BY BOO NEWSOME
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

FORT MITCHELL — Martin County entered the Class 2A Regional championship Saturday against Beechwood in Fort Mitchell with high hopes. The three-hour trek to Edgar McNabb Field followed a series of pep rallies and a community send-off. However, the Beechwood Tigers proved too much for the Cardinals, who were without the services of defensive leader, senior Madden Miller, resulting in a 55-0 Martin County loss.

Beechwood scored a touchdown on the first play with a 53-yard pass from quarterback Clay Hayden to wide receiver Tyler Fryman. This set the tone for the game and Beechwood maintained control throughout.

The Cardinals struggled to establish offensive momentum, facing setbacks like failed fourth-down conversions and turnovers.

Despite Martin County’s resilience, exemplified by senior Bryston Wells forcing a fumble, the Cardinals could not overcome Beechwood’s dominance. The Tigers established a 41-0 lead by halftime.

The running clock after halftime signaled a challenging remainder of the game for the Cardinals.

Individual player statistics reflected Martin County’s struggle, with QB Jackson Miller facing interceptions and the team accumulating four turnovers in as many possessions.

In contrast, Beechwood’s Hayden demonstrated remarkable accuracy, passing for 316 yards and six touchdowns.

The defeat marked the end of a 7-6 season for the Cardinals, the Class 2A District 7 champion and regional runner-up.