Mason Co. faces Johnson Central in first round of playoffs

The Mason County Royals travel to Paintsville tonight to play the Johnson Central Golden Eagles in the first round of the Class 4A football playoffs.

The Royals are 7-3, have won four straight games and are undefeated on the road this season.

The Golden Eagles, the defending state champions, are 8-2 and have lost back-to-back games to Ashland and Belfry.

Johnson Central's huge offensive line is anchored by 6-6, 315 pound senior tackle Ethan Bingham.

The Golden Eagles average 359 rushing yards per game.

Running back Blake Gamble has rushed for 1,380 yards and 17 touchdowns on 177 carries.

Johnson Central averages just 8.5 passes per game, but quarterback Riley Preece has thrown for 892 yards and 10 touchdowns,

Mason County tailback Malkolm Devine has rushed for 1,180 yards and 11 touchdowns on 183 carries.

Chandler Dunaway has passed for 1,269 yards and 20 touchdowns. He has also rushed for six touchdowns.

Kickoff is at 7:30

Games notes:

• Johnson Central leads the series with Mason County 2-0. The Golden Eagles beat the Royals in  2005 (35-14 at Johnson Central) and in 2006 (40-0 at Mason County) when they were Class 3A District 8 opponents.
• Johnson Central and Mason County have one common opponent this season- Rowan County. The Golden Eagles beat the Vikings 61-7 at home. The Royal defeated Rowan County 51-16 at Morehead State University.
• This is the 18th season that Mason County has qualified for the playoffs. 
• The Royals all-time playoff record is 19-18 and they have lost three straight playoff games including 35-14 to Ashland last season.
• Mason County's last win in the playoffs was in 2013 in the second round (49-7 over Garrard County).
• The Royals have not won a road playoff game since 2002 (49-21 vs. Lloyd).
• Johnson Central routed Franklin-Simpson 48-0 in last year's state championship game.
• The loss to Ashland two weeks ago snapped the Golden Eagles' 13-game winning streak going back to last season.