Mason County's season ends with a 43-0 loss to Johnson Central

The Mason County Royals had five turnovers in a 43-0 loss to defending state champion Johnson Central in the first round of the Class 4A football playoffs Friday night in Paintsville.

Mason County muffed the opening kickoff and the Golden Eagles recovered the ball at the Royals' 40 yard line.

Five plays later, Johnson Central quarterback Riley Preece scored on a 10-yard run.

On Mason County's first play from scrimmage, Johnson Central forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the Royals' 37 yard line.

Six plays later, Preece scored on a three-yard run.

The Royals threatened to score on their next possession when Chandler Dunaway threw a 46-yard pass to Leevi Dunaway, but Johnson Central made a touchdown-saving tackle on the play at the Golden Eagles' 17 yard line. That drive ended with an interception. 

Johnson Central drove 93 yards in nine plays for a 21-0 lead with 11:31 remaining in the second quarter.

Preece, who also plays safety, returned two interceptions for touchdowns 62 seconds apart in the second quarter and Johnson Central had a 36-0 lead with 4:27 left in the first half. The rest of the game was played with a running clock.

On their first possession of the second half, the Royals advanced to the Johnson Central 21 yard line, but Preece intercepted a pass in the end zone.

The Golden Eagles put together an 82-yard scoring drive capped by a 50-yard touchdown pass by Preece.

Johnson Central had 289 yards of total yards of offense including 212 rushing yards.

Mason County was held to 101 total yards (55 passing and 46 rushing).

Mason County coach Jonathan Thomas said he thought the Royals were excited to play, but "we just didn't have it right off the bat early. We just can't make those mistakes that early and dig yourself in a hole against a team this good with the number of kids we have."

Mason County only had 23 players dressed for the game.

The loss snapped the Royals' four-game winning streak.

Mason County ends the season with a 7-4 record, two years after going 1-9.

"Very proud of our kids," Thomas said. "You know, tonight's performance cannot take away from what they've meant to this program, this team and this school."

JC 1st Q 9:29 Riley Preece 10 yard run (Dalton Collins kick) JC 7, MC 0

JC 1st Q 6:01 Riley Preece 3 yard run (Dalton Collins kick) JC 14, MC 0

JC 2nd Q 11:31 Blake Gamble 15 yard run (Dalton Collins kick) JC 21, MC 0

JC 2nd Q 5:29 Riley Preece 66 yard interception return (Dalton Collins kick) JC 28, MC 0

JC 2nd Q 4:27 Riley Preece 60 yard interception return (Devin Johnson run) JC 36,MC 0

JC 4th Q 8:13 Blake Gamble 50 yard pass from Riley Preece (Dalton Collins kick) JC 43, MC 0

Mason Co. faces Johnson Central in first round of playoffs

The Mason County Royals travel to Paintsville tonight to play the Johnson Central Golden Eagles in the first round of the Class 4A football playoffs.

The Royals are 7-3, have won four straight games and are undefeated on the road this season.

The Golden Eagles, the defending state champions, are 8-2 and have lost back-to-back games to Ashland and Belfry.

Johnson Central's huge offensive line is anchored by 6-6, 315 pound senior tackle Ethan Bingham.

The Golden Eagles average 359 rushing yards per game.

Running back Blake Gamble has rushed for 1,380 yards and 17 touchdowns on 177 carries.

Johnson Central averages just 8.5 passes per game, but quarterback Riley Preece has thrown for 892 yards and 10 touchdowns,

Mason County tailback Malkolm Devine has rushed for 1,180 yards and 11 touchdowns on 183 carries.

Chandler Dunaway has passed for 1,269 yards and 20 touchdowns. He has also rushed for six touchdowns.

Kickoff is at 7:30

Games notes:

• Johnson Central leads the series with Mason County 2-0. The Golden Eagles beat the Royals in  2005 (35-14 at Johnson Central) and in 2006 (40-0 at Mason County) when they were Class 3A District 8 opponents.
• Johnson Central and Mason County have one common opponent this season- Rowan County. The Golden Eagles beat the Vikings 61-7 at home. The Royal defeated Rowan County 51-16 at Morehead State University.
• This is the 18th season that Mason County has qualified for the playoffs. 
• The Royals all-time playoff record is 19-18 and they have lost three straight playoff games including 35-14 to Ashland last season.
• Mason County's last win in the playoffs was in 2013 in the second round (49-7 over Garrard County).
• The Royals have not won a road playoff game since 2002 (49-21 vs. Lloyd).
• Johnson Central routed Franklin-Simpson 48-0 in last year's state championship game.
• The loss to Ashland two weeks ago snapped the Golden Eagles' 13-game winning streak going back to last season.