Outside of maybe the 2001 regional championship, Friday night’s game between Mason County and Fleming County is arguably the biggest one yet in 40 seasons of playing one another.
The two will play for the right to be the Class 3A, 6th District champion Friday in Flemingsburg. With the new playoff format, the two were realigned in the same district before the season and the two have been the best in it all season.
The Panthers enter 9-2 and on a six-game winning streak, including a 29-19 win over the Royals on October 11. The Panthers have been the class of the district throughout the season and are hopeful to maintain that for one more game.
The Royals sit at 6-5 and are hungry, looking to snap a six-game losing streak to Fleming County dating back to 2014.
The two have met in the playoffs three times before, Mason County coming out on top in all of them in 2012, 2001 and 1991. The 2001 game was for the Class 2A Regional championship.
“This is probably the biggest game in Flemingsburg since then. We hosted that game in 2001. Everybody in the county wants to always beat Mason County and to add in it’s for a district championship makes it even bigger,” Panthers coach Bill Spencer said. “I’m sure it will be a great atmosphere and a lot is at stake.”
Going back to the first meeting between the two that Fleming pulled out, the Panthers were able to control the line of scrimmage for the most part, rushing for 162 yards while constantly keeping Royals quarterback Carson Brammer on the run. The Royals had their chances though, coming up empty four times in the Panthers red zone throughout the game.
Mason County coach Jonathan Thomas thinks how they start the game will be a big factor and just playing their game.
“The biggest thing for us will be just settling down and playing,” Thomas said. “We harped on things as a staff about the mistakes we couldn’t make the first time around and we still did. Friday it will come down to the simple things like blocking and tackling. If everyone carries out their assignment and does their job, then we’ll be right in it.”
Defense and special teams played a big role in the October game. Kaleb Flanery’s 45-yard punt return gave the Panthers a 13-7 lead in the first half. Jeremiah Jones answered Flanery’s punt return with a 55-yard bust out to tie the game up in the third.
Then the Panthers defense responded from there after a Flanery touchdown run as Carsen Gulley returned an interception for a touchdown to give Fleming a 29-13 lead and come away with the game. A Brammer touchdown pass to Jake Swolsky came as the clock ran out in the fourth to make the score more respectable.
“I felt in the first game we controlled the line of scrimmage and we hope to continue to do that,” Spencer said. “I know it sounds cliche, but football is won in the trenches. Win in the trenches and win the game. I still felt offensively we didn’t finish drives in that game and take advantage of some of the opportunities we had. We’ll need to limit the big plays and find a way to limit the big plays and playmakers that they have.”
A road game could just be what the Royals need. They are 4-1 in road contests this season, but with the losing streak to the Panthers, one could wonder if it starts to get mental.
“It’s a part of growing up, maturing and understanding. Life is tough, football is tough. We’re either going to rise to the challenge and keep pressing on or give up,” Thomas said.
Friday’s forecast calls for a clear night with temperatures in the 30’s.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
