My criteria included what the victories meant to the program when they took place and how they have stood the test of time, the quality of the opponent, playoff implications and the game atmosphere.
Several other games could have made this list and I might have left off one of your favorites, but it was fun to look back at some thrilling wins. I was fortunate enough to be on the air for all but one of the games (No. 5).
After publishing a 25-game post, I added a 26th game. George Rogers Clark girls basketball coach (and Fleming County High School graduate) Robbie Graham tweeted that he was surprised the 1991 Mason County vs. Fleming County playoff game didn't make the list. The game was on a master list I had compiled, but I didn't include it in the original post. I should have. It's on the list now.
No. 26 Mason County 14, Fleming County 8
November 15, 1991
In the second round of the Class AA playoffs, the two teams played a scoreless first half in Flemingsburg. Gary Greene gave the Royals an 8-0 lead with a one-yard touchdown run and a conversion run in the third quarter. Matt Justice returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and Junior Marshall's conversion run tied the game. Shawn Nelson scored the game-winning touchdown on a 10-yard run with four seconds left in the game. The loss avenged a 20-14 regular season loss to the Panthers.
No. 25 Mason County 26, Boyd County 21
August 24, 1984
The Royals trailed 14-0 in the first quarter and 21-12 in the fourth quarter. Tony Jackson returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Chris O'Hearn.
No. 24 Mason County 29, Lloyd 28
September 29, 2000
Lloyd running back Myron Hopkins scored three straight touchdowns in the second half to give the Juggernauts a 28-14 lead in the fourth quarter. The Royals rallied with a touchdown pass from Harry Lewis to Mike Mullins, a PAT by Damion Lang, a touchdown run by Lewis and a conversion run by Lewis.
No. 23 Mason County 35, Holmes 34 OT
October 14, 2016
The Royals' defense came up with a goal line stand on Holmes' two-point conversion run to secure the win and clinch third place in the district. Mason County led 28-6 early in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs tied the game with 22 straight points. With the Royals on offense first in the overtime, Malkolm Devine scored a touchdown on a six-yard run and Travis Whisman kicked the extra point.
No. 22 Mason County 28, Fleming County 21
September 2, 2005
Ty Sargent rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another.
Former Mason County coach David Buchanan believes the 2005 Fleming County squad was the Panthers' best team he faced in his 19 years as the Royals' coach.
No. 21 Mason County 28, Rowan County 26
September 18, 2009
The Royals came up with two defensive stops in the closing seconds to hang on for the victory in the closest game of a 10-0 regular season. Neal Pawsat completed 18 of 28 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Gilbert had eight receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown. Gilbert also ran 23 yards for a TD on a reverse.
No. 20 Mason County 34, Scott 21
November 1, 2013
Jake O'Mara passed for two touchdowns and ran for another and Rashon Nelson had two rushing touchdowns as the Royals capped off another 10-0 regular season.
No. 19 Mason County 9, Maysville 6 OT
September 14, 1979
Allen Feldhaus Jr. kicked a 24-yard field goal in overtime to give the Royals their first-ever varsity win and their only victory in the program's first varsity season.
No. 18 Mason County 27, Lloyd 26
October 3, 1997
The Royals edged the Juggernauts in Erlanger. Lloyd missed a field goal attempt with 30 seconds left in the game.
No. 17 Mason County 27, Newport 26
October 10, 1997
The Royals rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit. Justin Walsh threw touchdown passes to Tony Thomas and Chris Linback. Jamie Booher rushed for a touchdown and returned a fumble 14 yards for a TD.
No. 16 Mason County 20, Tates Creek 14 OT
August 17, 2001
Dustin Grutza threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Myrick in overtime for a season-opening victory over the Class AAAA Commodores. Mason County's other two touchdowns were in the second quarter on a pass from Grutza to Chris Lofton and a two-yard run by Myrick
No. 15 Mason County 35, Lafayette 28
September 13, 2002
In 2001, the Royals routed the Generals 39-12 at Mason County. The Lafayette team and its fans were seeking revenge in 2002 in Lexington, but the Royals made it two straight wins over the Class AAAA school despite three rushing touchdowns by Generals running back Elrazor Sharp including two in the fourth quarter.
No. 14 Mason County 41, Lloyd 13
September 19, 2003
Dustin Grutza kicked a 36-yard field goal and threw five touchdown passes (four to Chris Lofton and one to Ty Sargent).
No. 13 Mason County 48, Danville 21
August 21, 2009
The Royals led 42-7 at halftime and 48-7 in the fourth quarter. Josh Harris returned a fumble 99 yards for a touchdown and had two rushing touchdowns.
No. 12 Mason County 48, Breathitt County 6
August 23, 2003
The Royals jumped out to a 48-0 lead in the Recreation Bowl. Dustin Grutza threw three touchdown passes (two to Chris Lofton and one to Kevin Murphy) and rushed for another TD. Ty Sargent returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown. Andre Turner had a 30-yard fumble return for a touchdown and Bryan Sweet ran for a touchdown.
No. 11 Mason County 19, Rockcastle County 12
August 24, 2002
This game was in the Bob Allen Pigskin Classic at Admiral Stadium in Danville. Mason County led 13-0 and all of the scoring took place in the first half. Coach David Buchanan was so excited on the post game show he knocked us off the air.
No. 10 Mason County 25, Ashland 14
October 10, 2003
A huge district win at Putnam Stadium in the Royals' first season in Class AAA.
No. 9 Mason County 27, Russell 23
September 19, 1997
The Royals scored 20 unanswered points for their first win over the Red Devils. Justin Walsh threw two touchdown passes to Tony Thomas and ran for two touchdowns.
No. 8 Mason County 51, Lawrence County 24
October 24, 2003
Mason County clinched it first-ever district title with a 51-24 road victory. After trailing 13-0 early in the first quarter, the Royals scored 51 straight points including 30 in the second quarter.
No. 7 Mason County 20, Russell 7
October 24, 2008
The Royals beat the Red Devils in Flatwoods for the first time and clinched the district championship. It was the Royals' first win over the Red Devils since 2001.
No. 6 Mason County 21, Rockcastle County 19
November 14, 2003
The Royals overcame three turnovers to post the win in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs. Dustin Grutza rushed for two touchdowns and Bryan Sweet ran for a TD. The two teams played a scoreless fourth quarter.
No. 5 Mason County 38, Prestonsburg 30
November 8, 1991
In the first playoff game in school history, the No. 4 seeded Royals upset the No. 1 seeded Blackcats in Prestonsburg. Gary Greene had four rushing touchdowns. Galon Thomas broke a 30-30 tie with a 51-yard run in the fourth quarter.
No. 4 Mason County 40, Lloyd 35
November 9, 2001
Lloyd, hosting the second round playoff game, had taken a 35-34 lead with a fourth quarter touchdown. Dustin Grutza scored the game-winning touchdown on a one-yard run, his third rushing touchdown of the game. He also threw a touchdown pass to G.G. Lofton. Nathan Myrick had two rushing touchdowns.
No. 3 Mason County 14, Fleming County 6
November 16, 2001
The Royals avenged a regular season loss to the Panthers and clinched their first region championship with this victory in Flemingsburg.
No. 2 Mason County 35, Mercer County 21
November 3, 2000
Harry Lewis returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, threw two touchdown passes to Tee Commodore and ran for another TD to lead the Royals to victory in the first round of the Class AA playoffs.
No. 1 Mason County 44, Ashland 21
November 21, 2003
Dustin Grutza had six rushing touchdowns (four in the fourth quarter) and kicked a 30-yard field goal to lead the Royals to another region championship. The Royals outscored the Tomcats 34-7 in the second half.
Mason County will be looking for memorable wins this season. The Royals open the season at home Friday night against the Russell Red Devils.
Here are four more memorable wins.
For more information about the memorable wins and more history about Royals football go to the Mason County Royals Football blog
(Updated to add that Shawn Nelson's game-winning TD was with four seconds left in the game. Also to correct the spelling of Shawn and to include the link to four more memorable wins.)
No. 19 Mason County 9, Maysville 6 OT
September 14, 1979
Allen Feldhaus Jr. kicked a 24-yard field goal in overtime to give the Royals their first-ever varsity win and their only victory in the program's first varsity season.
No. 18 Mason County 27, Lloyd 26
October 3, 1997
The Royals edged the Juggernauts in Erlanger. Lloyd missed a field goal attempt with 30 seconds left in the game.
No. 17 Mason County 27, Newport 26
October 10, 1997
The Royals rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit. Justin Walsh threw touchdown passes to Tony Thomas and Chris Linback. Jamie Booher rushed for a touchdown and returned a fumble 14 yards for a TD.
No. 16 Mason County 20, Tates Creek 14 OT
August 17, 2001
Dustin Grutza threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Myrick in overtime for a season-opening victory over the Class AAAA Commodores. Mason County's other two touchdowns were in the second quarter on a pass from Grutza to Chris Lofton and a two-yard run by Myrick
No. 15 Mason County 35, Lafayette 28
September 13, 2002
In 2001, the Royals routed the Generals 39-12 at Mason County. The Lafayette team and its fans were seeking revenge in 2002 in Lexington, but the Royals made it two straight wins over the Class AAAA school despite three rushing touchdowns by Generals running back Elrazor Sharp including two in the fourth quarter.
No. 14 Mason County 41, Lloyd 13
September 19, 2003
Dustin Grutza kicked a 36-yard field goal and threw five touchdown passes (four to Chris Lofton and one to Ty Sargent).
No. 13 Mason County 48, Danville 21
August 21, 2009
The Royals led 42-7 at halftime and 48-7 in the fourth quarter. Josh Harris returned a fumble 99 yards for a touchdown and had two rushing touchdowns.
No. 12 Mason County 48, Breathitt County 6
August 23, 2003
The Royals jumped out to a 48-0 lead in the Recreation Bowl. Dustin Grutza threw three touchdown passes (two to Chris Lofton and one to Kevin Murphy) and rushed for another TD. Ty Sargent returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown. Andre Turner had a 30-yard fumble return for a touchdown and Bryan Sweet ran for a touchdown.
No. 11 Mason County 19, Rockcastle County 12
August 24, 2002
This game was in the Bob Allen Pigskin Classic at Admiral Stadium in Danville. Mason County led 13-0 and all of the scoring took place in the first half. Coach David Buchanan was so excited on the post game show he knocked us off the air.
No. 10 Mason County 25, Ashland 14
October 10, 2003
A huge district win at Putnam Stadium in the Royals' first season in Class AAA.
No. 9 Mason County 27, Russell 23
September 19, 1997
The Royals scored 20 unanswered points for their first win over the Red Devils. Justin Walsh threw two touchdown passes to Tony Thomas and ran for two touchdowns.
No. 8 Mason County 51, Lawrence County 24
October 24, 2003
Mason County clinched it first-ever district title with a 51-24 road victory. After trailing 13-0 early in the first quarter, the Royals scored 51 straight points including 30 in the second quarter.
No. 7 Mason County 20, Russell 7
October 24, 2008
The Royals beat the Red Devils in Flatwoods for the first time and clinched the district championship. It was the Royals' first win over the Red Devils since 2001.
No. 6 Mason County 21, Rockcastle County 19
November 14, 2003
The Royals overcame three turnovers to post the win in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs. Dustin Grutza rushed for two touchdowns and Bryan Sweet ran for a TD. The two teams played a scoreless fourth quarter.
No. 5 Mason County 38, Prestonsburg 30
November 8, 1991
In the first playoff game in school history, the No. 4 seeded Royals upset the No. 1 seeded Blackcats in Prestonsburg. Gary Greene had four rushing touchdowns. Galon Thomas broke a 30-30 tie with a 51-yard run in the fourth quarter.
No. 4 Mason County 40, Lloyd 35
November 9, 2001
Lloyd, hosting the second round playoff game, had taken a 35-34 lead with a fourth quarter touchdown. Dustin Grutza scored the game-winning touchdown on a one-yard run, his third rushing touchdown of the game. He also threw a touchdown pass to G.G. Lofton. Nathan Myrick had two rushing touchdowns.
No. 3 Mason County 14, Fleming County 6
November 16, 2001
The Royals avenged a regular season loss to the Panthers and clinched their first region championship with this victory in Flemingsburg.
No. 2 Mason County 35, Mercer County 21
November 3, 2000
Harry Lewis returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, threw two touchdown passes to Tee Commodore and ran for another TD to lead the Royals to victory in the first round of the Class AA playoffs.
No. 1 Mason County 44, Ashland 21
November 21, 2003
Dustin Grutza had six rushing touchdowns (four in the fourth quarter) and kicked a 30-yard field goal to lead the Royals to another region championship. The Royals outscored the Tomcats 34-7 in the second half.
Mason County will be looking for memorable wins this season. The Royals open the season at home Friday night against the Russell Red Devils.
Here are four more memorable wins.
For more information about the memorable wins and more history about Royals football go to the Mason County Royals Football blog
(Updated to add that Shawn Nelson's game-winning TD was with four seconds left in the game. Also to correct the spelling of Shawn and to include the link to four more memorable wins.)
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