Mason County begins 30th varsity football season

The Mason County football program will begin its 30th season of varsity play Friday night. The Royals have an all-time record of 153-160. Here are some of the “firsts” of the football program:

First coach
Steve Butcher (6-13 in two seasons)

First game
A 30-0 loss to the Bath County Wildcats in Owingsville on Aug. 24, 1979

First touchdown
A 32 yard pass to Allen Feldhaus Jr. from Larry Duzan in a 20-8 loss to East Carter on Aug. 31, 1979

First win
9-6 in overtime over the Maysville Bulldogs at Walton Field on Sept. 14, 1979 (The game winner was a 24 yard field goal by Allen Feldhaus Jr.)

First winning season
1981, 7-3 under first-year Coach Lewis Cook

First game on its own field
A 28-0 win over Lawrence County on Aug. 28, 1981 (the current site of the practice field)

First game at current stadium
A 14-12 win over the Bath County Wildcats on Oct. 4, 1991 (The Royals opened the season with five straight road games while the bleachers were being installed at the new field)

First playoff game
A 38-30 upset win over Prestonsburg on Nov. 8, 1991

First home playoff game
A 35-21 win over Mercer County on Nov. 3, 2000

First 10 win season
2001, 12-2

First region title
A 14-6 win over Fleming County on Nov. 1, 2001 (avenging a 20-13 regular season loss to Fleming County)

First outright district title
2003, 5-0 in the first season in Class AAA, District 8


(Note: thanks to Rick Swartz' research for some of this information)