KENTUCKY THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2014 I3

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Beechwood
2013 record: 8-5 overall, 3-0 district (lost
to Frankfort in the third round of the play-
offs)
Head coach: Noel Rash (8th season at
Beechwood and overall, 85-27)
Key losses: OLB/WR Devon Everett,
WR/DB Max Shover, OL Luke Maricle.
Key returnees: JR QB Kyle Fieger (2,305
PaYds, 28 TDs), Sr RB/DB Joe Studer (1,011
all-purpose yds, 9 TDs), JR WR/OLB Brett
Slusher (153 ReYds, 1 TD), JR RB Ethan
Stringer(1,301 all-purpose yds, 14 TDs), JR
OL/DE Brayden Combs, SR TE/DE Jonathan
Stokes (7 TDs).
Outlook: The Tigers are loaded with
returning talent on the both sides of the
ball, and have depth at just about every
position chomping at the bit to make their
mark on the varsity level.
Junior quarterback Kyle Fieger could be
primed to make another jump forward as
an upperclassman, after piling up 39 touch-
down passes in his first two years of high
school. Last years leading rusher, Ethan
Stringer, who is committed to play baseball
at the University of Louisville, showed big-
play ability in a variety of ways last year a
sophomore, and should be one of the top
running backs in Northern Kentucky. Senior
do-it-all back Joe Studer, senior redzone
specialist tight end Jonathan Stokes, and
senior wide receiver Jeremy Burns should
provide plenty of experienced options for
Fieger to look to.
The returning talent on defense may be
even more impressive for the Tigers. Junior
Brayden Combs, a two-way starter on the
offensive line and at defensive end, who is
committed to play baseball at the University
of Kentucky, should draw a lot of attention
from opposing blockers as an imposing
physical presence to free up his teammates.
He, along with his fellow defensive end
Stokes and senior defensive tackle Riley
McKown should make a formidable defen-
sive front. Fellow Juniors Ryan Bankemper
and Brett Slusher (who also starts at WR)
combined with senior Bret Finck should give
the Tigers an experienced and reliable
linebacking corp. The secondary will also be
chocked full of athletes, with plenty of
two-way players rotating in and out to stay
fresh.
With no noticeable weaknesses heading
into the season and plenty of experience
after returning 12 starters from last years
team that lost in the state quarterfinals,
Beechwood looks like a legit state title
contender. Early tests against Mount
Healthy (OH), Dixie, Franklin County and
CovCath should provide a good litmus test
for this team.
Bellevue
2013 record: 7-5 overall, 2-1 district (lost
to Frankfort in the second round of the
playoffs)
Head coach: Johnny Poynter (2nd season
at Bellevue, 7-5, 12th season overall, 64-62)
Key losses: QB Tyler Ackerson, RB/DB
Justin Hatch, RB/LB Dylan Huff, RB/LB Zack
Poinsett, OL/DL Hayden Swope
Key returnees: Sr. DL/QB Alec Hazeres
(30 TFL, 18 sacks, 8 FR); Sr. WR/DB Blake
Stephenson (1,038 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs); Sr.
WR/DE Zach Barrett (259 yards, 31 tackles);
Sr. DE Austin Woodyard (46 tackles, 1 INT)
Top newcomers: Sr. QB/LB Tate Granger;
Sr. WR/DB Nate Arnzen; So. DB Tucker
Thomas; Jr. OL Bryson Combs
Outlook: The Bellevue Air-Raid offense
was a big success in head coach Johnny
Poynters first year at the helm, as the Tigers
had a winning season while racking up
school records and made it to the second
round of the KHSAA state playoffs. Achiev-
ing that same level of success in year two
with low numbers and after key gradua-
tions will be difficult.
Poynter will need fresh faces to step up
and surprise if the Tigers are to reach last
years standard. Heading into the season,
they look to have enough talent to at least
retain their second place spot in 1A District
4.
Making up the production of last years
quarterback Tyler Ackerson 3,700 yards
and 37 touchdowns will be a difficult task
on offense. Senior Tate Granger is hoping to
step in and be that guy. The key for the
Tigers will be getting the ball to its two
playmaking wide receivers, seniors Blake
Stephenson and Alec Hazeres. Stephenson is
closing in on Bellevues career yardage and
receptions records.
Defensively the Tigers will be led by a
pair of returning seniors in Zach Barrett and
Austin Woodyard. The duo combined for 77
tackles last year. Those two combined with
Hazeres, who was second on the team with
77 tackles from his defensive line position
last year, should make for a solid defensive
front. Senior Nate Arnzen and sophomore
Tucker Thomas should step in and help out
a secondary anchored by a three-year start-
er in Stephenson.
Due to the low numbers, making it
through the first seven games of the season
healthy will be a huge key for the Tigers if
they expect to have any type of success in
district play and the postseason.
Ludlow
2013 record: 4-7 overall, 1-2 district (lost
to Paris in the first round of the playoffs
16-41
Head coach: Rick Hornsby (7th season at
Ludlow, 17-36, 7th season overall, 17-36)
Key losses: QB/LB Mitchell Cody, WR/DB
Zach Cole
Key returnees: Sr. WR/DE Logan Doane
(11 catches, 199 yards); Jr. RB/LB Jeremiah
Martin (580 Yards, 2 TDs); Jr. OL/DL Deale-
sean Holbert (11 tackles, 3 gms)
Outlook: Ludlow has a few key playmak-
ers back from last years 4-7 campaign, but
there are many questions still to be an-
swered - chief among them being how will
they replace the production of Mitchell
Cody on both sides of the ball?
The strength of the Panthers offense lies
in its talent at the skill positions. Theyve
had a run of talented receivers since Horns-
by has been at the helm, and this year there
are a few returners looking to make a
bigger splash in 2014. Seniors Logan Doane
and Tim Deller, and junior Trent Ledbetter
should all be capable of making plays on
the perimeter. Look for sophomore Devlin
Carter to get his shot at replacing Cody at
quarterback, but Doane could also see
snaps.
Defensively, the Panthers lack size up
front, but have six players who played
varsity football last year. Expect Doane and
fellow linebacker junior Dalesean Holbert to
lead the way, with Ledbetter and Martin
providing experience in the secondary.
Hornsby has a nice mix of senior leaders
and young guys who want to improve.
There are a lot of question marks for this
team, but also a lot of excitement surround-
ing the program with the opening of a new
facility and the next generation of Panthers
looking to make an impact on the program.
CLASS 1A
DISTRICT 4
By Rick Broering
Enquirer contributor
See CLASS 1A DISTRICT 4, Page I12