Beechwood 35, Frankfort 13

CINCINNATI - For the sixth time in the last seven years the Beechwood Tigers ended the Frankfort Panthers’ season in the playoffs as they won 35-13 in front of a home crowd in Ft. Mitchell.

This time it came as a bit of a surprise as the undermanned Tigers continued to show big heart and huge resolve after suspensions threatened to cut their post-season run short.

The victory was the eighth one over the last nine tilts for Beechwood (9-4) after a 1-3 start. Senior Max Nussbaum was all about willing his team to victory. Nussbaum scored all five of the Tigers’ touchdowns, rushing for 140 yards and racking up over 200 all-purpose yards. His five scores give him 24 on the year despite missing the first four contests of 2012.

The poise of freshman quarterback Kyle Fieger has been uncanny. The youngster connected with Nussbaum on a 54-yard touchdown giving him nine scoring tosses in three starts with no interceptions. Fieger finished with 153 yards through the air and has only had 10 incomplete passes on the year.

As good as Nussbaum was on defense the Beechwood defense stepped up just as big. The Tigers forced three Frankfort (11-2) turnovers. They held the Panthers’ offense that came into the game averaging 46 points per tilt to a season low 13 points.

Beechwood will host arch-nemesis Mayfield (12-1) next Friday night. The Cardinals have eliminated the Tigers in the postseason in each of the last three campaigns.