Beechwood's Daniel Hicks struggles to pull down NewCath's Luke Giesler. (Brandi Stafford photos) | ZOOM |

        FORT MITCHELL — Beechwood said goodbye Friday to its string of eight straight shutouts, and Newport Central Catholic made the two-time defending Class A state champion say so long to its 2000 season as well.

        NewCath junior linebacker Vail Brennan's 42-yard interception return for a touchdown with 5:31 left in the third quarter was enough to give the Thoroughbreds a 17-14 win over Beechwood at Edgar McNabb Field.

        “We came out here, we played our best, and we won,” Brennan said.

        The Thoroughbreds will travel to Bellevue for the Region 3 championship next Friday. Bellevue beat Nicholas County 36-9.

        NewCath coach Bob Schneider had coached 399 football games in 35 seasons at NewCath before Friday. It took him a nanosecond to call game No.400 — and victory No.241 — the best.

NewCath's Jeff Hellmann pursues Beechwood's Mike Nie. | ZOOM |

        “There haven't been many bigger in 400 games,” Schneider said. “Hey, they never lose at home, they haven't given up a point in eight games, and we beat them. And I tell you what, (our) kids earned it.”

        Besides the eight straight shutouts, three other Beechwood streaks ended: its 47-game home game winning streak; its winning streak since 1993 over NewCath; and its nine-year string of reaching at least the state semifinals.

        “They played hard,” Beechwood coach Mike Yeagle said. “You don't want to say it, but the percentages were against us. We've done some good things here; we won 47 straight games at home. ... It's sports; anything can happen, and I give NewCath all the credit in the world and wish them all the luck in the world next week.”

        And after Beechwood took a 14-0 lead on sophomore running back Kevin Martella's 1-yard TD run with 9:10 left in the first half, it was NewCath that turned in the better performance on defense.

Beechwood's David Potter holds onto the ball while tackled by Giesler. | ZOOM |

        Beechwood outgained NewCath 290 yards to 276, but the Thoroughbreds intercepted senior quarterback Mike Nie four times — Brennan had two, and senior Hank Bosley had two to shut down Beechwood's final two drives.

        In addition, NewCath junior Luke Giesler recovered a fumble, and Brennan and senior Mike Shields each had a sack.

        “It was time for us to have a defensive game,” Bosley said.

        But there were some highlights for NewCath on offense as well: Junior Steve Everson ran 32 times for 153 yards.

        NewCath mistakes led to Beechwood's first touchdown. After a holding penalty wiped out Beechwood senior Nick Sketch's 62-yard punt return for touchdown, NewCath had three offside penalties, which led to Nie's 1-yard plunge with 4:09 left in the first quarter.

        Martella's touchdown was maybe the last thing that went right for Beechwood the rest of game.

        Beechwood had not allowed a point since a touch down by Newport on Sept.8. NewCath ended the string with 3:57 left in the half on a 17-yard pass from junior quarterback Jeff Smith to junior fullback Tyler Barto.

        Everson started NewCath's opening drive of the second half with two carries for 44 yards. Two holding penalties and an illegal motion call stalled things, but senior Rob Schumacher's 40-yard field goal with 7:21 left closed Beechwood's lead to 14-10.

        Three Beechwood plays later, Brennan's intercepted Nie's pass, which was short.

        “He threw it right to me,” Brennan said. “I covered it with both arms. I didn't want to fumble. I did whatever I could to get into the end zone.”

        Newport CC ....... 0 7 10 0—17

        Beechwood ....... 7 7 0 0—14

        B—Nie 1 run (Arlinghaus kick)

        B—Martella 1 run (Arlinghaus kick)

        NCC—Barto 17 pass from Smith (Schumacher kick)

        NCC—Schumacher 40 field goal

        NCC—Brennan 42 interception return (Schumacher kick)

        Records: NCC 8-4, B 11-1

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