Beechwood managed to only find the end zone twice on Friday but it was just as enough as the Tigers escaped the UK HealthCare Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine 2022 KHSAA Class 2A state championship with a 14-13 victory over Mayfield.
The Cardinals scored a touchdown with 1:13 remaining after a nine-yard run by Isaac Stevenson made the score, 14-13.
Mayfield attempted to tie the game but Lincoln Suter missed in his PAT attempt, allowing Beechwood to take over with a one-point lead while eventually running the clock out.
the win turned out to be the Tigers’ 17th state title overall, trailing only Trinity (27), and Highlands (23).
They also captured their third straight Class 2A state title in a row.
The game was even throughout with Beechwood barely winning the offensive totals, outgaining the Cardinals, 271-260, while both teams finished with 13 first downs apiece.
Chase Flaherty led the the Tigers with 119 rushing yards and one touchdown while quarterback Clay Hayden completed 7-of-16 pass attempts for 116 yards, and one touchdown. Receiver Liam McCormack finished with two catches for 23 yards, and one touchdown.
Jut Starks led Mayfield with 112 rushing yards, and a touchdown while quarterback Zane Cartwright completed 16-of-23 pass attempts for 137 yards, and one touchdown.
Receiver Isaac Stevenson had four catches for 39 yards, and one touchdown.
The first half turned out to be a lot of missed opportunities for both Beechwood, and Mayfield.
Both teams had scoring opportunities fall by the way aside as Mayfield put together a 14-play, 76-yard drive that took over nine minutes of the first quarter only to see it turn into a missed field goal.
The Tigers had the same misfortune, drove the ball down the field and misfired on a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Beechwood managed to score the only touchdown in the first half thanks to a seven-yard touchdown pass from Clay Hayden to Liam McCormack that gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 8:20 left in the first half.
Beechwood outgained the Cardinals in total offense, 137-102 while forcing one turnover.
Mayfield managed to tie the game at seven apiece with Jut Starks 16-yard touchdown run, capping off a six-play, 80-yard drive with 9:02 remaining in the third quarter.
Both teams failed to score in the third quarter but the Tigers managed to regain a 14-7 lead just five seconds into the fourth quarter as Chase Flaherty broke free from a tackle attempt, and found the end zone with a 10-yard run.
Despite moving the ball downfield consistently throughout the game, the Cardinals managed to find paydirt with 1:13 remaining after a nine-yard touchdown run by Isaac Stevenson made the score, 14-13.
Mayfield attempted to tie the game but Suter missed in his PAT attempt, allowing Beechwood to take over with a one-point lead while running the clock out.
