Signing off the blog

With the fall sports seasons over for the local high school teams, I have decided to stop updating this blog.

It's something I thought about doing when I retired from WFTM radio in 2019, but I kept the blog going for six more years trying to provide some coverage not always available elsewhere.

I have enjoyed writing about the local teams and their games. But to keep readers, a blog needs to be updated almost daily or even many times a day. That takes a lot of time and is a big commitment.

Thanks to everyone who has read the blog. If you get on the web version, every post is archived.

I will continue to update the Mason County Royals football blog, the Mason County Royals basketball blog and my podcast.

The Mason County cheerleading team is going to state

The Mason County cheerleading team is going to state after a runner-up finish in the KHSAA Region 5 Cheer Competition on Saturday at The Fieldhouse.

Mason County, competing in the All-Girls Medium division, had a total score of 72.25.

Cooper won the division (86.50) and Conner took third place (63.40).

Here is a link to the region results.

The state cheer competiton will be held at the GRC Arena in Winchester. The schedule has not been released.

Royals fall to Ashland 48-8 in the first round of the Class AAAA football playoffs

The Mason County Royals' season came to end with a 48-8 loss to the Ashland Tomcats in the first round of the Class AAAA football playoffs on Friday night at historic Putnam Stadium in Ashland.

The start of the game was delayed 45 minutes by lightning.

Ashland (7-4) led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter and 34-0 at halftime.

Mason County (3-8) got on the scoreboard when Reid Anderson ran 11 yards for a touchdown with 9:21 remaining in the third quarter. Quarterback Camden Gregory ran in the two-point conversion. 

The Tomcats answered with two touchdowns in the third quarter to lead 48-8. The final 12:47 of the game was played with a running clock.

Ashland will play the Highlands Bluebirds in the second round next week in Fort Thomas.

A 1st Q 10:56 Cameron Davis 17 yard run  (Troy Barnett kick) A 7, MC 0

A 1st Q 5:44 Cameron Davis 3 yard run (Troy Barnett kick) A 14, MC 0

A 2nd Q 9:18 Tanner Stutler 13 yard run (kick failed) A 20, MC 0

A 2nd Q 2:42 Trevonte Taylor 3 yard pass from Tanner Stutler (Troy Barnett kick) A 27, MC 0

A 2nd Q 00:33 Justin Hughes 23 yard pass from Tanner Stutler (Troy Barnett kick) A 34, MC 0

MC 3rd Q 9:21 Reid Anderson 11 yard run (Camden Gregory run) A 34, MC 8

A 3rd Q 7:13 Bordy Simpkins 3 yard run (Troy Barnett kick) A 41, MC 8

A 3rd Q 00:47 Dylan Duckwyler 61 yard pass from Tanner Stutler) Troy Barnett kick) A 48, MC 8

KHSAA Region 5 and Region 6 cheer competition is Saturday at The Fieldhouse

The 2025 KHSAA Competitive Cheer for Regions 5 and 6 will take place on Saturday at The Fieldhouse.

Cheer Region 5 is the same as Regions 9 and 10 in basketball while cheer Region 6 is the same as Regions 11 and 12 in basketball, so hundreds of people will be in town for the competition.

There will be two sessions. Doors open at 7:40 a.m. for teams and at 8 a.m. for spectators for Region 5. Competition will begin at 9 a.m.

Mason County will compete in the All-Girls Medium Division and will check-in at 9:14 a.m. and perform at 9:56 a.m.

The Region 6 competition will be begin at 2 p.m. Doors open for teams at 1:20 p.m. and for spectators at 1:40 p.m.

The Fieldhouse will be cleared between the two sessions.

Here is a link to the complete schedule.

Tickets are $12 each. Here is the link to purchase tickets.

Tickets can also be purchased with a credit card at the door. There will be no cash ticket sales.

First round matchups for Class AAAA football

The Mason County Royals will travel to Ashland on Friday to play the Ashland Tomcats in the first round of the Class AAAA football playoffs.

Here are all of the first round matchups in Class AAAA:

Taylor County at Paducah Tilghman 

Franklin-Simpson at John Hardin

Calloway County at Elizabethtown

Marion County at Logan County

Grant County at North Oldham 

Breckinridge County at Spencer County

Waggener at Franklin County

Western Hills at Valley

Greenup County at Highlands

Mason County at Ashland

Harrison County at Johnson Central

Boyd County at Covington Catholic

Whitley County at Boyle County 

Wayne County at Harlan County

Russell County at Corbin

Perry County Central at Lincoln County

The winners of the two games grouped together will meet in the second round. 

For the third round and semifinals, the matchups will be determined by the end of the regular season Ratings Performance Index.

Local results for the XC state championships

The Mason County Lady Royals finished 25th at the Kentucky Beef Council KHSAA Class AA State Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Junior Kolby Galloway led the Lady Royals with a time of 22:31.19.

The other five Lady Royals and their times include: 

Lily Dean 24:25.02

Ava Winter 25:55.56

Calleigh Passmore 26:02.60

Sophie Dean 26:16.27

Ellen Clarke 33:19.73

Four Royals were individual qualifiers for the boys' race:

Daniel Klump 18:17.22

John Yazell 19:48.69

Parker Mead 20:58.08

Shawn Hardin 21:01.12

St. Patrick senior Gabe Sammons was an individual qualifier for the boys' Class A meet and finished with a time of 19:08.84

Gabe Sammons will run in the Class A state cross country meet

St. Patrick senior Gabe Sammons will run in the Kentucky Beef Council KHSAA Cross Country State Championships on Saturday at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Sammons is an individual qualifier in the boys' Class A meet which is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.

Royals fall to Newport Central Catholic 42-21

The Mason County Royals fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter and lost to the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds 42-21 in the final game of the regular season on Thursday night at Covington Catholic.

Mason County scored two touchdowns in the second quarter. Lennie Avery rushed for the first touchdown and Camden Gregory, playing for the first time since suffering an injury on October 3, threw a touchdown pass to Micah Payne.

Newport Central Catholic (6-4) led 28-14 at halftime and extended the lead to 42-14 before Gregory ran three yards for Mason County's third touchdown.

Newport Central Catholic running back Eddie Bivens rushed for 173 yards and three touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass.

Mason County (3-7) will play the Ashland Tomcats in the first round of the Class AAAA playoffs on November 7 in Ashland. 

(Game statistics courtesy of JT Teegarden and Drew Spangler of WFTM radio.)

Class AA Kentucky Beef Council KHSAA Cross Country State Championships are Saturday

Ten Mason County runners will compete in the Kentucky Beef Council KHSAA Cross Country State Championships on Saturday at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Runners for the Lady Royals include Ellen Clarke, Lily Dean, Sophie Dean, Kolby Galloway, Calleigh Passmore and Ava Winter.

Four Royals—Daniel Klump, Shawn Hardin, Parker Mead and John Yazell— were individual qualifiers.

The boys' race is scheduled at 12:30 p.m. followed by the girls' race at 1:15 p.m.

Royals will play Newport Central Catholic at CovCath on Thursday night

This is the final week of the regular season for Kentucky high school football season.

The Mason County Royals will play the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Covington Catholic in Park Hills.

Newport Central Catholic's new stadium is still under construction.

Mason County has a 3-6 record. Newport Central Catholic has won four straight games to run its record to 5-4.

The two football programs have not played each other since 1990.

Here is the link to purchase tickets.

Lady Royals fall to GRC 3-0 in 10th Region volleyball tournament

The Mason County Lady Royals volleyball team's season came to an end with a 3-0 loss to the George Rogers Clark Lady Cardinals on Monday night in the quarterfinal round of the 10th Region Tournament at GRC Arena in Winchester.

The set scores were 25-6, 25-14 and 25-10.

The Lady Royals finished the season with a 22-13 record.

Chris Lofton named a color commentator for Tennessee Volunteers radio broadcasts

Chris Lofton has been named one of the color commentators who will rotate on the University of Tennessee men's basketball radio broadcasts via the Vol Network.

Here is a link to the press release.

Introducing the 2025-26 Tennessee Basketball @VolNetwork broadcast team:

• Mike Keith
• John Wilkerson
• Chris Lofton
• Steve Hamer

read more → https://t.co/MfGsWYc6FV pic.twitter.com/91t9KLlG0w

— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) October 23, 2025

Lady Royals qualify for state XC meet with a fourth place finish in the region meet

The Mason County Lady Royals finished fourth at the Class AA Region 6 cross country meet on Saturday in Ashland to earn a spot in the state meet.

Junior Kolby Galloway led the Lady Royals with a ninth place finish in a time of 21:56.30.

Junior Calleigh Passmore had a top 20 finish, taking 15th place in a time of 22:29.94.

Mason County senior Daniel Klump finished seventh in the boys' meet in a time of 17:73.53 and qualified for the state meet.

The Royals finished fifth in the team standings and failed to qualify for the state meet.

Royals shutout 52-0 by Covington Catholic

The Mason County Royals trailed 28-0 less than eight minutes into the game and lost to the Covington Catholic Colonels 52-0 on Friday night at home.

Covington Catholic (7-3) returned the opening kickoff 76 yards for a touchdown and scored touchdowns on its first two plays from scrimmage.

After leading 28-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Colonels scored on the first play of the second quarter. The rest of the game was played with a running clock.

Covington Catholic scored another touchdown before the half ended and added a field goal and a touchdown in the third quarter.

Mason County (3-6) will close out the regular season next week vs. Newport Central Catholic. That game will be played at Covington Catholic's Dennis Griffith Stadium in Park Hills.

CC 1st Q 11:47 Charlie Reeves 74 yard kickoff return (Logan Zembrodt kick) CC 7, MC 0

CC 1st Q 9:40 Dylan Gaiser 46 yard run (Logan Zembrodt kick) CC 14, MC 0

CC 1st Q 7:52 Logan Sanning 40 yard pass from Cash Harney (Logan Zembrodt kick) CC 21, MC 0

CC 1st Q 4:19 Zach Brooks 14 yard pass from Cash Harney (Logan Zembrodt kick) CC 28, MC 0

CC 2nd Q 11:49 Dylan Gaiser 48 yard run (Logan Zembrodt kick) CC 35, MC 0

CC 2nd Q 4:52 Dylan Gaiser 47 yard run (Logan Zembrodt kick) CC 42, MC 0

CC 3rd Q 2:11 Logan Zembrodt 40 yard field goal CC 45, MC 0

CC 4th Q 3:18 William Timmerding 3 yard run (Logan Zembrodt kick) CC 52,MC 0

Lady Royals draw GRC in regional volleyball tournament

The Mason County Lady Royals will play the George Rogers Clark Lady Cardinals on Monday at 7:15 p.m. in the quarterfinal round of the 10th Region volleyball tournament at George Rogers Clark Arena in Winchester.

The draw was held on Friday. Here is the tournament bracket:

Bracken County wins district championship with a 3-0 victory over Mason County

The Bracken County Lady Bears won the 39th District volleyball tournament for the third straight year by defeating the Mason County Lady Royals 3-0 in the championship match on Thursday night at The Igoo in Brooksville.

The set scores were 25-10, 25-12 and 25-16.

The loss snapped Mason County's four-match winning streak.

Both teams advance to the 10th Region Tournament.

Halle Pfeffer recorded her 1,000th career dig last week

Mason County senior volleyball player Halle Pfeffer recorded her 1,000th career dig in the Lady Royals' victory over the Pendleton County Lady Wildcats on October 14.

Pfeffer had 40 digs in Mason County's five-set win over the Augusta Panthers on Tuesday night in the semifinals of the 39th District Tournament and has 1,013 career digs going into the district championship game vs. the Bracken County Lady Bears tonight. 

Here is a season-by-season breakdown of Pfeffer's digs:

2022 46

2023 176

2024 348

2025 483

 

Congrats to Senior Halle Pfeffer for accomplishing a personal milestone this season! She hit 1000 career Digs!! Way to go, Halle!! pic.twitter.com/g6GayoNBD0

— Mason Co. Athletics (@RoyalsAth1etics) October 16, 2025

Mason County and Bracken County winners in volleyball district semifinals

The Mason County Lady Royals and the Bracken County Lady Bears were winners in the semifinals of the 39th District volleyball tournament at The Igloo in Brooksville on Tuesday night.

Mason County rallied from a two sets to one deficit to beat the Augusta Lady Panthers in five sets.

The Lady Royals jumped out to an 11-3 lead and hung on to win the first set 25-22. Augusta won the second set 25-17 and the third set 25-8. Mason County bounced back to take the fourth set 25-16 and closed out the match by winning the fifth set 15-13.

Bracken County defeated the St. Patrick Lady Saints in straight sets (25-14, 25-14, 25-17).

St. Patrick ended the season with a 9-18 record. Augusta finished the season with a 13-9 record.

Mason County (22-11) and Bracken County (25-7) will meet in the championship match on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at The Igloo.

Royals golf Bryson Bennett named Region 12 Coach of the Year

Mason County Royals golf coach Bryson Bennett has been named Region 12 Coach of the Year.

The Royals won the Beechwood Invitational, the Region 12 Preview and the Kentucky 2A Championships Section 6 title.

They were the Region 12 runners-up, finished fifth at both the Kentucky 2A Championships state tournament and the Winchester site of the First Round of the State Tournament.

Just Announced!!

Coach Bennett gets the nod of Coach of the Year for Region 12! pic.twitter.com/tON0ZYlrEY

— Mason Co Boys Golf (@RoyalsBoysGolf) October 21, 2025

Lexi Young verbally committs to Indiana University

Mason County senior track and field star Lexi Young has verbally committed to Indiana University.

Young has won several state championships and All-State honors in the high jump, long jump and triple jump, and holds numerous school records.

She is also a member of the Mason County Lady Royals basketball team.

November 12 is the first day of the official signing period.

Mason County Lady Royal Lexi Young has verbally accepted a scholarship offer to continue her Track & Field career at Indiana University. CONGRATS LEXI !!!#togetherwewin pic.twitter.com/nwlpNLSpco

— Mason County XCTF (@MasonCountyXCTF) October 20, 2025