Berger had 12 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns and caught five passes for 101 yards and three more touchdowns.
Freshman Cash Harney completed 8 of 9 passes for 196 yards. Beechwood senior wide receiver Antonio Robinson Jr. caught a 62-yard touchdown pass from Harney.
Beechwood had nine first downs to five for Somerset. The Tigers recovered two Briar Jumper fumbles and threw one interception.
Head Coach Noel Rash said last week the Tigers wanted to improve on special teams. Beechwood made its first five point-after touchdown kicks before missing on the sixth one.
Beechwood plays host to Simon Kenton (2-0) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Covington Catholic 7, Lexington Catholic 6
The Colonels ventured south and came away with a huge road win at Lexington Catholic. Both teams are now 2-1.
The Knights outgained the Colonels, 281-254 in total offense but CovCath ran the ball better gaining 148 yards on the ground and held LexCath to 43 yards. Junior quarterback Evan Pitzer led the Colonels rushing for 85 yards on 22 attempts and completing 6 of 14 passes for 106 yards and one touchdown.
“It was a gutsy win for our kids,” said Eddie Eviston, CovCath head coach. “We’re kind of road warriors right now. We didn’t really play all that well. When push came to shove, our guys rose up and made things happen to pull it out.”
The Colonels won the turnover battle. Junior lineman Josh Flood recovered a LexCath fumble and junior Braylon Miller had an interception.
Sophomore Tate Kruer led CovCath with eight tackles including one for a loss. Senior Aiden Jones led the Colonels with seven tackles with three tackles for a loss and one quarterback sack. CovCath had six tackles for a loss.
After going scoreless in the first half, LexCath scored first but missed the point-after touchdown. But the Colonels scored the game-winning touchdown with 3:35 left in the game when senior Tyler Rennekamp scored from three yards out and sophomore Andrew Weitzel booted the PAT to make the final score.
“The linemen made a great hole. I just tried to stick my head down and get to the goal line,” Rennekamp said. “You have to trust that each person is going to do his job. You can’t be selfish and do your own thing. That’s what they did.”
CovCath travels to Dixie Heights (2-1) for the annual Battle of Dixie Highway on Friday at 7 p.m.
Dixie Heights 29, Conner 14
The Colonels (2-1) trailed 14-0 against the host Cougars (0-3) at halftime but outscored Conner 29-0 in the second half on the way to the win.
Dixie outgained Conner, 345-222 in total offense including 275-198 on the ground. The Colonels had 59 plays averaging just under six yards per play and Conner had 61 averaging between three and four per play.
Senior running back Caleb Hinkle had 25 carries for 127 yards and sophomore quarterback Armani Gregg had 121 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. Gregg completed 11 of 16 passes for 70 yards.
Junior linebacker Brach Rice led the Colonels defensively with 12 solo and five assisted tackles including one tackle for a loss. Senior defensive lineman Luke Roaden had six tackles including two for a loss. Junior Bryce Sizemore had an interception.
Senior quarterback Brennan Kahle had 17 rushes for 103 yards for the Cougars. Senior running back Daven Kurtz rushed for 85 yards on 21 carries.
Junior Ben Fay led Conner with nine tackles. Junior defensive back Jack Murray and senior Will Nagel had seven tackles each. Senior defensive back Landon Breitholle recovered a fumble with senior defensive back Koby Belisle and senior defensive lineman Grant Reece had tackles for a loss.
Dixie Heights plays host to Covington Catholic (2-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. Conner plays host to Scott (1-2) on Friday at 7 p.m.
Walton-Verona 21, Grant County 14
The Bearcats (3-0) outlasted the Braves (0-3) in Dry Ridge.
Walton-Verona outgained Grant County, 282-248 including 267-165 in total offense. Senior running back Braden Daniels had nine carries for 122 yards and a touchdown. Junior quarterback Jackson Smith had 13 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns.
Junior linebacker John Seibert had six solo and four assisted tackles and combined with senior Logan Ryan for three tackles for a loss. Ryan had eight tackles total.
Walton-Verona takes on Newport Central Catholic (2-1) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Newport Central Catholic 17, Cincinnati Roger Bacon 9
The Thoroughbreds (2-1) ventured across the river and knocked off the Spartans.
NewCath had 369 yards of total offense to 203 for Roger Bacon including 234-115 on the ground. Junior running back Demetrick Welch rushed for 187 yards on 22 carries and junior quarterback Kolton Smith completed 11 of 12 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Luke Runyon had five carries for 24 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Runyon also led the Thoroughbreds on defense recording six solo and two assisted tackles. Senior linebacker Brady Reckers had four solo and two assisted tackles. Welch had two tackles for a loss.
NewCath travels to Walton-Verona (3-0) on Thursday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Other Football Scores
Read our story from the Homes-Boone Co. game here.
Read our story from the Ryle-Cooper game here.
Newport 31, Pendleton County 16
Dayton 42, Western Hills 14
Providence (Indiana) 22, Lloyd Memorial 21
Volleyball
Scott, Holy Cross go 2-0 on Day One of September Slam:
The Scott Eagles (11-1) and the Holy Cross Indians (7-1) won both their pool play games in the September Slam.
In Pool A at Scott High, Scott knocked off Highlands, 2-0 (25-21, 25-23), coming back in both sets before beating Beechwood, 2-0 (25-21, 25-16). Also in the same pool, Beechwood (5-5) downed Boone County, 2-0 (26-24, 26-24). In the final of the four games in the pool, Highlands (3-4) knocked off Boone (3-9), 2-0 (25-21, 25-22).
Holy Cross beat Newport Central Catholic, 2-0 (25-19, 25-11) then Southwestern (7-2), 2-0 (25-17, 25-14) in Pool B play. In the win over Southwestern, Holy Cross had 21 kills and 10 aces. Junior Julia Hunt had 11 kills, four blocks and two aces and senior Maya Hunt had 17 assists, four kills and five aces. Junior right side hitter Luci Wurtz had three aces and a block with junior Camille Lowe recording two blocks.
Also in Pool B at Woodland Middle School, NewCath (6-5) and Southwestern have a chance to play for the championship with 1-1 pool play records. NewCath edged Campbell County (1-5), 2-1 (25-23, 25-27, 15-13) and Southwestern edged the Camels, 2-1 (23-25, 25-14, 15-12).
The teams finish pool play at 9 a.m. Beechwood takes on Highlands in Pool A then Scott takes on Boone County at 10 a.m. Then in Pool B, NewCath takes on Southwestern at 9 a.m. then Holy Cross faces Campbell County at 10 a.m.
St. Henry Goes 1-2 in first day of NIKE Tournament of Champions
The defending state champion Crusaders (6-3) finished 1-2 in the first day of the Nike National Tournament of Champions in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
St. Henry lost to two defending Florida state champions in Class 4A Santa Fe, 2-0 (25-13, 25-22) and Plant from Florida’s largest Class 7A, 2-0 (25-18, 28-26). But St. Henry came back to knock off Mountain Brook (Alabama), 2-1 (25-21, 18-25, 15-6), a defending state champion from Alabama’s second-largest Class 6A.
St. Henry plays again at 10:45 a.m. against the Pensacola (Florida) Catholic Crusaders (6-2).
Other Volleyball Score:
Williamstown 2 (25-16, 25-18), Newport 0
Girls soccer
Notre Dame 4, Penn (Indiana) 0
The Pandas (6-1-1) won the first game of the Zionsville (Indiana) Invitational. Seniors Ellie Greenwell, Ava Summe, Caroline Kramer and junior Hannah Knapke had the goals.
Notre Dame faces Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory from Indianapolis (Indiana) on Saturday back in Zionsville. Game time is 1:15 p.m.
Other Girls Soccer Score:
Villa Madonna 8, Maysville St. Patrick 0
Boys Soccer:
Villa Madonna beat St. Patrick