Mason County defeats Greenup County 27-14 for a school record 13th win and a trip to the state semifinals

The undefeated Mason County Royals are headed to the state semifinals with a school-record 13 wins after beating the Greenup County Musketeers 27-14 Friday night at home in the third round of the Class AAA playoffs. 

The Royals outscored the Musketeers 20-0 in the second half for the third region championship in program history and the first since 2003.

Keyshaun Thomas threw two touchdown passes to KG Walton and one to Isaac Marshall. 

Caden Clark-Roberts rushed 27 yards for a touchdown.

Terrell Henry had three huge defensive plays in the second half: two interceptions and a tackle that stopped Greenup County on 4th-and-one at the Royals' 11 yard line. His second pick was in the end zone with 2:24 left in the game. Mason County was then able to run out the clock.

The Royals will play the Bardstown Tigers in Bardstown next week. The Tigers, also 13-0, defeated Union County 66-33 Friday night.

Christian Academy-Louisville will host Ashland in the other semifinal game.

GC 2nd Q 9:04 Tyson Sammons 40 yard run (Carson Wireman kick) GC 7, MC 0

MC 2nd Q 3:26 KG Walton 14 yard pass from Keshaun Thomas (Austin Moreland kick) GC 7, MC 7

GC 2nd Q 00:31 Tyson Sammons 8 yard run (Carson Wireman kick) GC 14, MC 7

MC 3rd Q 5:35 Isaac Marshall 23 yard pass from Keshaun Thomas (Austin Moreland kick) GC 14, MC 14

MC 3rd Q 2:21 KG Walton 47 yard pass from Keshaun Thomas (Austin Moreland kick) MC 21, GC 7

MC 3rd Q 1:08 Caden Clark-Roberts 24 yard run (kick blocked) MC 27, GC 14

13-0! On to the State Semis! #TogetherWeWin pic.twitter.com/Bi6pzHszOk

— Mason Co. Football (@MasonCoFootball) November 19, 2022

Regional Champs!!! 13-0! pic.twitter.com/umJIU2KQuM

— Mason County Schools (@MasonCoSchools) November 19, 2022

Royals advance to the third round of the playoffs with a 25-0 victory Estill County

The Mason County Royals defeated the Estill County Engineers 25-0 tonight at home in the second round of the Class AAA football playoffs. 

It's the Royals' second straight shutout, and Mason County is 12-0 for just the second time in program history. 

Four different Royals scored touchdowns: Caden Clark-Roberts on a 70-yard run, Isaac Marshall on a 25-yard pass from Keshaun Thomas, KG Walton on a 37-yard run and Thomas on a one-yard quarterback sneak.

Mason County will host the Greenup County Musketeers in the third round next week. The Royals beat the Muskeeteers 34-29 in the final game of the regular season. 

Greenup County defeated Lawrence County 28-7 tonight.

MC 2nd Q 8:49 Caden Clark-Roberts 70 yard run (pass failed) MC 6, EC 0

MC 2nd Q 00:35 Isaac Marshall 25 yard pass from Keshaun Thomas (run failed) MC 12, EC 0

MC 3rd Q 6:20 KG Walton 37 yard run (run failed) MC 18, EC 0

MC 4th Q 1:37 Keshaun Thomas 1 yard run (Austin Moreland kick) MC 25, EC 0

Another Opponent…Same Result!

On to the Region Championship in a rematch against Greenup County. pic.twitter.com/txQPndVSL9

— Mason Co. Athletics (@RoyalsAth1etics) November 12, 2022

Royals defense makes big plays in a 40-28 win over Fleming County

With Mason County clinging to a five-point lead and Fleming County driving deep into Royal territory, Caden Clark-Roberts returned a fumble 63 yards for a touchdown with 2:42 left in the game.

On Fleming County's next possession, Terrell Henry came up with his second interception of the game and the Royals left Flemingsburg with a 40-28 victory tonight.

There were four lead changes.

Keshaun Thomas threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Marshall on the Royals' first play.

Thomas also rushed for two touchdowns. The second one was set up by an interception return to the six yard line by Trey Walker.

Caden Clark-Roberts had a rushing touchdown in addition to his scoop-and-score.

Brady Sanders also ran for a touchdown.

Mason County is 7-0 overall and 2-0 in district play. The Royals are at home vs. Lewis County next week.

MC 1st Q 8:30 Isaac Marshall 45 yard pass from Keshaun Thomas (Ryan Skaggs kick) MC 7, FC 0

MC 1st Q 00:41 Brady Sanders 4 yard run (kick failed) MC 13, FC 0

FC 1st Q 00:17 Austin Trent 71 yard run (Parker Sills kick) MC 13, FC 7

FC 2nd Q 2:55 Landon Johnson 22 yard pass from Nate Ruark (Parker Sills kick) FC 14, MC 13

MC 3rd Q 8:36 Keshaun Thomas 8 yard run (pass failed) MC 19, FC 14

FC 3rd Q 5:51 Landon Johnson 45 yard pass from Nate Ruark (Parker Sills kick) FC 21, FC 19

MC 3rd Q 2:38 Keshaun Thomas 6 yard run (Brady Sanders run) MC 27, FC 21

MC 3rd Q 1:04 Caden Clark-Roberts 8 yard run (run failed) MC 33, FC 21

FC 4th Q  7:37Austin Trent 15 yard run (Parker Sills kick) MC 33, FC 28

MC 4th Q 2:42 Caden Clark-Roberts 63 yard fumble return (Ryan Skaggs kick) MC 40, FC 28

(Game statistics courtesy of WFTM's Travis Scaggs and Drew Spangler.)

Royals rout Ludlow 45-14 on Homecoming

The Mason County Royals scored 39 straight points in a 45-14 victory over the Ludlow Panthers tonight on Homecoming to run their record to 6-0.

After Ludlow took a 7-6 lead in with 11:44 left in the second quarter, Carter Sanders returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown. 

Mason County scored 32 points in the second quarter, and the running clock went into effect when the Royals scored with 7:49 remaining in the third quarter.

Six Mason County players scored touchdowns including Caden Clark-Roberts who rushed for two.

Keshaun Thomas threw two touchdown passes and rushed for a TD. 

Mason County will travel to Flemingsburg next week for a district showdown vs. the Fleming County Panthers. 

MC 1st Q 8:48 Terrell Henry 10 yard pass from Keshaun Thomas (run failed) MC 6, L 0

L  2nd Q 11:44 Dameyn Anness 22 yard run (Jaxson Rice kick) L 7, MC 6

MC 2nd Q 11:36 Carter Sanders 65 yard kickoff return (run failed) MC 12, L 6

MC 2nd Q 6:38 Caden Clark-Roberts 33 yard run (Ryan Skaggs kick) MC 19, L 6

MC 2nd Q 4:49 Chad Clark-Roberts 5 yard run (pass failed) MC 25, L 7

MC 2nd Q 1:35 Keshaun Thomas 4 yard run (Ryan Skaggs kick) MC 32, L 7

MC 2nd Q 00:40 CJ Arthur 36 yard pass from Keshaun Thomas (run failed) MC 38, L 7

MC 3rd Q 7:49 Caden Clark-Roberts 15 yard run (Ryan Skaggs kick) MC 45, L 7

L  4th Q 7:19 Jaylen Bridges 22 yard run (Jaxson Rice kick) MC 45, L 14

Royals edge Boyd County 13-12

With 55 seconds remaining in the game, the Mason County defense stopped Boyd County on 4th-and-1 from the Mason County 40 yard line to secure a 13-12 road win for the Royals tonight.

Mason County scored both of its touchdowns in the second quarter on a 41-yard run by Caden Clark-Roberts and a 14 yard touchdown pass from Keshaun Thomas to Isaac Marshall. Austin Moreland's PAT after the second touchdown turned out to be the winning point.

Boyd County threatened to tie to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but after the Lions' second touchdown of the second half, they failed to convert the extra point with 7:13 left in the game.

Mason County (4-0) will play its home opener next week against district foe Pendleton County.

MC 2nd Q 10:51 Caden Clark-Roberts 41 yard run (pass intercepted) MC 6, BC 0

MC 2nd Q 2:25 Isaac Marshall 14 yard pass from Keshaun Thomas (kick failed) MC 13, BC 0

BC 3rd Q 9:00 Rhett Holbrook 1 yard run (kick blocked) MC 13, BC 6

BC 4th Q 7:13 Josh Thornton 18 yard pass from Rhett Holbrook (pass failed) MC 13, BC 12

(Game statistics courtesy of WFTM's Travis Scaggs and Drew Spangler.)

Royals defeat the Lewis County Lions 21-0

Brady Sanders rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns and Caden Clark-Roberts rushed a touchdown and a two-point conversion to lead the Mason County Royals to a 21-0 district victory over the Lewis County Lions tonight in Vanceburg.

Mason County is 5-3 overall and 2-1 in district games. The Royals will play host to the Powell County Pirates next week.

MC 2nd Q 1:31 Caden Clark-Roberts 30 yard run (run failed) MC 6, LC 0

MC 3rd Q 3:49 Brady Sanders 26 yard run (Caden Clark-Roberts run) MC 14, LC 0

MC 4th Q 4:57 Brady Sanders 7 yard run (Ashton Adams kick) MC 21, LC 0

(Game statistics courtesy of WFTM radio's Travis Scaggs and Drew Spangler)

Custard and Harrison County run past Mason County 41-8

Harrison County senior running back Tayshaun Custard rushed for a school record 351 yards on nine carries and tied a school record with five rushing touchdowns to lead the Thorobreds to a 41-8 victory over the Mason County Royals tonight at Mason County in the final game of the regular season.

Custard scored touchdowns on runs of 43, 69, 48, 73 and 84 yards. 

The final 8:29 of the game was played with a running clock after Harrison County increased its lead to 41-0.

Mason County running back Caden Clark-Roberts ran 73 yards for a touchdown with 6:39 to play.

Mason County (4-3) will play host to the Pendleton County Wildcats next week in the opening round of the Class AAA playoffs.

HC 1st Q 3:44 LaDarius Conner 5 yard run (Ryan Anness kick) HC 7, MC 0

HC 2nd Q 1:45 Tayshaun Custard 43 yard run (Ryan Anness kick) HC 14, MC 0

HC 2nd Q 9:46 Tayshaun Custard 69 yard run (kick blocked) HC 20, MC 0

HC 3rd Q 2:08 Tayshaun Custard 48 yard run (Devin Lewis run) HC 28, MC 0

HC 3rd Q 00:59 Tayshaun Custard 73 yard run (run failed) HC 34, MC 0

HC 4th Q 8:29 Tayshaun Custard 84 yard run (Ryan Anness kick) HC 41, MC 0

MC 4th Q 6:39 Caden Clark-Roberts 73 yard run (Caden Clark-Roberts run) HC 41, MC 0

(Game stats compliments of WFTM radio)

Royals clinch 2nd place in district with a 42-20 road win over Powell County

The Mason County Royals clinched second place in the district with a 42-20 victory over the Powell County Pirates Friday night in Stanton. 

Mason County scored on all seven of its first half possessions and led 42-6 at the half. 

The Royals' two quarterback offense was clicking. Ashton Adams threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Chad Clark- Roberts in each of the first two quarters. Adams also scored on a rushing touchdown. Terrell Henry rushed for a touchdown and threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Marshall.

Caden Clark-Roberts had a rushing touchdown.

Mason County is 4-2 overall and 3-1 in district play. The Royals close out the regular season next week at home against Harrison County and will be at home for the first round of the playoffs on November 13. 

MC 1st Q Chad Clark-Roberts 66 yard pass from Ashton Adams (Ashton Adams kick) MC 7, PC 0 
MC 1st Q Terrell Henry 20 yard run (Brady Sanders pass from Carson Pugh MC 15, PC 0 
MC 1st Q Ashton Adams 28 yard run (Ashton Adams kick) MC 22, PC 0
MC 2nd Q Caden Clark-Roberts 4 yard run (kick missed) MC 28, PC 0
PC 2nd Q Stephen Norris 68 yard run (kick missed) MC 28, PC 6
MC 2nd Q Chad Clark-Roberts 66 yard pass from Ashton Adams (kick missed) MC 34, PC 6
MC 2nd Q Isaac Marshall 32 yard pass from Terrell Henry (Terrell Henry run) MC 42, PC 6
PC 3rd Q Stephen Norris 1 yard run (pass failed) MC 42, PC 12
PC 4th Q Josh Ledford 5 yard run (Josh Ledford run) MC 42, PC 20

(Game stats compliments of WFTM radio)