COVINGTON, Ky. -- Aiden Justice rushed for 113 yards and added 161 yards receiving, accounting for three total touchdowns as Beechwood held off Holy Cross, 40-33.
The Indians never had the lead, but three times it pulled to within one score, including two second-half TD runs by Xavier Abernathy.
The teams amassed 904 yards of total offense, as Beechwood led with 479. The Tigers threw for 324 yards while Holy Cross ran for 349.
PHOTOS: Beechwood tops Holy Cross 40-33
Beechwood’s Braydon Burch was 16 of 29 for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Justice led the team in receiving, and Logan Castleman added three catches for 72 yards and one TD.
The Indians’ Derrick Barnes rushed for 246 yards on just 16 carries – 15.4 per carry – and touchdowns from 64 and 89 yards out. Abernathy chipped in 98 ground yards on 14 rushes, running in the final two Holy Cross scores.
Listen below as the TriStateFootball.com crew chats with Beechwood head coach Noel Rash:
The Tigers suffered their first loss of the season last week vs. Covington Catholic. After holding their first three opponents to 28 total points, they have allowed 77 in their last two games.
Beechwood heads to Newport as it completes a stretch of three straight road games.
It was the first in-state loss of the season for the Indians, who had allowed just seven points in three games vs. Kentucky opponenents.
Holy Cross travels to Bethlehem next week.
It will be the final non-district tune-up for both teams.
