St. Henry and Dixie Heights open the KHSAA football playoffs Friday, Nov. 6, while unbeaten Beechwood advances directly to the second round following Morgan County’s withdrawal.

Beechwood (10-0) earned the No. 1 ranking in Class 2A in the latest statewide media poll, the Northern Kentucky Tribune reported. The Tigers received a first-round bye after Morgan County (2-8) withdrew from the bracket.

Beechwood's second-round opponent will be the winner of Friday's St. Henry at West Carter game.

St. Henry at West Carter

The Crusaders (5-5) travel to West Carter (3-7) for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday. St. Henry is in its second varsity season under head coach Tim Odom. The program went 2-9 in its inaugural year, according to a preseason preview from LinkNKY.

Brothers Lucas and Owen Pate anchor the Crusaders on both sides of the ball. Lucas plays running back and edge rusher, while Owen lines up at fullback and nose guard. In the program's first season, Lucas rushed for 338 yards and four touchdowns, and Owen added 115 yards and a score.

A win would send St. Henry to Beechwood for a second-round matchup against the top-ranked Tigers.

Dixie Heights hosts Collins

Dixie Heights (4-6) hosts Collins (7-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a Class 5A first-round game.

Beechwood's perfect run

Head coach Noel Rash returned to the Fort Mitchell program this season after a three-year break. Rash won eight state championships in nine title-game appearances during his first 17-year stint leading the Tigers, according to an August preseason preview from the Northern Kentucky Tribune. The program has claimed 18 state titles in the past 42 seasons.

Beechwood brought back eight starters on offense and eight on defense from a 2025 team that went 11-2 and lost 41-40 to Owensboro Catholic in the region finals of the Class 2A playoffs.

Senior quarterback Emmett Queen, a 6-foot-4, 216-pound Wake Forest commit, threw for 2,710 yards and 39 touchdowns with just two interceptions in 2025. Senior Tyler Fryman, who has committed to the University of Kentucky for football and baseball, is among seven seniors playing both ways.

In the August preview, Rash called the program special. "It's very emotional for me, this place is as special as it's ever been," he said.

What's next

After the second round, the KHSAA will seed remaining teams in each class using the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), which factors in won-loss record and strength of schedule. The higher seed in each matchup earns a home game.

Friday's first-round schedule for area teams:

  • Class 2A: St. Henry (5-5) at West Carter (3-7), 7 p.m.
  • Class 5A: Collins (7-3) at Dixie Heights (4-6), 7:30 p.m.
  • Class 2A: Beechwood (10-0) — bye