A year ago this weekend, Noel Rash was charged with stopping one of the most potent offenses in Kentucky. The Beechwood defensive coordinator looked at Covington Catholic's spread attack, which had averaged 43 points in its three wins, and thought his defense had the answer.
But that hasn't stopped Rash, now in his first year as the Tigers' head coach, from viewing tonight's rematch with the Colonels any differently.
"...
But you've got to get into it and find out. Last year we thought (we) matched up well with (Kurt) Bovard, and then ..
."
Then the game started. And when Bovard, the Colonels' leading receiver, was done, he had caught 13 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns in CovCath's 28-14 victory.
Bovard, now a senior, will be one of the biggest challenges of the year for a Beechwood pass defense that rates among the state's best.
"We're excited about it, at least the defensive backs are," said Beechwood senior defensive back Pete Kayiatos, who likely will be charged with keeping Bovard in check. "We know their quarterback (Josh Bleser) has a great arm.
We've just got to stay true to the pass. We're looking for interceptions and big game-changing plays."
Kayiatos, along with fellow defensive back Ross Finan and linebacker Mike Moreton, lead a defense that has allowed just 14 completions for 139 yards in three games.
Although the Tigers have faced two teams that were forced to pass after falling behind, they've yet to play a team that throws the ball as effectively as CovCath.
The Colonels boast six players with five or more catches, including Bovard (14 receptions, 215 yards) and tight end Peter Sutton (12 receptions, 151 yards). Despite graduating quarterback Drew Ellison, last year's Enquirer Player of the Year, the Colonels have thrown just five fewer passes than they had through four games last season.
They haven't been as effective - they've thrown for 605 yards, compared to 842 at this point last season - but Rash knows CovCath coach John Rodenberg will challenge Beechwood through the air like last year.
"They're much more under-center this year. .
.. Bleser's a pocket quarterback more than a guy that's going to run it on you," Rash said.
"That's a big difference. Outside of that, they're running a lot of the same routes. That's John's offense.
He's going to run his offense and tailor it to specific needs. He's done a good job."
Last year was Rodenberg's first foray into the CovCath-Beechwood rivalry, one of the best and most intense games in Northern Kentucky each season.
"It's a great rivalry. This is my first trip over there, and I hear it's great," Rodenberg said. "I'm sure they get up for it.
I try to downplay the rivalry games. I try not to get too high on it. But anytime you can pack a stadium and people are excited, that's great.
It should be a good game. We're going to have to play good football to beat them."
Beechwood's pass defense is one of the best in the state.
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