Jordan Fann enters his third season as Lloyd’s starting quarterback with more than 2,500 career passing yards. (Photo by Jim Day)
The NKyTribune is featuring each of the 21 high school football teams in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties leading up to the first games of the 2017 season on Aug. 18. We will then provide focused coverage of our local teams throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.
By Christopher Decker
NKyTribune contributor
When the Lloyd football team took the field for a 7-on-7 scrimmage game two weeks ago, head coach Eric Turner wanted to test senior quarterback Jordan Fann’s passing accuracy.
“We said, ‘Hey, let’s see how many completions we can get. Let’s see how we can do getting it to open guys with the 3-yard throws and the 5-yard throws,’” Turner said.
Jordan Fann
The result was one of the best days Turner had ever seen from his senior quarterback. Fann completed 80 percent of his passes and did not throw an interception.
The development of the short passing game is part of the maturing process for Fann, who is entering his third season as Lloyd’s starting quarterback with more than 2,500 career passing yards.
“He definitely has a strong arm and likes to throw it down the field,” Turner said. “His maturity level has grown to where now he takes what he is given and he is seeing he can be successful, and the team can be successful, with those under throws and throwing to guys that are open and letting the guys go make plays.”
While his decision-making has improved, Fann has also been working on his footwork over the summer to become a more complete quarterback.
“Last year and the year before, footwork wasn’t always a big thing for me,” he said. “This previous year and this summer, I’ve been working constantly to get my footwork right. Now I look on film and it’s second nature. I don’t even think about doing my footwork. I just do it.”
Fann threw for 1,125 yards and 12 touchdows last season when the Juggernauts finished with a 6-6 record after losing to Newport Central Catholic in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs. Turner said injuries were a large part of the team’s struggles after going 9-4 the previous year.
Lloyd coach Eric Turner
“In 24 years of coaching, I’ve never been a part of a team where we lost so many guys,” Turner said. “Our last game we had four freshmen starting and three or four sophomores playing on defense. And when you’re playing in the second round (of the playoffs) against NCC, that’s a problem.”
One of the sophomores on last year’s team who gained valuable experience was running back Travon Mason, who picked up 707 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
Two of Fann’s key targets at wide receiver this season will be seniors Jamarow Dawson and Isaiah Voet, who had a combined total of 285 receiving yards in supporting roles last season.
“Isaiah Voet, I think, is a guy who should have a big year,” Turner said. “He’s a big wide receiver and he’s going to be in a lot of one-on-one match-ups with Jammarow on the other side.”
Going into his senior season, Fann isn’t concerned with the number of wins the team accumulates. He is more concerned about the attitude and work ethic of this group.
“I want to be known as a team that gave a 110 percent every game and was selfless,” Fann said. “No one was a ‘me’ player and everyone was on the same page. Team first. I don’t care what our record is, I just want to be known as a team that worked hard 24/7.”
If that happens, Fann believes the Juggernauts will have a successful regular season and be a serious contender in the Class 2A playoffs.
“I know with the talent we have here and if we work 110 percent every game, there is no doubt in my mind that the (wins) will come and we will get deep in the playoffs,” he said.
LLOYD JUGGERNAUTS
2016 SEASON: 6-6 record, lost in second round of Class 2A playoffs.
DISTRICT: Class 2A, District 4 with Holy Cross, Newport and Newport Central Catholic.
HEAD COACH: Eric Turner (29-18 in three seasons at Lloyd).
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 – vs. West Jessamine, 8:30 p.m.
Aug. 25 – BEECHWOOD, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 – at Marion County, 8 p.m.
Sept. 15 – HOLMES, 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 – GRANT COUNTY, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 29 – at Conner, 7 p.m.
Oct. 6 – at Newport, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 – at Newport Central Catholic, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 – HOLY CROSS, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 – at Scott, 7 p.m.
Other NKyTribune prep football previews:
DAYTON GREENDEVILS
COVINGTON CATHOLIC COLONELS
BISHOP BROSSART MUSTANGS
WALTON-VERONA BEARCATS
COOPER JAGUARS
SCOTT EAGLES
LUDLOW PANTHERS
HIGHLANDS BLUEBIRDS
