LEXINGTON, Ky. — Beechwood became back-to-back state champs Friday, winning the KHSAA 2A state championship 23-21.

The Tigers faced a familiar foe at the University of Kentucky's Kroger Field, playing Lexington Christian in a rematch of last year's championship in which Beechwood won by one.

Beechwood took control of the first half, scoring on the opening possession and never looking back. The Tigers were up 20-7 at halftime, but LCA came roaring back. A defensive touchdown off a fumble gave LCA a 21-20 lead in the third quarter.

Jake Conrad's 36-yard field goal lifted Beechwood to a 23-21 lead with less than two minutes left in the game. While LCA was able to get the ball down to Beechwood's end of the field, they were unable to convert on fourth down, giving the ball back to the Tigers.

Cam Hergott was selected as the game's most valuable player.

Beechwood is the third Greater Cincinnati football team to win a state championship this week. Trailing 28-7 in the third quarter, Clinton-Massie pulled off a "surreal" comeback to win the OHSAA Division IV state championship. Winton Woods handily defeated Akron Archbishop Hoban Thursday to win the Division II championship. Badin lost a close Division III state final against Chardon.

RELATED: Clinton-Massie wins state title in miraculous fashion
RELATED: Winton Woods wins Division II state football final

CINCINNATI — Four Greater Cincinnati high school football programs are in their respective state finals next week.

WINTON WOODS
In Ohio, Winton Woods (12-3) plays Akron Archbishop Hoban (11-3) at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Division II state final at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

Winton Woods defeated Green 20-7 in a Division II state semifinal Friday night at Westerville Central.

The Warriors will make their third state final appearance, the first since finishing as state runner-up in 2017. Winton Woods won the 2009 Division II state title.

Winton Woods advances to state championship

CLINTON MASSIE
Badin (Division III) and Clinton-Massie (Division IV) will attempt to win their respective state titles on Dec. 3.

Clinton-Massie (13-1) plays Youngstown Ursuline (11-3) at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 3. The Falcons defeated Bloom-Carroll 24-21 in a Division IV state semifinal Friday night. The team is making its fourth state final appearance and the first since 2017, when it was a state runner-up. This would be their first state title since 2013.

Clinton-Massie overcomes early deficit to win in state semifinals

BADIN
Badin (14-0) plays Chardon (15-0) in a battle of undefeated teams in the Division III state final at 3 p.m. Dec. 3.

The Rams defeated Granville 14-0 in a Division III state semifinal Friday night. They are in the state final for the first time since 1990, when they won the Division III state championship. Their other appearances were in 1980 and 1978.

Badin's undefeated season continues

Moeller (11-4) completed its season as a Division I state semifinalist Friday night. Springfield defeated Moeller 22-21 to advance to the Division I state final.

BEECHWOOD
In Kentucky, Beechwood (14-0) plays Lexington Christian (14-0) in the 2A state final at 4 p.m. Dec. 3 at Kroger Field in Lexington.

Beechwood rolls to state championship game

The Tigers are going for their 16th state football title in program history. They defeated Lexington Christian 24-23 in the 2020 2A state final.

Ohio

State football finals at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium

Division II

Winton Woods (12-3) vs. Hoban (11-3), 7 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 2)

Division III

Badin (14-0) vs. Chardon (15-0), 3 p.m. Friday (Dec. 3)

Division IV

Clinton-Massie (13-1) vs. Youngstown Ursuline (11-3), 10:30 a.m. Friday (Dec. 3)

Kentucky

Friday, Dec. 3

2A state final at Kroger Field in Lexington

Beechwood (13-0) vs. Lexington Christian (13-0), 4 p.m.

CINCINNATI — Four Greater Cincinnati high school football games canceled last week due to the number of COVID-19 quarantined student-athletes.

Three games are canceled this Friday and another contest is already off the schedule for Sept. 3.

These cancellations, or what are considered no contests in Ohio, may only be the beginning this fall season. The reality is a sobering thought after a significant challenge for schools during the 2020-21 school year.

"I don't unfortunately see it changing which stinks," Wyoming High School athletic director Jan Wilking said. "It's going to continue to be a mad shuffle for games and to get everybody back at school and doing the right thing. I wish we were in this for the short run but unfortunately it's looking like another school year of mad shuffling and trying to just piece things together which will be a lot."

The natural reaction during this time of the delta variant is to wonder if history is repeating itself from 2020 when a number of games around Ohio were canceled in the first few weeks.

"No, I do not believe it's a here we go again situation," said Lakota West athletic director Scott Kaufman, who is the Ohio High School Athletic Association board of directors president. "I do believe it's time to reset and go back to some protocols from last year to minimize the number of quarantines that we're going through."

OHSAA

On Wednesday, the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations announced it has partnered with the NCAA, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the National Athletic Trainers' Association, eight national medical organizations and the U.S. Department of Education to promote COVID-19 vaccination in school-age students ages 12-18.

The District of Columbia, Hawaii and Connecticut are among the state athletic associations with campaigns to promote vaccinations.

The Hawaii High School Athletic Association has delayed its football season to Sept. 24 and is requiring all student-athletes, staff and volunteers to be fully vaccinated.

In Ohio, there are no state mandates regarding vaccinations, masks and social distancing. School districts and local health departments could set their own requirements.

Wilking said the parameters are clear in Wyoming City Schools for students to be able to fully participate in school and interscholastic athletics.

"As far as what we can do to prevent outbreaks and to keep kids in school which is what we all want whether they're being the star of the play or the star of the tennis team; you know vaccinations help," Wilking said. "You don't have to quarantine if you are vaccinated and masking helps."

Kaufman said too many people entered this fall season thinking circumstances were back to normal. Now is the time for teams to look in the mirror and take full responsibility.

"What are you willing to sacrifice in order to save your season?" Kaufman said. "We know the delta variant is more contagious than what we dealt with a year ago. And it's hard to believe that we are dealing with something worse than a year ago. It's a shame we are dealing with it because we have a solution."

If a student-athlete tests positive for COVID-19, that individual has to isolate for 10 days and receive medical clearance to return to play.

If a student-athlete is unmasked and unvaccinated and considered to be a close contact, the quarantine is a minimum of 10 days but that can be reduced to eight days if a negative test occurs after five days.

"We all need to be going back to our protocols and restrictions athletically that we started with last fall," Kaufman said. "Everything that we did last fall was designed to keep the kids healthy, to minimize the possibility of A: infection but B: being quarantined because of a close contact."

The Ohio High School Athletic Association said 16 season openers were canceled statewide last week.

The OHSAA said last week it is discussing policies related to COVID-19 cancellations and how that might impact the Harbin ratings, also known as the computer points playoff system.

Prior to 2020, there was an eight-game minimum in order to qualify for the postseason.

In Kentucky, there were 17 high school football games canceled out of 120 contests scheduled last week, according to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.

Six games have been canceled this week out of 117 scheduled on the KHSAA website.

KHSAA

"Schools just send us a report," KHSAA spokesperson Dan White said. "They go through the website and they report that game as a COVID cancellation and they are able to say if the COVID situation is with the home team or if it's with the visitor team."

The result is initially entered as the team with the quarantined student-athletes takes a loss while the opposing team receives the win. There are also procedures if both teams are in quarantine.

White said teams may choose to reschedule that canceled game or find other opponents which would change the initial result.

Cancellations involving soccer games and girls volleyball matches are also tracked weekly, White said.

"The (KHSAA) commissioner (Julian Tackett) is always in communication with the schools," White said. "Our COVID-19 guidance is up on the website so schools have been sent that. Obviously, keeping track of the virus as it changes."

Athletic administrators know circumstances change from hour to hour. They are starting to wonder about the winter season, too.

"It concerns me because we're still in summer months and if we don't get this more under control with the help of vaccinations by the time it gets colder and we're indoors, I worry about how many more steps backwards we're going to take," Kaufman said.