[Stardust]

Beechwood football coach Noel Rash doesn't keep track of how many tackles individual defenders record, because he knows it's often the sacrifice his defensive linemen make that allow the outstanding linebacker duo of Max Nussbaum and Joe Staten to roam free and often make those tackles.

That line will certainly face a stern test when Beechwood plays at Mayfield in a Class A state semifinal playoff game at 8:30 p.m. today in a matchup of state powers.

One or the other has played in the state championship game eight of the last nine seasons - Beechwood five times, winning three, and defending state champion Mayfield four times, winning two titles.

This will be the third straight season the teams have met in the semifinals with Mayfield winning 38-0 in 2009 in Mayfield and 38-14 last season at Beechwood.

Mayfield (13-0) brings a 28-game winning streak into the game, dating back to losing in the 2009 Class A state championship game to Lexington Christian.

Beechwood (12-1) went 6-0 against Class A opponents, outscoring those foes 354-47. Mayfield also went 6-0 in Class A, with a 311-23 scoring margin.

Despite outstanding skill on both sides, Rash says tonight's game will be settled in the trenches.

"When you get to this time of the playoffs up front is where you win them and lose them," said Rash, who led Beechwood to Class A state titles in 2007 and 2008. "They blocked us up pretty good last year, but they use a lot of the same blocking schemes we use, so it really comes down to guys making plays."

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Nussbaum, a junior, 5-foot-10, 190-pound Staten, a senior, are the two best playmakers on defense, but Rash freely admits the success of the defense starts up front.

Rash mixes three-, four- and five-man fronts, featuring 5-foot-9, 215-pound senior Josh Bradley at one tackle with either 6-foot, 235-pound senior Drew Verkamp or 6-foot, 205-pound senior Dylan Lawless at the other tackle. The end features a rotation of 6-2, 215-pound senior Darrick Brilz, 6-5, 210-pound senior Dane Everett and 6-5, 210-pound senior Corey Cruse.

"With Max and State as good as they are, they can't do the things they do without those guys in front of them fencing people off," said Rash. "In this game we definitely don't want their blockers reaching our linebackers."

There are times Rash allows the line to try and make plays by jumping into gaps, but he said that's often dictated by down and distance and credits assistant coach Jeremy Fisher for providing good tendencies about what opponents do in those situations.

It will also be a big game for the Beechwood offensive line of senior left tackler Brett Eyckmans (6-5, 270), senior left guard Sean Flannery (6-0, 245), senior center Jeremy Williams (5-11, 230), right guards Lawless and Verkamp, who rotate, and senior right Caleb Wheat (6-4, 280).

"This game isn't about one or two guys it's about us getting it done together," said Rash. "That's ultimately what it comes down to every year."


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