NEWPORT, Ky. – With 1:15 left in regulation, Jacob Smith scored his third rushing touchdown of the second half to clinch a Newport Central Catholic victory over visiting Lloyd. It was the 33rd consecutive regular season District win for the Thoroughbreds, who have not lost a district game since joining Class 2A, District 6 in 2007.
The victory was the third in a row for NewCath but they looked far from polished against the Juggernauts. The Thoroughbreds committed six penalties for 55 yards in the first 14 minutes of the contest. The special teams weren’t crisp with a fumble on a punt return, two missed and one blocked extra point.
NewCath’s Jacob Smith
Lloyd built a nine-point lead, 26-17, capitalizing on Newport Central Catholic’s lack of attention to details. The Juggernauts sophomore quarterback Jordan Fann started to heat up in the third stanza tossing touchdowns LaShunn Townsend and Charles Gaines.
Driving once again and ready to put a dagger in, NewCath Fann threw an interception, which changed the momentum of the contest. Thoroughbreds senior Erik Anders came up with his fifth pick of the season. From that point on Newport Central Catholic tightened the screws on defense shutting out the Juggs in the fourth quarter.
Smith would do the yeoman’s work for the NewCath offense after halftime. He finished the game with 137 yards on 32 carries. His three touchdowns raised his career total to 62 (54 rushing).
Lloyd was paced by running back Justin Durham who had a game high 142 yards rushing including a 41-yard scamper for a score. Classmate Gaines caught a pair of scores giving him nine touchdown reception on the season.
LLOYD 8-6-12-0-26
at NEWCATH 8-3-6-12-29
L: Gaines 33 pass from Runion (Durham run)
N: Wrobleski 28 pass from Henschen (Henschen run)
N: Hans 23 FG
L: Durham 41 run (run failed)
L: Townsend 11 pass from Fann (run failed)
N: Smith 3 run (Kick blocked)
L: Gaines 46 pass from Fann (run failed)
N: Smith 2 run (kick failed)
N: Smith 15 run (kick failed)
RECORDS: Lloyd (5-3, 1-1); Newport Central Catholic (4-4, 2-0)
