21 teams in 21 days: Lloyd Memorial football preview

Lloyd Memorial football coach Kyle Niederman has a different way of measuring football success – a five-year plan.

To be sure, the Juggernauts were one of Northern Kentucky’s strongest teams a year ago: a 10-4 record and a Class 2A state semifinal berth for the first time since 2003. 

Niederman, meanwhile, thought the Northern Kentucky Officials Association’s Sportmanship Award was as big.

“As a memory, (getting to) the semifinals was awesome,” Niederman said. “Winning that award for our program was huge … they’d never won it before. It kind of goes to show you what teamwork does.”

And the five-year plan? It has little to do with football – Niederman will wait until he hears of his players’ success in life.

“When people ask me how we’re going to be this year, I don’t look at it for a one-year work,” Niederman said. “I look at it as a five-year work. If you ask me how the year is, I’ll tell you in five years if I made a lasting impact on the kids that I’m coaching.”

Lloyd ran for 3,178 yards last year, or 227 per game. Duplicating those numbers could be hard because leading rusher Kaiden Zulager (1,467 yards, 20 touchdowns) graduated.

Lloyd’s offense shuffled more than dealers at the World Series of Poker’s Main Event. Sophomore quarterback Kaleb Evans missed seven games after breaking his collarbone in a season-opening 13-12 loss at Dixie Heights, junior Isaiah Sebastian replaced Evans, and middle linebacker Elijah Westwood was a guard.

Sebastian was a wide receiver when Evans went down. He became the Juggernauts’ all-around threat: 757 passing yards and seven touchdowns, 918 rushing with 14 more scores.

“I could get out and scramble if I needed to,” Sebastian said.

Evans returns under center. He’s a seven-step drop-back quarterback, and Niederman doesn’t want a lot of improvisation.

“We’re not going to ask too much of him,” Niederman said. “We feel like we’ve got some pretty decent athletes we can get the ball to.”

Evans has three main targets to whom he can throw: Sebastian and juniors Tyler Copeland and Elijah Scott. Junior Yurii Collins and senior Seth Moran are the top two running backs.

“Yurii’s got nice speed,” Niederman said. “… Seth is a little bit of a bigger back; he’s going to be more of our pounding back.”

The Juggernauts’ offensive line is large and senior-led – four projected starters, returnees Sam Stamper, Tom Plymesser and TJ Jackson plus newcomer Mo Lafi, average 255 pounds a player. Plymesser (6-1, 270) has received college offers from Georgetown College, Campbellsville, Union, Thomas More and Lindsey Wilson.

Niederman said he would rotate players at right tackle.

The Juggernauts allowed 1,745 on the ground and 1,698 passing a season ago. Don’t look for many defensive changes – Lloyd will stay with its 4-3 alignment. “We’ve been running 4-3 forever,” Niederman said.

Niederman can confidently run it because last season’s top three tacklers – Westwood (106 stops), Collins (96) and senior John Crim (79) – return.

“We’re going to give them a little more freedom this year, probably get a little more aggressive,” Niederman said.

Westwood calls his responsibility “being downhill.”

“Just be ready for the ball to come on runs,” he said. “Just be downhill, don’t hesitate, just go down, get to the ball.”

Senior Avander Abrams, whose 10 sacks were third best in Class 2A and 20^th overall. Niederman calls him “The Grandpa” because he’s seen most blocking schemes.

“He’s a very smart player; he understands the game very well,” Niederman said. “… As the game progresses, he kinda figures out what’s going on, how guys are trying to block him. He’s very intelligent.”

Sebastian’s eight interceptions at cornerback (including two for touchdowns) were third-most in 2A. Senior Amari Griffin is the other cornerback, and Crim and Copeland are the safeties.

Lloyd, which moves to Class 3A, opens the season with three home games: Newport Central Catholic on Aug. 18, Boone County on Aug. 25 and Holmes on Sept. 1. Niederman, meanwhile, won’t be able to judge this year’s success until at least 2028.

“Coach Niederman is always personal life first – making us better men and people,” Westwood said. “He always puts us first before football.”

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