Rowan County goalkeeper Brady Robinson sends the ball down the field on Sept. 4, 2025.
Mason County’s Mason Tackett works his way toward the goal in the 2A Section 6 championship game against Rowan County on Sept. 4, 2025.
The Mason County Royals made their first-ever appearance in the 2A Section 6 boys soccer championship in Rowan County on Sept. 4.
The Royals entered the game against the Vikings after winning 4-1 over the Fleming County Panthers in the semifinals, prepared to take on the reigning Section 6 champions.
Rowan County defeated the Powell County Pirates 3-1 in their semifinal matchup and advanced to the championship game.
“We’ve never made it to this. I’m happy, they worked their butts off in practice and they worked their butt off tonight,” said Royals Head Coach, Shane Taylor.
The game began at 8:30 p.m. at Paul Ousley Stadium. Throughout much of the first half, neither the Royals nor the Vikings were able to score. Both goalkeepers, Mason County’s Landon Frederick and Rowan’s Brady Robinson, along with the rest of the defense, worked hard to hold off the opposition and keep the game tied 0-0.
However, with just over three minutes left on the clock, the Vikings scored their first goal of the night, going into halftime 1-0 over Mason County.
“Honestly, I think we had more opportunities in the first half than they did,” said Coach Taylor. “It seemed like we had momentum on our side, and sometimes it’s just the luck. Sometimes you get it and sometimes you don’t. We just came up a little short in the first half, but the boys kept on fighting.”
The second half played out similarly to the first, neither team willing to allow their opponents to score.
The Vikings slipped another goal past Frederick late in the game, while the Royals kept looking for an opportunity to catch up.
“The second goal, one thing I can always say about my boys, is they never quit. After that second goal, they’re hurt, but they keep fighting, and I’m proud of them for that,” said Coach Taylor. “They were still taking shots with a minute left on there. I think that’s why I love these boys so much. They never quit and I’m proud of them for that. I wouldn’t trade them for the world.”
When the second half came to a close, Rowan County stood tall with a 2-0 lead, securing the victory and another 2A Section 6 Championship. Rowan County’s goals were scored by junior Kaden Lykes and sophomore Jackson Dulaney.
Though disappointed by the loss, Mason County will brush off this defeat and quickly resume play, as they head to Villa Madonna this afternoon and take on several of their 38th district opponents next week.
“Next week, we got a packed house. We have Montgomery County on Monday, Tuesday we have Harrison County and then Pendleton County on Thursday, so we got a lot of soccer ahead of us,” said Coach Taylor.
The Harrison County and Pendleton County games will make up two of three of the Royals’ seeding games for the 38th district tournament, which will kick off early next month.
“We’ll see how that goes and just keep fighting. I’m so proud of these boys for the way they fight,” concluded Coach Taylor.
