7 minutes ago, DRKARK said:

You are absolutely correct! When Coach Tassini took over the team, he was a big Steelers fan and wanted to bring that look. My nephew was on that team. He was a running back.

Good to know I'm not losing my mind. ? 

Was it a very dark shade of blue they used under Tassini?

7 minutes ago, DevilMayCare said:

Good to know I'm not losing my mind. ? 

Was it a very dark shade of blue they used under Tassini?

Your mind is still right! lol If not not mistaken Lloyd and Russel were in the same district. 2A

37 minutes ago, DevilMayCare said:

I knew they were blue and gold, but my head always says black and gold. I swear they wore uniforms at one point - mid 90s, maybe? - that took inspiration from the Steelers.

Does anyone else remember that, or am I a victim of the Mandela Effect?

 

35 minutes ago, DRKARK said:

You are absolutely correct! When Coach Tassini took over the team, he was a big Steelers fan and wanted to bring that look. My nephew was on that team. He was a running back.

First school colors I remember wearing were the blue and gold - went to Erlanger Elementary (Tichenor) for a stretch in the mid '60s. 

Loved me some Coach T. - quite the storyteller.

3 minutes ago, DRKARK said:

Your mind is still right! lol If not not mistaken Lloyd and Russel were in the same district. 2A

Yes, Lloyd and Newport were lumped into a district with several NEKY schools - Russell, East Carter, Fleming County, Mason County, and Lawrence County - from the mid 90s through the early 00s.

That was a pretty deep district.

Just now, DevilMayCare said:

Yes, Lloyd and Newport were lumped into a district with several NEKY schools - Russell, East Carter, Fleming County, Mason County, and Lawrence County - from the mid 90s through the early 00s.

That was a pretty deep district.

Yes it was! We actually loved the trips down AA. 

2 minutes ago, Runcible Owl said:

 

First school colors I remember wearing were the blue and gold - went to Erlanger Elementary (Tichenor) for a stretch in the mid '60s. 

Loved me some Coach T. - quite the storyteller.

What a fabulous individual. I actually later in life had opportunities to hang out with him, Coach Burns and Coach Wilmhoff on a few occasions. A lot of the times it was at coaching clinics or just out having an adult beverage. Loved listening to the stories and learning more about the game of football than you ever thought was imaginable from those guys.

2 hours ago, DevilMayCare said:

Good to know I'm not losing my mind. ? 

Was it a very dark shade of blue they used under Tassini?

Yes.

@DRKARK I know they are onto Murray now but I want to recap this one a bit.

1st Qtr

Lloyd does what I was hoping and are able to take away the middle of the field. The Alien Barger does out of this word things and puts the Juggs up 6-0 in the blink of an eye. Lloyd's secondary holds up and doesn't give up anything over the top.

2nd Qtr

Lloyd forces a Russell punt on Russell's first drive of the 2nd qtr and a few plays later Conrad busts a long one for a TD and they add the 2pt conversion to go up 14-0.

Lloyd's defense has been phenomenal overall and the offense is executing at a high clip.

At this point I am thinking, if Lloyd gets a stop here and can go into the half up 3 scores either Russell is buns, or Lloyd is just straight up a dominant team. But I gave Lloyd too much credit too fast.

About 6:40 to go in the 2nd this game changes.

4th and short with Russell punting from their own side of the 50. Something was off for Russell on the snap. Lloyd's #7 D. Peterson and #2 Conrad have the punter dead to rights for a blocked punt or a tackle and somehow Russell's punter escapes them and runs for a decent gain and a 1st down. This was not a fake punt. 

5:00 left in the 2nd,  just a few plays later, #10 Barger drops a pick six. Like a 100% for sure pick six. He makes those plays in his sleep, if aliens actually sleep..I dunno.

4:10 on the same set of downs, Russell converts a 4 and 1 for about 1 1/2 yards on a screen pass, barely got it.

2:39 Russell completes a pass on 4th and 3 for about 30 yards and gets tackled at the 6. #8 Frasure ends up punching it in from about the 1 and now we got a ball game at 14-7 with 1:00 to go in the 2nd.

Right now I am thinking, Lloyd's " dawgs " just did everything they could to give Russell that touchdown. #10, #2 and #7...Great ball players...just let Russell breathe and that may not be good. They had a chances to take Russell's soul multiple times on that drive but let it slip by them. I'm thinking the score should be 21-0 at the half. But instead it's 14-7.

3rd Qtr

Russell recieves the kickoff  and has a chance to tie the game.

They start off moving the ball okay.

9:20 in the 3rd, 2nd and 10...Barger drops another pick six. That's not an exaggeration, again..he makes these plays in his sleep and probably had nightmares about both plays he missed on.

The very next play 3rd and 10, Russell runs a screen and Lloyd's #7 D. Peterson sniffs it out perfectly and...misses the tackle behind the line of scrimmage. #28 Benge runs for a big gain and huge momentum. Russell's jacked up now.

7:40 left in the 3rd and Russell's #28 Benge runs the ball down Lloyd's throat for a TD, PAT blocked and its 14-13 Lloyd.

At this moment I am worried. Is Russell about to get a stop and score 20+ points unanswered to take the lead against this Lloyd team, 2 years in a row???

Lloyd comes out and sputters on offense some but they're moving. 3:56 still in the 3rd qtr, Lloyd's got 3rd and long around mid field and Evan's throws a dart over the middle of the field to #10 Barger...and he drops it, he probably had more balls go through his hands Friday night then he has in his whole life. Won't happen again though. But Lloyd punts.

Now I have no choice but to consider, is Lloyd's defense some frauds?  If Russell goes down the field and scores 3 straight unanswered TD's to take the lead, 2 years in a row....I am never watching a Juggs game again, too much heart break there for me to keep tuning in. 

What happens now? 

2:20 left in the 3rd 14-13 Lloyd. Russell has the ball and ALL the momentum...so they think. 

1st and 10 Russell tries to audible the play, they must see something.

And Erlanger goes NUTS!!! Lloyd's players on the field, the sideline, the coaches, the cheerleaders, the fans on the fence and the stands go NUTS!!! Russell can't get the play call off and burns a timeout.

I don't know what just happened but a switch flipped something right then.

Lloyd comes out of the timeout and looks dialed in....forces Russell to a 3 and out.

That was where Russell was suppose to take the lead and Lloyd's soul but Lloyd looked like they were hungry. Lloyd ensued to put on a clinic of how to play football for the remainder of the game.

The offense started clicking like clockwork and the defense pinned it's ears back.

4th Qtr 14-13 Lloyd

Evans hits his targets. #9 Turner takes advantage of his oppurtunities and moves the chains for Lloyd multiple times. Lloyd overall had an uncharacteristic amount of drops this game. #9 Turner showed he was ready for when they called his number. He put up his best numbers of the season at the right time.

9:00 in the 4th, #2 Conrad runs over 3 Russell defenders for about an 8 yard TD. And then Lloyd shows just how confident they are in who they are. 20-13, Lloyd decides to go for 2 to make it a 2 score game. Ballsy. And they convert, 22-13 Lloyd.

8:49 Lloyd pins Russell at the 15 yard line on the kickoff. This game is Lloyd's they got Russell right where they want them. Do they really got " it " in them?

They force Russell to punt and now Lloyd just needs to milk the clock. And boy oh boy, Lloyds OC Brossart must have owned a cow at some point in his life the way he milked that thang.

7:12 in the 4th qtr. Lloyd starts their drive at their own 35 and Lloyd's OC Brossart gets surgical. Dr. Evans takes his time on these Red Devils. #1 Jones slashing around the corner. #2 Conrad slicing up the middle. #10 gashing outside. About 5 minutes and 30 yards later...30 yards burning up almost 5 minutes of clock??? Dr. Evans decides enough is enough.

2:22 4th qtr, 4th and 7 Lloyd at Russell's 35 yard line....Lloyd goes to slice the jugular. #9 Turner cooks Russell's #7 with a double move like he was hungry and hadn't eaten in days. That dawg was hungry and he got fed.

Lloyd's full of " dawgs " and around the end of the 3rd qtr they decided it was time for them to eat.

Lloyd's defense showed me why I went to Erlanger to watch this Juggs team. I questioned if they had 4 full qtrs in them cause I hadn't seen it in a while. I questioned if they had any dawgs that could get a stop when their season was on the line in a big time game. And they showed me they have " it ". 

They scared me for a good 10 minute stretch at the end of the 2nd qtr and the beginning of the 3rd qtr. But I know they make those plays that led to that 10 minute stretch 10/10 times. I am glad those plays are out of the way now and they overcame them like great teams do.

The secondary, that I have ridiculed all season...what a great job they did. Made me smile many times. Made plays on 50/50 balls and played physical. Russell had 162 yds through the air but it was all earned and nothing was given up over the top. That played a huge difference in this one.

Lloyd's secondary is going to need to turn it up a notch next week with the way Murray's offense operates. At this competition level teams are going to complete passes but it can't be for home runs and DB's got to be there to make solo tackles. I am excited to get to see Lloyd's secondary play next week because I think they are hungry and want to get fed.

I still don't think Lloyd has played their best ball yet this season and now they got a shot to go play for a chance at a state title, what else more could they ask for?

I give them a B++++ grade. I think if they bring their A game next week they will be playing for the 3A State Championship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lloyd's top 5 tackler statistics in this one:

So. Tomlinson- 18 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 6 carries 30 yards, 2 rec 2 yards, multiple bodies.

Jr. Conrad- 17 tackles, 12 carries 81 yards, 2 TD's, 1 rec  13 yards, multiple bodies.

So. Barger- 10 tackles, 2 rec 60 yards, 1 TD,  2 carries 15 yards, multiple bodies.

So. D. Peterson- 8 tackles, 1 sack, multiple bodies.

So. Turner- 4 tackles, 6 rec 65 yards, 1 TD, 1 set of ankles broken.

QB:

Kaleb Evans- Mr. Football.