BY RAY SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT MITCHELL - When Beechwood puts on its white helmets with the red paws on the sides in August, the goal is to play in Louisville the first Friday in December.
The Tigers continued their drive for an eighth Class A state title Friday. Senior quarterback Derek Estep found junior Ben List for a 40-yard score, and senior fullback Justin O'Brien ran for three TDs in a 29-0 win in the Class A Region 3 finals at Edgar McNabb Field.
Beechwood travels to Middlesboro next Friday for a rematch of last year's state semifinals. Friday, Middlesboro eliminated Pikeville, 58-28, by scoring 30 unanswered points during the final five minutes.
"It's a win," Beechwood coach Mike Yeagle said. "That's what we wanted to do is get to the state semifinals. That's what we did."
Even though Beechwood scored four touchdowns, O'Brien said the Tigers basically survived.
"We came out flat the first half," he said. "We didn't execute really anything. We came out, I guess we thought we had the game." Is it accurate to call Beechwood a dynasty? Possibly - the Tigers seek their seventh state title in eight years and eighth overall (Beechwood won in 1984, 1991-94 and 1996-97).
Beechwood also extended its winning streak to 38 straight games, which places the Tigers in a fourth-place tie with Paris' streak from 1981-83. Friday's win was the Tigers' eighth straight regional title.
But Yeagle, who is 103-9 at Beechwood, wasn't thinking dynasty after watching Beechwood lead just 8-0 at halftime.
"Let's put it this way: We've got full equipment practice (Saturday) morning at 9 a.m.," Yeagle said. "We're going to improve a lot of things."
O'Brien scored from seven, one and 21 yards out.
"He's a good football player," Yeagle said. "He needed to step his game up like he did. He finally stepped it up the second half. That's what you've got to do when you're a senior if you want to keep moving on."
Senior tailback Noah Schachter led the Tigers (12-0) 13 carries for 113 yards. O'Brien had 14 carries for 83 yards.
Dayton finished with a 6-6 record. The Greendevils have not beaten Beechwood since 1978.
"I think our kids came in thinking they could play with (Beechwood)," Dayton coach Dan Ridder said. "They just outmuscled us the second half. We're trying to contend with 6-4, 6-5 linemen, and I just don't have the same size guys that are going to be able to do that."
Beechwood struggled on its first drive. Estep hit senior Jordan Jobe with a 9-yarder to get the ball to the Dayton 12. Senior Justin O'Brien's run gained nothing, and Estep threw two incompletions. The Tigers gained just 135 yards in the first half, but Dayton managed only 71, and leading rusher Charlie Young, who came into the game with 1,108 yards, had 39 yards on 10 carries.
For the night, Beechwood recovered two fumbles and intercepted two passes.
O'Brien's 1-yarder with 10:09 left in the game capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive, and his 21 yarder ended the scoring with 5:09 left in the game.
Dayton 0 0 0 0 - 0
Beechwood 0 8 7 14 - 29
B-List 40 pass from Estep (List run)
B-O'Brien 7 run (Robb kick)
B-O'Brien 1 run (Robb kick)
B-O'Brien 21 run (Robb kick)
Records: D 6-6, B 12-0.
