Mason Co. girls and boys team finish 2nd in state indoor track and field meets; Garrison and Stanley are state champions

The Mason County girls and boys teams both finished second in the KTCCCA state indoor track and field meets Saturday at the Carmeuse Complex.

Rockcastle County won the girls Class AA meet with 116 points. The Mason County Lady Royals had 93 points.

Waggener is the boys Class AA champion with 107 points. The Mason County Royals, the state champions the past two years, had 82 points.

Fleming County took seventh place in both the girls and boys Class AA meets.

It's the second straight year the Mason County girls have been the state runner-up. In the past four years the Mason County boys have finished 2nd, 1st, 1st and 2nd.

In an email message, Mason County coach Mark Kachler said "Very solid 4 year run for the guys. I am very proud of all their efforts."

Mason County senior Brendon Garrison is the state champion in the 55 meter hurdles (8.66) and the triple jump (40-10.50) and is the runner-up in the long jump (19-03.00).

Mason County senior Jay Stanley is the state champion in the shot put (46-11). He was the state champion in the shot put in the outdoor meet last year.

Several other Mason County athletes had runner-up finishes:

• Rheagan Sizmore in the girls 1600 meter run (5.58.33) and the girls pole vault (8-00.00)
• Hayden Faris in the girls 3000 meter run 12:39.98)
• Isaiah Riggs in the boys 3000 meter run (10:58.20)
• Marissa Scilley in the girls long jump (15-02.25) and the girls triple jump (32.02.50)
• Jordan Frodge in the girls high jump (4-10.00)
• Jesse Morgan, Bryce Johnson, Zach Walters and Seth Bickley in the boys 4x400 meter relay (4:00.00)

Fleming County's Kaleb Flannery was the runner-up in the boys high jump (5-08-00.)

(Edited to correct that Stanley was the outdoor state champion in the shot put last season, not a back-to-back state champion in the indoor meet)

Mason County Football Banquet

I was honored and humbled to receive the Felici Felice No Excuses Award at the Mason County football banquet tonight. I want to thank the coaching staff for the award. The other award winners include:

Brandon Drake/Jason Turner Captain Award

Chris Dunaway

Dustin Grutza/Neal Pawsat Extra Effort Award

Dalton Kindt

Andy Fryman Tradition Award

Camdyn Washington

Chris Lofton/Andre Turner Team First Award

Michael Vacik 

Luke Morgan

Cameron O'Hearn

Jordan Murray Most Improved Player Award

Will Caudill

Jamie Booher Hustle Award

Jesse Morgan

Malkolm Devine

Harry Lewis Find a Way to Win Award

Leevi Dunaway

Jaylen Lofton

Mason County Football Weekly Award

Brian Payne State Farm Player of the Week Malkolm Devine

Offensive Lineman of the Week Cameron O'Hearn

Defensive Player of the Week Jesse Morgan

Special Teams Player of the Week Tykeise Henry

Scout Team Player of the Week Jaylen Lofton

Scholar Athlete of the Week Kane Neal

Mason County Football Weekly Awards

Brian Payne State Farm Player of the Game Luke Morgan

Offensive Lineman of the Week Cameron O'Hearn

Defensive Player of the Game Ronnie Staggs

Special Teams Player of the Game Jesse Morgan

Scout Team Player of the Week Malkolm Devine

Royals edged by Rowan County 22-21

Blake Carver rushed for 245 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Rowan County Vikings to a 22-21 come-from-behind win over the Mason County Royals Friday night in Morehead. Mason County, which fell to 0-3, committed three turnovers. Rowan County overcame four turnovers.

Mason County grabbed its first lead of the season on a six-yard touchdown run by Chris Dunaway in the first quarter. The scoring drive was set up by Jesse Morgan's interception on the third play of the game.

On Rowan County's next possession, DaRell Henry picked off a pass and returned it deep into Vikings' territory. But Mason County was called for a personal foul penalty and started the drive on its own 18 yard line.

After and a three and out by the Royals, Rowan County drove to the Mason County five yard line but lost a fumble. Mason County returned the favor with a fumble on the very next play. Four plays later, Carver scored a one-yard run.

On Mason County's next play, Tyrion Fox ran 62 yards for a touchdown. Rowan County answered with a 65-yard scoring drive and the game was tied at 14-14 at halftime.

The Royals opened the third quarter with a 12-play, 65-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a one-yard run by Luke Morgan who started at quarterback for the first time.

Mason County was stopped on fourth and three at the Rowan County 45 yard line late in the third quarter. On the next play, Carver ran 54 yards for a touchdown and gave the Vikings the lead with the conversion run.

Mason County drove from its own 12 yard line to the Rowan County 49 yard before losing the ball on a fumble with 9:28 to play. The Royals went three and out on their final possession and the Vikings were able to run out the clock.

"Just got to be more consistent at it, turnovers kill you," Coach Jonathan Thomas said on the post game show.

Mason County hosts North Laurel next Friday night.

MC 1st Q 7:56 Chris Dunaway 6 yard run (Travis Whisman kick)
RC 2nd Q 9:28 Blake Carver 1 yard run (kick failed)
MC 2nd Q 9:11 Tyrion Fox 62 yard run (Travis Whisman kick)
RC 2nd Q 6:01 Tyler Stephens 15 yard run (Tyler Stephens run)
MC 3rd Q 6:53 Luke Morgan 1 yard run (Travis Whisman kick)
RC 3rd Q 1:53 Blake Carver 54 yard run (Blake Carver run)

Royals Drop Season Opener to Somerset 33-6

Somerset junior running back Jordon Doan rushed for 158 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Briar Jumpers to a 33-6 victory over the Mason County Royals Friday night in Somerset. The Briar Jumpers took advantage of two Mason County turnovers to lead 13-0 in the first quarter. Mason County scored on a seven-yard pass from Kane Neal to Jesse Morgan early in the second quarter, but Somerset scored 20 unanswered points to snap an 11-game losing streak going back to the 2013 Class AA state semifinals. Neal, making his first start at quarterback, completed 7 of 15 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown. He threw two interceptions. Somerset had 447 yards of total offense, Mason County had 300 yards of total offense. Mason County plays its home opener this coming Friday night against the Fleming County Panthers.

S 1st Q 6:51 Jordon Doan 1 yard run (Trenton Jones kick) S 7, MC 0
S 1st Q 10.8 Jordan Doan 93 yard run (kick failed) S 13, MC 0
MC 2nd Q 9:16 Jesse Morgan 7 yard pass from Kane Neal (kick failed) S 13, MC 6
S 2nd Q 5:35 Jordan Doan 2 yard run (kick failed) S 19, MC 6
S 3rd Q 8:05 Jordan Doan 2 yard run (Trenton Jones kick) S 26, MC 6
S 3rd Q 1:19 Jordan Doan 57 yard run (Trenton Jones kick) S 33, MC 6