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 Runs Past West Union 51-0 for First Win

Mason County sophomore Malkolm Devine rushed for 252 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Royals to a 51-0 win over the West Union Dragons tonight. It's Mason County's first win of the season and it snapped a nine-game losing streak going back to last season's first round playoff loss.

Mason County scored on seven of its first eight possessions. The Royals had 355 total yards in the first half and led 44-0 at the half.

Devine ran 65 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second half.

Mason County ended up with 473 yards of total offense to two yards for West Union.

Jaylen Lofton had a rushing touchdown and a touchdown reception on a 15-yard swing pass from Luke Morgan. Harvey Rice had a rushing touchdown.

Mason County (1-8) will close out the regular season at Conner next Friday. West Union (2-5-1) will wrap up its second season of high school play next Friday against North Adams.

MC 1st Q 8:43 Malkolm Devine 3 yard run (Travis Whisman kick)
MC 1st Q 2:32 Malkolm Devine 7 yard run (Travis Whisman kick)
MC 1st Q 1:38 Jaylen Lofton 8 yard run (Kane Neal pass from Leevi Dunaway)
MC 2nd Q 9:07 Jaylen Lofton 15 yard pass from Luke Morgan (kick failed)
MC 2nd Q 4:49 Malkolm Devine 45 yard run (Travis Whisman kick)
MC 2nd Q 3:01 safety
MC 2nd Q 00:25.8 Harvey Rice 37 yard run (Travis Whisman kick)
MC 3rd Q 10:45 Malkolm Devine 65 yard run (Travis Whisman kick)

Royals Fall to 0-7 with 29-7 Loss to Harrison County

The Mason County Royals were 0 for 3 on red zone opportunities in the first half and lost to the Harrison County Thorobreds 29-7 Friday night in Cynthiana.

Mason County opened the game with a 19-play drive, but was unable to convert on 4th and goal from the Harrison County two-yard line.

After forcing the Thorobreds to punt from deep in their own territory, the Royals drove to the Harrison County 14 yard line, but that possession ended with an interception.

Harrison County took a 7-0 lead on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Brock Jenkins to Jovon Williams.

Mason County drove to the Harrison County five-yard line, but was stopped on a fourth down running play. On the next play, Jenkins hit Williams on a 90-yard touchdown pass with six seconds left in the first half.

Harrison County went up 29-0 before Mason County sophomore Malkolm Devine ran three yards for a touchdown with 6:29 left in the game.

Harrison County had 366 total yards to 225 for Mason County. Jenkins passed for 183 yards and three touchdowns. He threw one interception. Williams had four receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

Mason County quarterback Luke Morgan completed 13 of 33 passes for 102 yards. He threw two interceptions. Devine had 19 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown,

Mason County is 0-7 overall and 0-3 in the district. The Royals play at Holmes next Friday.

HC 2nd Q 4:41 Jovon Williams 31 yard pass from Brock Jenkins (Gus Garrison kick)
HC 2nd Q 00:06 Jovon Williams 90 yard pass from Brock Jenkins (Gus Garrison kick)
HC 3rd Q 2:14 Brian Davis 24 yard pass from Brock Jenkins (Tyler Jackson pass from Luke Slucher)
HC 4th Q 11:42 Luke Slucher 20 yard run (Gus Garrison kick)
MC 4th Q 6:29 Malkolm Devine 3 yard run (Travis Whisman kick)

Notes:
- The 90 yard touchdown pass was one yard shy of the Harrison County school record.

(Edited to correct the yardage on Harrison County's second touchdown pass and the receiver on Harrison County's conversion pass)

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

Clay Bolin Rallies Bourbon Co. Past Mason Co. 30-14

Bourbon County quarterback Clay Bolin, the top passer in Class 4A, couldn't throw the football in a driving rain in the first half, so he rushed for four touchdowns and three two-point conversions in the second half to lead the Colonels to a 30-14 victory over the Mason County Royals tonight at Mason County.

The Royals led 14-0 at halftime on a safety, a 53 yard run by Malkolm Devine and a one yard run by Luke Morgan, but they only had 36 yards of offense in the second half.

Bourbon County only had 17 yards of offense in the first half, but racked up 305 yards in the second half. The Colonels had zero passing yards in the game. Bolin was averaging 283 passing yards per game, but he and his receivers could not connect in the rain and wind. He scored on the Colonels' first four possessions of the second half. Mason County lost two fumbles in the third quarter.

Mason County has been outscored 119 to 7 in the second half of games this season. The Royals, 0-6 overall and 0-2 in the district, play at Harrison County next week.

MC 1st Q 8:35 safety
MC 1st Q 8:21 Malkolm Devine 53 yard run (kick failed)
MC 2nd Q 8:01 Luke Morgan 1 yard run (kick failed)
BC 3rd Q 9:32 Clay Bolin 1 yard run (Clay Bolin run)
BC 3rd Q 8:50 Clay Bolin 16 yard run (Clay Bolin run)
BC 3rd Q 2:30 Clay Bolin 41 yard run (run failed)
BC 4th Q 8:30 Clay Bolin 2 yard run (Clay Bolin run)

Blackout for Mason County vs. Bourbon County

The Mason County Royals will wear black jerseys for the first time when they host the Bourbon County Colonels Friday night. Fans are encouraged to wear black to create a Blackout.

Mason County is 0-5 overall and 0-1 in the district. Bourbon County is 2-3. It's the Colonels' first district game.

Bourbon County quarterback Clay Bolin is the leading passer in Class 4A averaging 283 yards per game. Bolin, the brother of University of Louisville quarterback Kyle Bolin, has completed 106 of 183 passes for 1,417 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has thrown seven interceptions.

Three Bourbon County receivers have 300 or more receiving yards. Running back Marquaze Hill has rushed for 464 yards and eight touchdowns.

Mason County quarterback Luke Morgan completed 11 of 16 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown last week against Scott. He left the game with the an injury in the closing minutes but is good to go Friday night.

Notes:

- Bourbon County leads the series 7-4 and has won the last two meetings. Those last two games were blowouts in the Class 3A region finals- 55-13 in 2012 and 47-21 in 2013. Mason County's last win over Bourbon County was in 2010 (55-24).

- This week's game ends a three-game homestand for Mason County. The Royals play at Harrison County October 9 and at Holmes on October 16 before returning home October 23 against West Union.

Scott Outscores Mason County 33-0 in 2nd Half for a 43-7 Win

For the second straight game the Mason County Royals played with a top 10 team for a half, and for the second consecutive game the opponent dominated the second half. 

After leading 10-7 at halftime, the Scott Eagles scored 33 unanswered points in the second half for a 43-7 victory at Mason County tonight in the district opener for both teams .

Mason County fumbled the opening kickoff and Scott scored a touchdown three plays later. The Royals had a chance to tie the game but could not score after Luke Morgan threw a 28-yard pass to Andrew Thacker to set up a first and goal from the seven yard line.

Scott took a 10-0 lead on a field goal in the second quarter. Mason County answered with a seven-play, 76-yard drive that included a 55-yard run by Leevi Dunaway and was capped off by a 14-yard touchdown pass from Luke Morgan to Jaylen Lofton.

On the next play, Thacker intercepted a pass. The Royals drove to the one-yard line, but Scott sacked Morgan on the final play of the half.

There was no stopping Scott's rushing attack in the second half as the Eagles scored on all five possessions in the half.

Scott had 403 yards of total offense for the game. Mason County had 188 yards in the first half, but had minus 16 yards in the second half.

"The guys fought their hearts out," Mason County coach Jonathan Thomas said. "That's what they do every week."

The Royals, 0-5, host Bourbon County next Friday.

S 1st Q 10:27 Danny Fitzgerald 7 yard run (C.J. Seay kick)

S 2nd Q 6:57 C.J. Seay 27 yard field goal

MC 2nd Q 2:53 Jaylen Lofton 14 yard pass from Luke Morgan (Travis Whisman kick)

S 3rd Q 5:43 Roberto London 5 yard run (kick failed)

S 3rd Q 2:42 Nelson Perrin 26 yard run (C.J. Seay kick)

S 4th Q 9:12 Nelson Perrin 18 yard run (C.J. Seay kick)

S 4th Q 6:15 Deondre Pleasant 53 yard run (C.J. Seay kick)

S 4th Q 2:22 David Patrick 29 yard run (run failed)

Royals Shutout by North Laurel 40-0

The Mason County Royals played with North Laurel for a half, but the bigger and deeper Class 5A Jaguars scored 34 points in the second half for a 40-0 win tonight at Mason County.

North Laurel quarterback Cole McWhorter ran 11 yards for a touchdown on the Jaguars' first possesion for the only scoring play of the first half.

Mason County had first and goal from the eight yard in the second quarter, but on fourth and goal from the seven yard line missed a field goal attempt. The Royals recovered a pooch kickoff at the North Laurel 38 yard line to start the second half, but were unable to pick up a first down, and the Jaguars scored on four of their five possessions. North Laurel tacked on a touchdown with a 55-yard interception return by Nick Broughton with 30 seconds left in the game.

Mason County is 0-4 for the first time since 1994. North Laurel is 4-0

North Laurel tailback Steven Nelson rushed for 240 yards and two touchdowns. 

Mason County quarterback Luke Morgan completed 11 of 26 passes for 132 yards and rushed for 32 yards. North Laurel had 389 yards of total offense, Mason County had 215 total yards.

Mason County tailback/Tyrion Fox was injured on the Royals' opening drive and did not return.

The Royals have a bye week before hosting the Scott Eagles on Homecoming on September 25.

NL 1st Q 8:53 Cole McWhorter 11 yard run (run failed)

NL 3rd Q  8:46 Steven Nelson 48 yard run (Nick Broughton pass from Cole McWhorter)

NL 3rd Q 1:52 Cole McWhorter 1 yard run (run failed)

NL 4th Q 9:32 Jake McWhorter 1 yard run (Bradley Hundley kick)

NL 4th Q 3:10 Steven Nelson 44 yard run (Bradley Hundley kick)

NL 4th Q 00:30 Nick Broughton 55 yard interception return (kick failed)

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)

Mason County Football Weekly Awards

The Mason County football team's weekly award winners for week one:

Brian Payne State Farm Player of the Week Leevi Dunaway

Scout Team Luke Morgan

Offensive Lineman Michael Vacik