In a scrimmage against Cooper two weeks ago, Lloyd Memorial quarterback Colten Barger couldn’t have been more uncomfortable if he’d worn five sweaters and a down parka.
On Friday at Newport Central Catholic, Barger and the Juggernauts had an enjoyable night. They spoiled the first game at the Ciafardini Family Athletic Complex at Robert J. Schneider Field with a 21-3 victory.
Barger, a converted receiver in his first regular season game under center, ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns and threw for another 79. What was more, his 218 combined yards accounted for nearly 70% of Lloyd’s 316.
For Barger, familiarity was the difference.
“Just getting comfortable with the guys around you and having a mentality of all the little things,” Barger said. “Firing out getting our ball to guys in space, just trusting our guys on the outside and inside.
Lloyd coach Kyle Niederman said folks should be prepared for a way different team from last year’s Juggernauts that reached the Class 3A state semifinals.
“Last year, we’re scoring 35 points in the first half,” Niederman said. “This year is going to be much more of a ground, grind it out, physicality, play defense (team).”
Impressive as Barger’s night was on offense, Lloyd linebacker Zay Carter was the equal on defense – he sacked NewCath quarterback Parker Hurtt twice for minus-27 yards.
Was Carter surprised he was practically untouched? Hardly.
“Not really,” he said. “I just trust my D-line, and I just get there.”
Pretty good for someone who was not listed on Lloyd’s roster.
“I’ll fix that,” Niederman said.
NewCath (0-1) showed some brotherly love late in the quarter when Van Hundemer (20 carries, 82 yards) ran for 22 – largely due to younger sibling Phenix’s block. Five plays later, Max Mayer’s 33-yard field goal were the Thoroughbreds’ only points.
After Carter’s first sack dropped NewCath’s Hurtt for a 12-yard loss, it took about three minutes for Lloyd to essentially put the game away when Tomlinson went untouched for the 24-yard score.
NewCath’s biggest play was Hurtt-to-Van Hundemer for 67 yards, but the drive stalled at the Lloyd 9-yard line on Conrad tackling Hurtt for a five-yard loss and an incomplete pass.
Barger was mostly untouched on his 77-yarder with 1:49 left.
NewCath coach Terry Brown said he was nevertheless proud of his team.
“But at the end of the day you’re judged on wins and losses, and Lloyd came out, and they executed better than us tonight,” Brown said.
JUGGERNAUTS 21, THOROUGHBREDS 3
LLOYD MEMORIAL 0-7-0-14 — 21
NEWCATH 0-3-0-0 — 3
Scoring plays
Second quarter
LM-Colten Barger 5 run (Nuno Gomes kick), 9:04
NCC-Max Mayer 33 field goal, 1:19
Fourth quarter
LM-Lincoln Tomlinson 24 run (Gomes kick), 8:51
LM-Barger 77 run (Gomes kick),
Records: Lloyd Memorial 1-0, Newport Central Catholic 0-1.
Game Stats
Passing Yards: LM 79 (Barger 9-12-79), NCC 99 (V. Hundemer 4-8-99)
Rushing Yards: LM 235 (Conrad 13-54, Tomlinson 7-45, Barger 11-136); NCC 72 (V. Hundemer 20-82, Hurtt 7-minus-19)
Receiving: LM 79 (Jones 2-10, Peterson 1-7, Conrad 2-11, Tomlinson 3-43, Bradford 1-8), NCC 99 (V. Hundemer 3-91, Meyer 1-8)
Turnovers: LM 1, NCC 0.
Penalties: LM 8-50, NCC 5-55.
