Royals Fall to 0-2 With 20-0 Loss to Fleming County

The Mason County Royals had four turnovers and lost their home opener to the Fleming County Panthers 20-0 tonight. On the fourth play of the game, Mason County fumbled, Zach Alexander scooped up the football and returned it to the Mason County 14 yard line. Two plays later Alexander caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Clayton Browning. Two more Mason County fumbles led to Fleming County touchdowns- both on runs by T.J. Miller. The loss snapped Mason County's 12-game home field winning streak. It's the first time Fleming County has won back-to-back games against Mason County since the Panthers won four straight from 1992-1995, Mason County plays at Rowan County next week.

FC 1st Q 9:28 Zach Alexander 25 yard pass from Clayton Browning (kick failed)
FC 2nd Q 8:46 T.J. Miller 23 yard run (Brad Glascock pass from Clayton Browning)
FC 2nd Q 1:49 T.J. Miller 3 yard run (pass failed)

Royals Play Fleming County in Home Opener

With Mason County moving up to Class AAAA this season, the Royals and the Fleming County Panthers are no longer district opponents, but they remain arch rivals. The Royals play the Panthers in their home opener Friday night at 7:30.

Mason County will be looking to bounce back from last week's 33-6 loss to the Somerset Briar Jumpers.

Fleming County opened the season with a 36-34 road win over the Estill County Engineers.

Fleming County junior quarterback Clayton Browning completed 5 of 8 passes for 78 yards and three touchdowns before suffering an injury on the final play of the first half. He did not play in the second half. Panthers coach Bill Spencer says it will be a game-time decision on whether Browning starts Friday night.

Backup quarterback Josh Crump completed 2 of 4 passes for 40 yards and one touchdown.

T.J. Miller rushed for 92 yards. He recovered three fumbles and returned one for a touchdown.

Mason County coach Jonathan Thomas says the Royals have worked hard this week "trying to clean up and fix all of the mistakes, doing a thousand little things right."

Notes:

- Mason County leads the series 21-18. Fleming County snapped a three-game losing streak against the Royals with a 16-9 victory in Flemingsburg last season;

- This will be the Royals' first home game since last October 17th. Mason County played the final three games of the 2014 season on the road. The Royals were 5-0 at home last season and have a 12-game home field winning streak;

- This will be Mason County's 25th season on the current field;