Mason County football weekly award winners

Here are the Mason County football weekly award winners based on the Royals' 28-8 victory over Grant County Friday night:

Brian Payne State Farm Player of the Game- Leevi Dunaway

Offensive Lineman of the Game- Dalton Kindt

Defensive Player of the Game- Jacob Ledford

Special Teams Player of the Game- Brock Gilligan

Scout Team Player of the Week- Carson Brammer

Progress on Wald Park renovation

Renovation of Wald Park has progressed over the last few months. The backstops, fencing and portions of the dugouts are in place. Construction of the concession stand is underway. 

Dr. Josh Owens of Wald Park Inc. said the plan is to sew grass seed on the fields this fall, maybe as early as this week, and hopefully play games in the spring.

Wald Park Inc. hopes to bring Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken baseball and softball games to the fields.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 27, 2016. Wet weather over the past year and the flash flooding in July delayed the project.

Here are four photos I took today:

Mason Co. tops Grant Co. 28-8 for sixth win of the season

Chandler Dunaway completed 8-of-13 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Mason County Royals to a 28-8 victory over the Grant County Braves tonight on Senior Night. 

Leevi Dunaway had five receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns. He also had an interception on defense.

Malkolm Devine rushed for 76 yards on 17 carries and had a touchdown reception.

The Royals outscored the Braves 21-8 in the second half.

Mason County had 313 yards of total offense to 245 yards for Grant County.

With the Royals missing two starters on the offense line due to injuries, coach Jonathan Thomas said they used a basic offense.

Mason County (6-3) closes out the regular season next week at Lewis County. The Royals will travel to Paintsville in two weeks to play defending state champion Johnson Central in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. Johnson Central lost to Ashland 21-18 tonight.

Grant County is 0-9. Braves quarterback Austin Knipp completed 13-of-23 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown.

MC 1st Q 2:20 Leevi Dunaway 36 yard pass from Chandler Dunaway (Brock Gilligan kick) MC 7, GC 0

MC 3rd Q 9:36 Leevi Dunaway 45 yard pass from Chandler Dunaway (Brock Gilligan kick) MC 14, GC 0

GC 3rd Q 6:50 Dalton Inggulls 25 yard pass from Austin Knipp (Austin Knipp run) MC 14, GC 8

MC 3rd Q 3:06 Malkolm Devine 24 yard pass from Chandler Dunaway (Brock Gilligan kick) MC 21, GC 8

MC 4th Q 3:02 Seth Chambers 7 yard run (Brock Gilligan kick) MC 28, GC 8

Grant Co. coach and MHS grad Jamey Dalzell on SportsTalk

Grant County football coach Jamey Dalzell, a 1990 graduate of Maysville High School, was my guest on SportsTalk this morning.

Here is a link to the podcast.

10th Region volleyball bracket

Here are the pairings for the 10th Region volleyball tournament to be played at Campbell County Middle School:

Royals host Grant County tonight on Senior Night

The Mason County Royals host the Class 5A Grant County Braves tonight on Senior Night.

Jamey Dalzell, a 1990 graduate of Maysville High School, is in his second season as the head coach at Grant County. The Braves are 0-8 after going 3-8 last season.

Grant County dropped out of district play this season. Traditional state powers Highlands and Covington Catholic would have been in the Braves' district.

"We were pretty unhappy with the 5A district we were put in," Dalzell said. "Highlands and CovCath are both 4A schools; Dixie was a 6A school that was allowed to drop down into that 5A district. So, technically, we were the only 5A school in that district, and because of the tradition or lack of tradition here at Grant County, we just didn't feel like we could compete."

Grant County was outscored 145-7 in district play last season.

Dalzell said the plan to is boost the number of players and hopefully be in a different district after the realignment following the 2018 season.

Grant County has been outscored 299-76 this season.

Running back Austin Smith rushed for 200 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries in last week's 24-16 loss to Cincinnati Aiken.

Mason County is 5-3. A victory tonight would guarantee a winning a season for the Royals.

"We definitely want to go out on a high note; we know we have two weeks to take care of business," Mason County coach Jonathan Thomas said.

The Royals close out the regular season next week at Lewis County. Thomas said it's important for the team to get to that 7-3 mark.

Here are some game notes:

This is the first meeting between Mason County and Grant County. The Royals will play the Braves in Dry Ridge next season.

Mason County is 1-3 at home this season. The three home losses have been by a total of 11 points.

Grant County has lost 14 straight games going back to last season.

District standings in Class 4A Region 4

Class 4A District 7

Scott 3-0
Bourbon Co. 2-1
Mason Co. 2-2
Holmes 1-2
Harrison Co. 0-3

Class 4A District 8

Johnson Central 4-0
Ashland 4-0
Greenup Co. 2-2
Rowan Co. 1-3
Boyd Co. 0-4

This week's district games:

Harrison Co. at Bourbon Co.
Scott at Holmes
Johnson Central at Ashland
Boyd County at Greenup Co.