On the Monday leading up to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Class 2A state title match, Beechwood senior running back Chase Flaherty expressed that the Tigers’ upperclassmen were determined to clinch this victory. It was the senior players who made the decisive contributions as the Tigers secured their 18th state title, triumphing over Owensboro […]
On the Monday leading up to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Class 2A state title match, Beechwood senior running back Chase Flaherty expressed that the Tigers’ upperclassmen were determined to clinch this victory.
It was the senior players who made the decisive contributions as the Tigers secured their 18th state title, triumphing over Owensboro Catholic, 50-34.
“We just clinched a state championship, and we’re pumped!” Beechwood head coach Jay Volker remarked.
In just the first half, Flaherty recorded 60 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns. James Cusick had six receptions for 113 yards and was the go-to player on four pivotal third-down conversions. Luke Erdman made a 63-yard interception return to set up a touchdown.
In the second half, the Tigers leaned on their younger players. Nathan Pabst initiated the second-half scoring with a 33-yard touchdown run. Following a turnover on downs, Tyler Fryman took a direct snap for a 36-yard score.
Jack Meier capped off the victory with a 50-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with under three minutes remaining in the game.
“I didn’t expect to be unguarded after catching it. I thought I was going to get tackled by all 11 guys coming at me,” Meier said.
Beechwood’s defense came through when it mattered
Up against one of their strongest opponents of the season, the Tigers kept the Aces scoreless for the initial 18 minutes.
Indeed, there were 83 total points tallied, yet Beechwood’s defense played a crucial role in enabling the offense to maintain a consistent 14-point edge throughout.
Owensboro Catholic QB Brady Atwell, adept at both running and throwing, was limited to just 36 rushing yards and a 59.2 percent completion rate. Atwell ended the game with 366 passing yards, with 225 of those in the second half as the Aces sought to rally.
Erdman’s interception was a pivotal defensive moment, but senior Austin Flesch nearly recorded a pick-six. Both Bo Sowder and Mattox Kelly made sacks.
Beechwood’s offense showcases its finest performance of the season
Cusick manages the punting alongside his roles as a receiver and defensive back. Throughout his tenure, he’s been accustomed to catching passes rather than kicking them away. He only had two punts as the Tigers scored on three of their five drives in the first half, followed by three consecutive scores in the second half.
Beechwood amassed 385 yards of total offense. Flaherty, Pabst, Fryman, and Clay Hayden each had at least 35 rushing yards. Flaherty dealt with an ankle injury during the second half of the state semifinal and hadn’t practiced all week. Nevertheless, he put in a strong effort on Friday, averaging 3.1 yards over 24 carries, with his longest run being seven yards. He was awarded the most valuable player.
Hayden also finished with 166 yards, completing 70 percent of his passes. His longest completion was for 36 yards, a throw to Cusick that set up Flaherty’s second touchdown.
“Clay has done a fantastic job all season identifying who will be open. It wasn’t primarily (Tyler) Fryman and (Luke) Erdman today. A lot of those significant third downs ended up being Cusick, who has had that synergy. Since January, they’ve been meeting on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at around 5:30 AM, working out with all those receivers. Building that connection, getting acquainted with each other. They’ve been playing together a long time,” Volker stated.
Key statistic from Beechwood vs. Owensboro Catholic
Beechwood converted 10 out of 14 third-down attempts. Three of these occurred during the Tigers’ inaugural touchdown drive. Just before halftime, quarterback Clay Hayden responded to a sack by connecting with Cusick for 22 yards on 3rd & 15, setting up Flaherty’s third score of the half.
In comparison, the Aces managed only 5-for-12 on third downs. Throughout the contest, numerous punts were necessitated by incompletions, highlighting Beechwood’s robust secondary performance.
“Third down, and likewise fourth down, is vital because it’s a momentum disruptor, it’s a game breaker. They excelled in converting every single third down. Their offensive line provided ample time for their quarterback to explore various options, and he kept the plays alive,” Owensboro Catholic head coach Jason Morris conveyed.
Who were the game-changers?
Chase Flaherty, Beechwood: The senior concluded with 24 carries for 74 yards and four touchdowns. He achieved a total of 16 rushing touchdowns throughout five playoff games.
“In the opening matches, we blitzed through those teams. The offensive line performed phenomenally. That last game, I took a break in the second quarter and (Nathan) Pabst carried forward flawlessly. Then I managed to get back out there today and make it happen,” Flaherty remarked.
Tyler Fryman, Beechwood: The sophomore led the Tigers’ defensive line with 10 tackles. He also caught an 18-yard pass and rushed for a 36-yard touchdown.
Dereon Crowe, Owensboro Catholic: He recorded 11 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown.
Saluting the seniors
Beechwood’s 16-member senior class wraps up their four-year journey with a remarkable 55-4 record and three state championships.
Cusick, Erdman, Flaherty, Flesch, Hayden, Kelly, Meier, Chance Baugh, Koen Henderson, Cole Howard, Nathan Parton, Will Schings, Caleb Stiene, Brody Waddell, Jordan Wagner, and Carson Welch were resolute in their goal to secure a state title after a gut-wrenching defeat to Mayfield in the 2023 state semifinals.
Beechwood 50, Owensboro Catholic 34
Owensboro Catholic – 0 7 14 13 – 34
Beechwood – 7 14 14 15 – 50
B: Flaherty 2 run (Lair kick)
B: Flaherty 2 run (Lair kick)
OC: Ebelhar 20 pass from Atwell (Garvin kick)
B: Flaherty 3 run (Lair kick)
OC: Crowe 1 run (Garvin kick)
B: Pabst 33 run (Lair kick)
B: Fryman 36 run (Lair kick)
OC: Atwell 1 run (Garvin kick)
B: Flaherty 1 run (Lair kick)
OC: Crowe 11 pass from Atwell (Garvin kick)
B: Meier 50 kick return (Pabst pass from Hayden)
OC: Atwell 3 run
