Senior Ryan Amelung returned a pair of kicks for touchdowns to help Beechwood High School win its 10th Kentucky High School Athletic Association State Championship. The Tigers (13-2) survived a 38-35 shootout with Lexington Christian (11-4) Friday afternoon in Louisville, Ky. at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

Beechwood hit the scoreboard first when quarterback Cody Elliott scored on a nine-yard touchdown run after a 5:41 scoring march. Lexington Christian tied the score just over two minutes later when bruising fullback Dominique Hayden plunged into the end zone after a three-yard run.

Amelung's first touchdown - a 99-yard kickoff return - came with 2:18 left in the first quarter and put Beechwood up 14-7. Just 5-foot-9, 173-pounds, Amelung shifted, swiveled and sprinted his way downfield and into the open for the touchdown.

The Tigers increased their lead to 21-7 on a five-yard run by fullback Tommy Bankemper with 6:39 in the second quarter. LCA answered with an 11-play, 57-yard scoring drive. The drive was capped by a one-yard touchdown push by Hayden.

Beechwood took a 21-14 lead into halftime, but Lexington Christian didn't stay down for long. The Eagles recovered an onsides kick to start the second half, and scored on a 20-yard pass from Lucas Witt to Brandon Burnette.

Beechwood didn't score in answer, and LCA took over on the Tigers' 36 yard line after a fumble by Amelung. But the Eagles failed to convert on fourth and seven on the 33.

But LCA got the ball back two plays later on the Beechwood 32 when Cody Elliott's pass was intercepted by LCA's Matt Ledford. LCA scored to take a 28-21 lead on a 10-yard run by Hayden with 5:49 left in the third quarter.

Beechwood narrowed the lead to 28-23 when a LCA punt was blocked at about the eight yard line. A mad scrambled ensued for the ball, resulting in a safety as the ball skittered out of bounds.

Beechwood regained the lead when Elliott found receiver Brady Slusher open downfield and completed a long pass that was carried to the five yard line. That play set up a five-yard, go-ahead touchdown run from Bankemper two plays later. Elliott found Bankemper sprinting across the right side of the end zone for the two-point conversion.

Now ahead 31-28 with 1:50 left in the third quarter, Beechwood increased the lead to ten with Amelung's second punt-return for a touchdown on the day. Amelung reversed field after being hemmed in on the left side, and found daylight for the 62-yard touchdown.

LCA seemed to be on the comeback trail when Witt found Burdette for a 49-yard touchdown pass with 11:05 left in the fourth quarter to cut the Beechwood lead to four, 38-34. The point after cut the lead to three, but LCA wouldn't get any closer.

A possible winning touchdown pass from Witt was intercepted by Beechwood's Neico Teipel in the end zone for a touchback with 4:00 left in the game. Beechwood was forced to punt on its next drive, but LCA's final drive fell short and Witt threw a fourth-down pass downfield, and it was intercepted by Beechwood's Joe Daniels at the LCA 44.