The NKyTribune is featuring players on each of the 21 high school football teams in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties leading up to the first games of the 2022 season on Aug. 19. We will then provide focused coverage of our local teams throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.
By Sarah Mae Wilson
NKyTribune sports reporter
During the 2021 season, Lloyd running back Kaiden Zulager rushed for 1,012 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. He led the Juggernauts in both of those offensive categories and expects to do the same his senior year.
Zulager’s confidence in the Lloyd offensive line is why he has high hopes for the upcoming season. Their blocking will be the key to a successful rushing attack and he said “I’m feeling really good about it.”
Lloyd running back Kaiden Zulager led the team in rushing and scoring last season.
The Juggernauts went 3-7 last season and lost in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. They relied on the run more than quarterback Hayden Spencer’s arm. He averaged just 66.9 passing yards in nine games during his senior season.
Zulager ended up averaging 101.2 rushing yards per game. After picking up 422 yards in the first five contests, he had 590 yards in the last five, including a season-high 192 in the regular season finale against Holy Cross.
Two weeks later, Holy Cross knocked off Lloyd in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. Zulager rushed for 124 yards in that game, but the Juggernauts fell in the first round of the playoffs for the second time in the last three years.
Lloyd’s passing and rushing yardage should be a little more balanced this season, according to Zulager. Even though the Juggernauts will have a first-year starter at quarterback, he said “we will have a little bit of both and I think it will work out good for us.”
Kaiden Zulager
There are some other returning starters on the roster, but Lloyd lost last year’s second leading rusher Amari Riley, veteran offensive lineman Caden Tomlinson and last year’s leading tackler Jeremiah Lyles to graduation.
“I think the young guys are going to do good,” Zulager said of their replacements. “They will step up and just do what they have to do and just give it all they have every game.”
The newcomers on defense have impressed him the most. He said “our defensive backs and linebackers are going to stop the passing game and our defensive line will stop the run game.”
Zulager also played some defensive back last season and made 25 tackles in the first five games. He’ll likely see more action on that side of the ball this year.
“We have been working hard and we are just a lot better than last year,” Zulager said. “I feel like we will be a good team.”
LLOYD JUGGERNAUTS
2021 SEASON: 3-7 record, lost in first round of Class 2A playoffs.
DISTRICT: Class 2A, District 4 with Beechwood, Holy Cross, Newport.
HEAD COACH: Kyle Niederman (13-15 in three seasons at Lloyd).
2022 SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 – at Dixie Heights, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 – at Grant County, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 – at Providence (Ind.), 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9 – BOONE COUNTY, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 – BROSSART, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 – MONTGOMERY COUNTY, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 – NEWPORT, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 – at Beechwood, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 – vs. Holy Cross at Thomas More, 7 p.m.
Other NKyTribune prep football previews:
COOPER JAGUARS
HIGHLANDS BLUEBIRDS
CAMPBELL COUNTY CAMELS
HOLMES BULLDOGS
BROSSART MUSTANGS
COVINGTON CATHOLIC COLONELS
CONNER COUGARS
BELLEVUE TIGERS
LUDLOW PANTHERS
SIMON KENTON PIONEERS
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC THOROUGHBREDS
DAYTON GREENDEVILS
DIXIE HEIGHTS COLONELS
RYLE RAIDERS
