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 beat Harrison County 35-7 in district opener

Kyson Fox passed for 173 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score as the Mason County Royals defeated the Harrison County Thorobreds 35-7 in their district opener on Friday night in Cynthiana.

Mason County led 14-0 at halftime on a one-yard touchdown run by Lennie Avery and a 25-yard touchdown pass from Fox to Carter Roark.

Harrison County cut the Royals' lead in half by scoring a touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter, but Mason County responded by scoring 21 unanswered points.

Fox rushed four yards for a touchdown and threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Micah Payne. Kenyon Walton capped off the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run.

Taten Carrington had two interceptions for Mason County.

The Royals, 3-4 overall and 1-0 in the district, will host the Highland Bluebirds next week.

MC 2nd Q 7:13 Lennie Avery 1 yard run (Micah Payne kick) MC 7, HC 0

MC 2nd Q 00:02 Carter Roark 25 yard pass from Kyson Fox (Micah Payne kick) MC 14, HC 0

HC 3rd Q 7:58 Karsyn Sumpter 11 yard run (Logan Harris kick) MC 14, HC 7

MC 3rd Q 2:06 Kyson Fox 4 yard run (Micah Payne kick) MC 21, HC 7

MC 4th Q 5:18 Micah Payne 19 yard pass  (Micah Payne kick) MC 28, HC 7

MC 4th Q 3:27 Kenyon Walton 2 yard run (Micah Payne kick) MC 35, HC 7

(Game statistics courtesy of Travis Scaggs 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 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 went 1-1 on Saturday in Errin Thompson Memorial Tournament

The Mason County Royals went 1-1 in the Errin Thompson Memorial Tournament on Saturday at East Jessamine.

The Royals took advantage of walks and errors in a 5-3 win over the St. Henry Crusaders.

Hayden Workman and Brady Mefford drew back-to-back bases loaded walks in the first inning after Cray Fite reached base on a fielders choice, Micah Payne drew a walk and Nick Mains was hit by a pitch.

Mason County added single runs in the second, third and fourth innings without a hit.

The Royals were shutout 13-0 by the East Jessamine Jaguars in five innings in the late game.

Mason County (7-14) will host the West Carter Comets on Monday at 6 p.m.

Royals lose to Montomery County 12-7

The Mason County Royals squandered a 5-0 lead and lost to the Montgomery County Indians 12-7 on Wednesday in Mt. Sterling. 

Mason County scored four runs in the first inning and added a run in the second inning.

Montomery County rallied with six runs in the bottom of the second inning and tacked on two runs in the third inning and four more in the fifth inning.

The Royals scored two runs in the seventh inning.

Carter Roark and Micah Payne each drove in two runs. Justin Youngman, Macen Grooms and Myles Kern each had an RBI.

Mason County (4-10) will play at Greenup County today at 6:30 p.m.

Royals rout Greenup County 56-21

Teegin Routt passed for 238 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for two touchdowns and Joey Staggs ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns as the Mason County Royals routed the Greenup County Musketeers 56-21 in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs on Friday night at Mason County.

The Royals defense forced four turnovers.

Mason County outscored Greenup County 42-7 in the second half.

Routt threw touchdown passes to Jamarion Bluford, Ashayne Jones and Garryon McClain.

Jones also had an interception and a fumble recovery.

Micah Payne and Cole Horch each had an interception.

Hayden Horn's touchdown run and Staggs' conversion run started the running clock with 5:28 left in the game.

Greenup County quarterback Tyson Sammons rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 188 yards as the Musketeers ended the season with an 8-3 record.

Mason County (8-3) will travel to Ashland next week to play the Ashland Tomcats who were 47-7 winners over Harrison County on Friday night.

GC 1st Q Tyson Sammons 4 yard run ((Tyson Sammons run) GC 8, MC 0

MC 1st Q 1:03 Teegin Routt 8 yard run (Micah Payne kick) GC 8, MC 7

MC 1st Q 00:07 Jamarion Bluford 50 yard pass from Teegin Routt (Micah Payne kick)  MC 14, GC 8

GC 2nd Q 00:16 Tyson Sammons 3 yard run (run failed) MC 14, GC 14

MC 3rd Q 9:23 Ashayne Jones 39 yard pass from Teegin Routt (Micah Payne kick) MC 21, GC 14

MC 3rd Q 8:38 Joey Staggs 10 yard run (Micah Payne kick) MC 28, GC 14

MC 3rd Q 7:00 Joey Staggs 14 yard run (Micah Payne kick) MC 35, GC 14

GC 3rd Q 4:44 Austin Walker 8 yard run (Carter Nunley kick) MC 35, GC 21

MC 3rd Q 00:11 Teegin Routt 4 yard run (Micah Payne kick) MC 42, GC 21

MC 4th Q 11:07 Garryon McClain 34 yard pass (kick failed) MC 48, GC 21

MC 4th Q 5:28 Hayden Horn 20 yard run (Joey Staggs run) MC 56, GC 21

Royals beat Russell 21-12 in season opener

After trailing 6-0, the Mason County Royals scored 21 straight points on their way to 21-12 season-opening victory over the Russell Red Devils at home on Friday night.

Teegin Routt threw touchdown passes to Cole Horch and Ashayne Jones. Izley Morales ran two yards for a touchdown.

Mason County won the turnover battle 3-1 on interceptions by Micah Payne, Bryce Moran and Nazir Metts.

The Royals will travel to Mt. Sterling next week to play the Montgomery County Indians. 

R 1st Q 5:02 Elijah Hankins 3 yard run (kick failed) R 6, MC 0

MC 1st Q 00:18 Cole Horch 21 yard pass from Teegin Routt (Micah Payne kick) MC 7, R 6

MC 2nd Q 7:32 Izley Morales 2 yard run (Micah Payne kick) MC 14, R 6

MC 3rd Q 8:55 Ashayne Jones 37 yard pass from Teegin Routt (Micah Payne kick) MC 21, R 6

R 3rd Q 4:31 Jayden Frasure 18 yard run (run failed) MC 21, R 12

Great game tonight. Royals Football gets a W to start the season.

Next week is away against Montgomery County. pic.twitter.com/HyvmlNodk6

— Mason Co. Athletics (@RoyalsAth1etics) August 24, 2024

Royals fall to Lexington Catholic in state tournament

The Mason County Royals' remarkable postseason run came to end with a 6-0 loss to the Lexington Catholic Knights on Thursday night in the first round of the Clark's Pump-N-Shop Baseball Tournament at Legends Field in Lexington.

Lexington Catholic scored three runs in the first inning, two runs in the second inning and one run in the sixth inning on the way to its eighth straight victory.

Mason County threatened to score in the first two innings. Connor Butler led off the bottom of the first inning with a triple, and Cole Messer and Brady Mefford hit back-to-back singles in the second inning. 

After Cray Fite singled to center field in the third inning the next 13 Mason County batters were retired.

The Royals mounted one last threat with two outs in the seventh when Messer, Mefford and Micah Payne hit back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases, but Lexington Catholic pitcher Burkley Bounds finished off a complete game with his eighth strikeout.

Mason County starter Landon Scilley gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked two.

Mefford allowed one run on three hits in two innings. He struck out two.

The Royals had a 10-11 record following a loss to Scott County on April 26.

After a runner-up finish in the district tournament, Mason County pulled off upset wins over Harrison County, George Rogers Clark and Bourbon County for just the second region championship in program history and the first since 1994.  

The Royals finished the season with a 20-16 record.

The Royals win the 10th Region championship

The Mason County Royals are headed to the state baseball tournament for just the second time in school history.

Mason County shutout the Bourbon County Colonels 8-0 in the championship game of the 10th Region on Friday at Bourbon County.

Mason County's other region title was in 1994.

The Royals scored two runs in the first inning. Connor Butler drew a lead off walk. Landon Scilley followed with a double. Butler scored on Cray Fite's sacrifice fly and Scilley scored on Cole Horch's ground out.

Mason County added four runs in the fourth inning. With one out, Cole Messer drew a walk. Brady Mefford and Micah Payne hit back-to-back singles and Butler cleared the bases with a triple. Scilley drove in Butler with a double.

The Royals padded the lead in the sixth inning. Scilley walked, stole second and scored on Fite's single. Pinch runner Luke Butler scored the final run on a wild pitch.

Fite pitched a complete game four-hitter for his second win in the tournament. He recorded a save in the Royals' semifinal win.

Scilley, Mefford, Fite and Connor Butler were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Mason County (20-15) will play 11th Region champion Lexington Catholic on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. in the Clark's Pump-N-Shop Baseball State Tournament at Legends Field in Lexington.

Here we go!!!!! pic.twitter.com/1b42sYaJJ5

— Mason County Schools Highlights (@MasonCoSchools) May 31, 2024

Region champs!!! pic.twitter.com/7Xs1cIJO1q

— Mason Co. Athletics (@RoyalsAth1etics) May 31, 2024

Royals upset Harrison County 4-3 in eight innngs

 The Mason County Royals upset the Harrison County Thorobreds 4-3 in eight innings in the quarterfinal round of the 10th Region Tournament on Tuesday at Bourbon County.

After Harrison County scored a run in the bottom of the first inning, Mason County tied the game on Connor Butler's RBI single in the second inning. 

Cole Messer drove in two runs with a double in the third inning.

The Thorobreds tied the game with two runs in the sixth inning.

Brady Mefford hit a triple in the eighth inning and scored what proved to be the winning run on Micah Payne's single to center field.

Harrison County had runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, but a pop out ended the game, giving the Royals their first win over the Thorobreds since 2014.

Landon Scilley and Cray Fite combined on a six-hitter.

Mason County (18-15) will play George Rogers Clark in the semifinals on Thursday at 5:30. GRC beat Scott 8-2 in the opening game of the tournament.

Royals to Scott County 10-2

The Mason County Royals suffered their third straight loss on Friday, falling to the Scott County Cardinals 10-2 at home.

It was a 2-2 game after two innings, but Scott County scored three runs in third inning, three in the fifth and two in the sixth.

Nathan Bisotti and Micah Payne each had an RBI for the Royals in the second inning.

Mason County (10-11) will be back in action on Monday at home vs. the Estill County Engineers.

Eight Royals scored a touchdown in Mason County's 52-0 victory over Holmes

Eight different players scored a touchdown as the Mason County Royals opened district play with a 52-0 victory over the Holmes Bulldogs in Covington Friday night.

Bryce Moran, CJ Arthur, Trey Walker, Kenton Johson and Keshaun Thomas each rushed for a touchdown in the first half.

Teegin Routt threw a touchdown pass to Cole Horch in the third quarter.

Micah Payne ran for a touchdown at the end of the third quarter and Hayden Horn rushed for the final touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Mason County had 401 yards of total offense (278 rushing and 123 passing).

Holmes only had 97 yards of offense, all rushing.

The final 16:47 was played with a running clock.

With 26 victories, Joe Wynn the second winningest coach at Mason County.

The Royals (4-2) will try to Cynthiana next week to play the Harrison County Thorobreds.

MC 1st Q 11:33 Bryce Moran 34 yard run (run failed)

MC 1st Q 6:41 CJ Arthur 77 yard run (run failed)

MC 2nd Q 7:56 Trey Walker 9 yard run (Keshawn Thomas run)

MC 2nd Q 2:47 Kenton Johnson 3 yard run (run failed)

MC 2nd Q  00:34 Keshaun Thomas 20 yard run (Ryan Skaggs kick)

MC 3rd Q 4:47 Cole Horch 21 yard pass from Teegin Routt (Ryan Skaggs kick)

MC 3rd Q 00:00 Micah Payne 10 yard run (took a knee)

MC 4th Q 5:27 Hayden Horn 21 yard run (took a knee)

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