By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Lloyd’s football coaching staff decided to take senior Travon Mason out of the defensive lineup so he could focus his energy on being the team’s primary running back. That move made perfect sense after watching the Juggernauts’ dominating performance in a 30-0 win over Newport on Friday in the first Class 2A district game for both teams.
Mason rushed for 156 yards on 29 carries and scored 12 points on a touchdown and three 2-point conversions. And Lloyd’s defensive unit didn’t seem to need him, posting a shutout by limiting Newport to 104 yards with three takeaways.
Lloyd running back Travon Mason, left, tries to sweep around the left end of Newport’s defense. (Photo by Jim Day)
“Earlier in the year, Travon was playing a lot of defense,” said Lloyd coach Eric Turner. “But we had some other guys step up and now he’s playing pretty much on one side of the ball for us. And we really had to lean on him (Friday).”
In the first half, Mason carried the ball on 22 of Lloyd’s 33 offensive plays. He scored the game’s first touchdown on a 16-yard run and picked up 26 of his team’s 42 yards during the second scoring drive.
The senior tailback had only nine carries in the second half, but five of them came on Lloyd’s first possession that resulted in a touchdown to put the home team ahead, 22-0, with 5:55 remaining in the third quarter.
“My team helped me with the blocking and everything,” Mason said. “I’ve got to thank the defense and special teams too. They helped us get the ball where it wasn’t much work (to score).”
On the opening kickoff, Newport’s place kicker missed the ball and it toppled off the tee. Lloyd got possession on the 36-yard line and Mason carried the ball on the next seven plays, including his 16-yard run into the end zone.
Newport wasn’t able to get a first down on its first offensive series and the punt was partially blocked. Lloyd took possession on the 42-yard line and scored its second touchdown on a 2-yard run by Johnathan Williams to open up a 14-0 lead.
“We got those two quick scores and that helped a lot, getting us off on the right path,” coach Turner said.
Travon Mason
The first big play of the night was a 43-yard pass from Newport quarterback Kaleal Davis to wide receiver Samari Miller that gave their team a first down at the 14. But running back Giaunte Jackson fumbled on the next play to sidetrack the scoring opportunity.
“We’re down 14-0 (at halftime) and it should be 14-7,” Newport coach Joe Wynn said of the fumble. “It should be 14-7 and if we come out strong in the second half it’s a whole new ball game. That’s where (Lloyd) came out and answered the bell. They knew if we scored it changes the game, but they came out, got a stop and went ahead and scored.”
Early in the third quarter, Lloyd defensive tackle Tyson Maynard intercepted a screen pass and returned it to the 16-yard line. Seven plays later, Lloyd quarterback Dakota Thiel took a snap and was pushed across the goal line by teammates behind him.
“Thank goodness he was doing what he was taught,” coach Turner said of Maynard’s interception. “He hung back on the line of scrimmage and didn’t get too far up field. He was in the first place at the right time and did a really good job.”
With less than seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, Williams broke loose on a 42-yard touchdown run and Mason got the two-point conversion to cap the scoring. Those two players were the reasons Lloyd ended up getting 221 of its 242 yards on the ground.
“We just grind it out and push the ball up the field,” Mason said. “Whenever I touch the ball I just try to get whatever I can to help the team.”
Newport finished with 35 yards rushing and 69 passing. The Wildcats did move the ball inside the 15-yard line late in the third quarter, but they turned it over on downs.
It was an important victory for Lloyd, the defending Class 2A district champion. The Juggernauts’ next game is against Newport Central Catholic, the team that ruled the district until last year.
“They’re going to come in here wanting to win,” coach Turner said. “We took something from them that hadn’t been taken away in a long time and they’re going to want to get it back.”
NEWPORT 0 0 0 0 — 0
LLOYD 14 0 8 8 — 30
L — Mason 16 run (Mason run)
L — Williams 2 run (pass failed)
L — Thiel 2 run (Mason run)
L — William 42 run (Mason run)
RECORDS: Lloyd 5-2, Newport 4-3.
High school football scores
THURSDAY
Beechwood 63, Bellevue 0
Highlands 49, Dixie Heights 6
Ludlow 1, Dayton 0 (forfeit)
FRIDAY
Lloyd 30, Newport 0
Brossart 28, Bracken County 6
Campbell County 13, Conner 9
Ryle 26, Cooper 7
Holmes 28, Bourbon County 21
Newport Central Catholic 38, Holy Cross 6
Cincinnati Taft 34, Scott 14
Covington Catholic 52, Bishop Chatard (Ind.) 36
SATURDAY
Boone County at Simon Kenton, 7 p.m.
