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

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.)

Royals fall to Lawrence County 41-13

A short-handed Mason County Royals football team stayed with the Lawrence County Bulldogs for a half before being outscored 27-0 in the second half in a 41-13 loss on Friday night in Louisa.

With first-string quarterback Camden Gregory lost for the season with an injury and running back Lennie Avery sidelined with an injury, sophomore quarterback Kyson Fox, in his first varsity start, threw two touchdown passes to Micah Payne and the Royals only trailed 14-13 at halftime.

The second half was all Lawrence County.

The Bulldogs scored on the opening drive of the third quarter, added another score in the third quarter and two more in the fourth quarter.

Fox left the game with an injury in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Payne took over at quarterback, but he also left the game with an injury. Freshman Brylee Gardner was the next man up.

Mason County (2-4) will open district play next week vs. the Harrison County Thorobreds in Cynthiana.

LC 1st Q 3:01 Cavin Williams 9 yard run (Brayden Queen kick) LC 7, MC 0

MC 2nd Q 9:53 Micah Payne 24 yard pass from Kyson Fox (Micah Payne kick) LC 7, MC 7

LC 2nd Q 9:01 Cavin Williams 6 yard run (Brayden Queen kick) LC 14, MC 13

MC 2nd Q 00:13 Micah Payne 9 yard pass from Kyson Fox (kicked failed) LC 21, MC 13

LC 3rd Q 8:08 Cavin Williams 11 yard run (run failed) LC 20, MC 13

LC 3rd Q 2:02 Chandler Preece 1 yard run (Brayden Queen kick) LC 27, MC 13

LC 4th Q 11:08 Kaden Johnson 49 yard pass from Luke Fetherolf (Brayden Queen kick) LC 34, MC 13

LC 4th Q 1:01 Brennan Blankenship 7 yard run (Brayden Queen kick) LC 41, MC 13

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

Royals get 21-13 road win over Boone County

Camden Gregory threw for a touchdown and ran for another score to lead the Mason County Royals to a 21-13 victory over the Boone County Rebels on Friday night in Florence.

After Boone County scored on the opening drive of the game, Mason County (2-3) took its first lead when Gregory threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Carter Roark and Lennie Avery scored on a conversion run with 6:25 left in the first quarter.

Boone County (3-2) answered with a touchdown in the second quarter to lead 13-8 at halftime.

The Royals opened the third quarter with a 14-play, 60-yard scoring drive capped off by a one-yard quarterback sneak by Gregory.

Mason County tacked on another touchdown with 9:21 to play in the fourth quarter on an eight-yard run by Reid Anderson.

That touchdown was set up by an interception return to the 12- yard line by Kyson Fox.

Boone County advanced to the Mason County 33-yard line in the closing minute, but a penalty pushed the Rebels back to the 50-yard line. Following a 16-yard pass play, Boone County was unable to convert on 4th down and 11 with 11 seconds remaining.

The Royals have a bye week next week before playing at Lawrence County on October 3.

BC 1st Q 8:09 Steven Johnson 4 yard run (Eric Lipps kick) BC 7, MC 0

MC 1st Q 6:25 Carter Roark 31 yard pass from Camden Gregory (Lennie Avery run) MC 8, BC 7

BC 2nd Q 3:50 Steven Johnson 17 yard run (run failed) BC 13, MC 8

MC 3rd Q 5:23 Camden Gregory 1 yard run (pass failed) MC 14, BC 13

MC 4th Q 9:21 Reid Anderson 8 yard run (Micah Payne kick) MC 21, BC 13

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

Royals lose to Boyd County 42-6 on Homecoming

The Mason County Royals fell behind 21-0 and lost to the Boyd County Lions 42-6 on Homecoming Friday night.

Boyd County (3-1) led 14-0 at halftime and 21-0 in the third quarter.

Mason County (1-3) got on the scoreboard with 27 seconds left in the third quarter when Camden Gregory threw a 28 yard touchdown pass to Micah Payne.

The Lions scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Boyd County outgained Mason County 337-153 in total yards.

The Royals will travel to Florence next week to play the Boone County Rebels.

BC 1st Q 11:48 Blake Sexton 10 yard run (Ryan Crank kick) BC 7, MC 0

BC 1st Q 3:51 James McDaniels 5 yard run (Ryan Crank kick) BC 14, MC 0

BC 3rd Q 8:35 Blake Sexton 1 yard run (Ryan Crank kick) BC 21, MC 0

MC 3rd Q 00:27 Micah Payne 28 pass from Camden Gregory (kick failed) BC 21, MC 6

BC 4th Q 7:31 Kaleb Kelly 12 yard run (Ryan Crank kick) BC 28, MC 6

BC 4th Q 5:09 Ian Branham 32 yard pass from Jace Manning (Ryan Crank kick) BC 35, MC 6

BC 4th Q  1:35 Cameron May 39 yard pass from Jace Manning (Ryan Crank kick) BC 42,  MC 6

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

Royals beat Fleming County 36-20

Camden Gregory completed 7 of 10 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another touchdown as the Mason County Royals gave coach Bradley Boone his first win by beating the Fleming County Panthers 36-20 on Friday night at Mason County.

Gregory threw two touchdown passes to Micah Payne and one to Macen Grooms.

Payne had four receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns.

Joey Staggs rushed for 82 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries.

The Royals had no turnovers after committing a total of nine turnovers in their first two games.

Mason County (1-2) will host the Boyd County Lions next week on Homecoming.

Fleming County (2-1) will play at Rowan County next week.

MC 2nd Q 2:59 Joey Staggs 5 yard run (Micah Payne kick) MC 7, FC 0

MC 2nd Q 8.2 Micah Payne 52 yard pass from Camden Gregory (Micah Payne kick) MC 14, FC 0

FC 3rd Q 7:05 Jett Martin 1 yard run (run failed) MC 14, FC  6

MC 4th Q 11:55 Macen Grooms 10 yard pass from Camden Gregory (Micah Payne kick) MC 21, FC 6

FC 4th Q 11:34 Evan Conley 70 yard kickoff return (run failed) MC 21, FC 12

MC 4th Q 7:09 Camden Gregory 2 yard run (Micah Payne kick) MC 28, FC 12

FC 4th Q 2:20 Branson Hawkins 5 yard pass from Jett Martin (Blake Everidge pass from Jett Martin) MC 28, FC 20

MC 4th Q 2:04 Micah Payne 65 yard pass from Camden Gregory (Macen Grooms pass from Camden Gregory) MC 36, FC 20

MC 4th Q 7:09 Camden Gregory 2 yard run (Micah Payne kick) MC 21, FC 12

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

Joey Staggs with a 5 yard touchdown run.
Mason Co. 7
Fleming Co. 0
2:59 2nd Q. pic.twitter.com/sHvXKckP3y

— Danny Weddle (@DannyEWeddle) September 6, 2025

Camden Gregory tosses a 10 yard touchdown pass to Macen Grooms. pic.twitter.com/K7G8oGT4xv

— Danny Weddle (@DannyEWeddle) September 6, 2025

Bracken County beats Mason County 35-21

Daulton Tarter rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bracken County Polar Bears to a 35-21 win over the Mason County Royals on Friday night in Brooksville.

It was the first meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.

Mason County fell behind 21-0, but rallied to within seven points at 28-21 with 4:59 left in the game. The Royals got the ball back with 4:03 remaining but committed their fourth turnover and Bracken County tacked on a touchdown with 1:20 to play.

Mason County had two big scoring plays—a 73-yard run by Joey Staggs and a 67-yard pass from Camden Gregory to Micah Payne.

Staggs rushed for 103 yards. Gregory completed 12 of 21 passes for 160 yards.

Mason County will host Montgomery County next week while Bracken County will travel to Holy Cross.

BC 1st Q 9:30 Daulton Tarter 41 yard run (Witten Daugherty kick) BC 7, MC 0

BC 1st Q 7:11 Daulton Tarter 6 yard run (Witten Daugherty kick) BC 14, MC 0

BC 2nd Q 8:09 Andrew Kirk 29 yard pass from Greg Benedict (Witten Daugherty kick) BC 21, MC 0

MC 2nd Q 2:13 Camden Gregory 6 yard run (kick failed) BC 21, MC 6

MC 3rd Q 5:37 Joey Staggs 73 yard run (Micah Payne kick) BC 21, MC 13

BC 3rd Q 3:21 Daulton Tarter 51 yard run (Witten Daugherty kick) BC 28, MC 13

MC 4th Q 4:59 Micah Payne 67 yard pass from Camden Gregory (Camden Gregory run) BC 28, MC 21

BC 4th Q 1:20 Greg Benedict 1 yard run (Witten Daugherty kick) BC 35, MC 21 

(Statistics compliments of Travis Scaggs and Drew Spangler of WFTM radio.)

Royals open district play with a 60-0 win over Holmes on Homecoming

Teegin Routt passed for 162 yards and four touchdowns as the Mason County Royals opened district play and celebrated Homecoming with a 60-0 victory over the Holmes Bulldogs on Friday night.

The Royals led 34-0 in the first quarter and 48-0 at the half.

Routt threw two touchdown passes to Garryon McClain and one to Jamarion Bluford in the first quarter and another to Cole Horch in the second quarter.

Routt had 128 passing yards in the opening quarter.

Joey Staggs, Braylon Likins and Marquis Bluford each rushed for a touchdown.

Hayden Horn stripped the ball from a Holmes ball carrier and raced 30 yards for a touchdown.

Sophomore quarterback Camden Gregory threw a touchdown pass to Dalton Campbell.

Mason County (5-1) will host the Harrison County Thorobreds next week.

MC 1st Q 9:56 Joey Staggs 13 yard run (Micah Payne kick) MC 7, H 0

MC 1st Q 6:08 Garryon McClain 18 yard pass from Teegin Routt (Micah Payne kick) MC 14, H 0

MC 1st Q 2:40 Garryon McClain 11 yard pass from Teegin Routt (Micah Payne kick) MC 21, H 0

MC 1st Q 2:14 Jamarion Bluford 26 yard pass from Teegin Routt (Micah Payne kick) MC 28, H 0

MC 1st  1:13 Hayden Horn 30 yard fumble return (kick failed) MC 34, H 0

MC 2nd Q 8:45 Cole Horch 34 yard pass from Teegin Routt (Micah Payne kick) MC 41, H 0

MC 2nd Q 00:36 Dalton Campbell 19 yard pass from Camden Gregory (Micah Payne kick) MC 48, H O

MC 3rd Q Braylon Likins 1 yard run (run failed) MC 54, H 0

MC 4th Q 3:48 Marquis Bluford 46 yard run (run failed) MC 60, H 0

After a dominating first half, the guys finished strong with a 60-0 victory.

Royals move to 5-1 on the year. pic.twitter.com/KOXmsI5dSD

— Mason Co. Athletics (@RoyalsAth1etics) October 5, 2024