[Stardust]

Friday’s regular season finale between Newport Central Catholic and Beechwood may not have had any postseason implications, but as the long-time rivals clashed at Newport Stadium, it was hard to tell any different.

Ranked seventh and eighth respectively in the Kentucky Enquirer area coaches’ poll, the Thoroughbreds and Tigers battled from the opening whistle Friday, trading first half shots before NewCath eventually pulled away with a 34-14 senior night victory.

“If you are a champion, and you are a winner, then you’re just going to love the fact that you can go out there and compete on Friday nights,” NewCath coach Eddie Eviston said prior to game day. “It shouldn’t matter what the situation is.”



Friday’s situation—a rain-soaked bout between two of Northern Kentucky’s perennial powerhouses—certainly brought out the best in the Thoroughbreds.

While the visiting Tigers managed to strike first, taking an early lead on a 9-yard scamper from senior quarterback Max Nussbaum, NewCath wasted little time firing back, tying the game on their next possession when senior quarterback Josh Cain plowed in for a 1-yard score.

Moments later, senior tailback Dylan Hayes sprung for a 26-yard touchdown to give NewCath a 14-7 lead and spark what would prove to be a pivitol surge from the Thoroughbred offense.

With momentum on their side, the Thoroughbreds fired out of the gates in the second half, tacking on three consecutive scores to put the contest well out of reach.

While Beechwood managed to move the ball productively for the majority of the night, the Thoroughbreds’ defense stood strong, cutting each of the Tigers’ second half drives short, before allowing sophomore running back Joe Studer to find the end zone on the game’s final drive.

“Our guys just went after it tonight,” Eviston said of his defense’s effort. “We may have bent a little bit, but we never broke.”

Hayes led NewCath’s offensive attack, rushing for 170 yards and three touchdowns, in a performance Eviston credited to the entire unit.

“It was a good game for all of us,” he said. “We faced a tough defense, and some very good linebackers, but Dylan ran hard and the offensive line did a great job of making those holes up front for him.”

Nussbaum led the Tigers’ charge, tallying his 15th rushing touchdown in a 147-yard performance.

With the regular season now behind them, both the Thoroughbreds and Tigers will gear up for the start of the 2012 playoffs. Beechwood (6-4) will host Eminence in a class 1A showdown Friday night, while Newport Central Catholic (6-4) will return to Newport Stadium Friday to take on Gallatin County.



NewCath 0 14 6 14 --34
Beechwood 7 0 0 7 --14

B- Nussbaum 9 run (M. Sletto kick)
N-Cain 1 run (Caudill kick)
N-Hayes 26 run (Caudill kick)
N-Thacker 8 run (kick failed)
N-Hayes 5 run (Caudill kick)
N-Hayes 2 run (Caudill kick)
B-Studer 10 run (Burns kick)

Records: N 6-4, B 6-4.