ERLANGER, Kentucky – Lloyd Memorial entered Friday night looking like one of Northern Kentucky’s hottest teams. The Juggernauts did nothing to slow that momentum in the Blitz 5 Game of the Week.
Lloyd jumped on Conner from the opening quarter and rolled to another impressive victory, using big plays, turnovers and a suffocating defense to take control at Cecil Dees Field.
The Juggernauts entered Week 3 having outscored their first two opponents 64-3, and it didn’t take long for the offense to strike again.
Quarterback Colten Barger connected with Marjae Peterson for a 49-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the game to give Lloyd a 7-0 lead.
The defense quickly provided another opportunity. Avery Conrad recovered a Conner fumble and returned it to the Cougars’ 5-yard line, setting up a short touchdown run by Lincoln Tomlinson as Lloyd grabbed a two-score advantage.
Conner responded with one of its best drives of the first half and moved into the red zone, but the Juggernauts turned the Cougars away on fourth down.
Lloyd continued to pound away on the ground in the second quarter. Conrad broke through for a 17-yard touchdown run early in the period as the Juggernauts continued to pull away.
It was another showcase for a Lloyd team that entered the night averaging 226 rushing yards per game and 8.5 yards per carry. Barger had already rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns through the first two weeks, while Conrad entered with 134 yards and two scores and Tomlinson had added 64 yards and a touchdown.
The performance also continued a remarkable defensive start for Lloyd. The Juggernauts had surrendered just three points through their first eight quarters and carried that dominance into their matchup with the Cougars.
Tomlinson has been at the center of that unit. The junior linebacker entered Friday with a team-high 16 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. Conrad has also made an impact on both sides of the football, and his first-quarter fumble recovery helped Lloyd seize control almost immediately.
PHOTOS: Conner at Lloyd Memorial
For Conner, Friday represented another difficult assignment during a challenging start under first-year head coach Chase Floyd. The Cougars entered 0-2 following losses to Madison Central and Ryle and were looking to snap a three-game skid dating to last season.
Instead, Lloyd continued a run that has established the Juggernauts as one of Northern Kentucky’s most consistent programs. They went unbeaten during the 2025 regular season, captured a Class 3A regional championship and advanced to the state semifinals.
Lloyd also beat Conner 40-27 a year ago and has now opened 2026 with another impressive run.
The Juggernauts entered Week 3 among the teams knocking on the door of the Blitz 5 Top 25, and another convincing performance against a larger-school opponent should only strengthen their case for consideration when the Week 4 rankings are released.
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Conner: 0-13-0-6-19
Lloyd: 13-21-7-7-48
RECORDS: Conner (0-3); Lloyd (3-0)
UP NEXT: Conner at Newport Central Catholic; Lloyd at Aiken (OH)
Get the complete scores from all of this week’s action on the Underground Sports Shop Scoreboard at TriStateFootball.com/scores.
*Stay updated on high school football updates by following @TSFootball on X.
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