By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
One of the biggest decisions Kyle Niederman made in his first year as Lloyd’s head football coach has worked out well. The Juggernauts are averaging 335 yards per game with the coach’s new-look offensive backfield and take a 4-2 record into their first Class 2A district seeding game at Newport on Friday.
Kyle Niederman
During preseason practice, Niederman decided to move senior veteran Dakota Thiel from quarterback to running back and have sophomore Jacob Davidson run the offense. In the first six games, Davidson passed for 905 yards and nine touchdowns. Thiel rushed for 411 yards in the first four games before being sidelined by an injury, but the Juggernauts won their last two games without him.
Last Friday, Davidson passed for 265 yards and five touchdowns in a 37-7 win over Ludlow. Two weeks ago, the first-year starter had 313 yards passing and 91 yards rushing in 55-27 win over Mason County.
if Thiel returns to the starting lineup this Friday, he’ll provide another offensive threat for the Juggernauts, who have won their last four games against Newport by wide margins.
Every game except one on this week’s high school football schedule is a district seeding game. The first two will be played Thursday night when Dixie Heights visits Simon Kenton in Class 6A and Newport Central Catholic goes to Ludlow in Class 1A.
Holmes needs a win over Boyd County on Friday to remain tied for first place in its Class 4A district. Conner could clinch a home game in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs with a win against Cooper on Friday.
Conner senior quarterback Jared Hicks is the state’s second leading passer in Class 5A with a 215 yards-per-game average. He led his team to a comeback win over Highlands last week with 244 yards passing and 69 yards rushing.
The only non-district game on Friday is a battle between unbeaten teams from opposite sides of the Ohio River. La Salle (6-0) will visit Covington Catholic (7-0) in the first game between the two teams since 2012. La Salle has won the last six games it played against the Colonels.
High school football schedule
Thursday’s games
Dixie Heights at Simon Kenton, 7 p.m.
Ludlow at Newport Central Catholic, 7 p.m.
Friday’s games
Beechwood vs. Holy Cross at Thomas More, 7 p.m.
Bellevue at Dayton, 7 p.m.
Brossart at Bracken County, 7:30 p.m.
Highlands at Boone County, 7 p.m.
Ryle at Campbell County, 7 p.m.
Cooper at Conner, 7 p.m.
La Salle (Ohio) at Covington Catholic, 7 p.m.
Boyd County at Holmes, 7:30 p.m.
Lloyd at Newport, 7 p.m.
Owen County at Walton-Verona, 7:30 p.m.
