Trailing
38-35 after a 49-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lucas Witt
to Branden Burdette early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles
drove to Beechwood’s 2-yard line late in the game. On fourth
down and goal, opting to go for it instead of kicking a
potentially game-tying field goal, the Tigers’ Neico Teipel
intercepted Witt in the end zone.
LCA (11-4)
out-gained top-ranked Beechwood 330-219. Witt was 27-for-48 for
290 yards and two touchdowns but was picked off three times.
Tommy Bankemper led Beechwood with 64 yards rushing on 18
carries and two touchdowns. Quarterback Cody Elliott was
4-of-12 for 108 yards. Beechwood had five turnovers on the day
and LCA had three.
Highlands
(15-0) had little trouble rolling to their 17th
overall state title with a dominating 28-7 win over Bowling
Green. The Bluebirds came into the game ranked No. 1 in the
final Associated Press state poll with Bowling Green (13-2) No.
2.
Highlands
jumped out to a commanding 21-0 halftime lead and cruised in the
second half. The Bluebirds totaled 330 yards of offense behind
junior running back Josh Conner and quarterback Clay Cecil.
Conner rushed for 131 yards on 27 carries and two touchdowns.
Cecil added 88 yards rushing on 26 carries and 93 yards passing
(4-for-6) with one touchdown.
Highlands
held a Bowling Green team that was averaging 50 points a game to
182 yards of total offense and one third quarter touchdown.
Newport
Central Catholic’s bid for a third straight state title came up
short in Class 2A as the Thoroughbreds fell to Fort Campbell
21-7.
Fort
Campbell broke a 7-7 tie with two fourth quarter touchdowns
including the game-clincher on a 68-yard touchdown run by Dexter
Durrante, who led the Falcons with 121 rushing yards.
Fort
Campbell had 406 yards of total offense compared to 255 for NCC.
Quarterback Rob Kues was 16-for-28 for 160 yards and one
touchdown and rushed for 58 yards on 15 carries to lead NCC.
- Ed Letsinger
