Northwood’s loss to Rummel ends Beach family’s 56-year legacy at the school

BLANCHARD — The Beach Boys and their prodigy have long been a favorite of the folks around northern Caddo Parish.

Embedded into this novel community like few families are in their little corner of Louisiana, Howard, Richard and Ben Beach, along with Sandy, Chris and Hutson Hearron have impacted Northwood athletics in countless ways.

“They’re pretty much the ‘first family’ of Northwood football support,” said Northwood football coach Austin Brown.

When Northwood opened in 1967, Howard and Richard were two of the engines that made the team go. Richard was a talented quarterback who signed with Louisiana Tech before playing at SAU. Howard was a moderately talented linebacker with a mean streak as wide as an I-49 interchange. If he hit you, you’d remember it.

Howard’s son, Ben, quarterbacked the Falcons in the late 1990s before playing at Northwestern State. His sister, Sandy, a Northwood teacher, married former Southwood quarterback Chris Hearron and they produced current Northwood quarterback Hutson Hearron, the last in a long line of Beach-related athletes moving through the Falcon farm system.

Sadly, that athletic production process ended for all practical purposes Friday night when Northwood lost to Archbishop Rummel, 34-14, in the opening round of the LHSAA Select Division I playoffs at Jerry Burton Memorial Stadium.

Hearron and his teammates had a rough night but then they’re a Shreveport area public school trying to compete with a New Orleans private school, as plenty of folks at the game were quick to point out. For Hearron, it was the end of the road in a sport he loves with a burnt orange passion.

“I’ve made more memories in this one-mile-square than I will ever in my life,” said Hutson in a broken voice. “There’s nothing I’d change — except maybe playing on turf all those 18 years — I grew up down the street. I came up here playing Pee Wee football — man, it’s been a long journey.”

Hutson had a stellar second half of his only season as the starting quarterback for the Falcons after playing tight end, wide receiver, blocking back and punter in previous seasons.

“I guess what I’m proudest about it is that Hutson found ways to be an integral part of the team until he became the starting QB his senior year,” said Chris Hearron, who played at Louisiana Monroe. “He never griped or moaned about not getting a shot at QB. I’m very appreciative to the coaching staff and how they been such a great part of his career.”

Howard Beach attends most practices, sometimes sitting outside the fence in his car. During home games, he sits in a chair on the track of the south end zone critiquing his grandson’s play. He was there Friday night despite chilly wet weather.

“I’m hard on him, but Hutson’s a great kid, who works very hard,” Beach said. “He developed late as a quarterback because he never went to camps like other kids in the summer. I’m gonna miss slipping out here to watch him.”

Hutson is buddies with Carson Wall, son of Northwood principal Shannon Wall, and Wall said the two boys are vastly different.

“When they see each other, it’s pretty special,” Wall said. “There is a care and concern that a lot of kids that age are not capable of. I love that kid.”

Hutson’s still got baseball season going for him and he’s the third base anchor on a championship caliber Falcon baseball team. The entire Beach brigade will take in that sport because who knows if there’ll ever be another relative to compete at Northwood. Meanwhile, Sandy is steeling herself against the inevitable.

“All good things come to an end. Northwood has been good to Hutson, and Hutson has been good to Northwood,” she said. “As a family, we’ve been absorbed in watching him continue the story of my dad and my brother in athletics. It’s been almost theatrical. Now we’re at a fork in the road, but I’m confident he’ll be successful no matter which turn he takes. He’s got everything he needs to make his way.”

Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Legacy closed: Northwood's loss ends family's athletic run at the school