Lions power their way past Royals, 28-14

CANNONSBURG, Ky. — Three headed rushing attack and another great defensive effort allowed the Boyd County Lions to cruise past the Mason County Royals 28-14 on Friday night at Tom Scott Field.

The trio of Cam May, Caleb Rimmer, and Jace Manning all combined for Boyd's 198 yards on the ground and all four scores on the night.

Meanwhile, the defense did its job and held Mason County to just 135 total yards and came up with two takeaways in the win.

Neither team could find their footing offensively through most of the first quarter.

It wouldn't be until Boyd's third possession — beginning at the Mason 47 — when the Lions began to find the cracks in the defense.

After a pair of tackles for loss by the Royals, Manning was able to scramble 13 yards on third down, allowing the Lions to convert a fourth-and-two on a Rimmer's first carry to continue the drive.

Boyd needed just two more plays to find the end zone, first a 12-yard run from May and then Rimmer barreled in from 11 yards to open up the scoring. Conner Davis added the point after try to make it 7-0 with 1:35 left in the opening frame.

The Royals threatened to answer in the second quarter, driving as close as the Boyd 16. But a combination of penalties and a tackle for loss by Blake Sexton forced the Royals to settle for a field goal attempt.

However, Elijah Weber's 40-yard attempt would be short, giving the ball back to the Lions.

Later in the quarter, Boyd could get on the board again when May broke free on a stretch run along the far sideline and galloped 58 yards to the Royal 5. Two plays later, Rimmer went straight up the middle on a dive for the final yards to score. Davis' extra point made it 14-0 with 2:04 before halftime.

Mason would try to answer with a score before halftime, but the defense wouldn't allow the Royals a chance.

On third down, Simon Davis, Cam Barrett and Thovson Cade combined for a sack to set up a punt deep in Royal territory.

After the punt and short return from May, the Lions were set up with just inside Mason County territory.

Despite struggling much of the first half, Manning started to hit his targets. The senior completed a pair of passes to Peyton Moatz and another to May consecutively to set the Lions up with first-and-goal at the 9.

One play later, Manning found Rimmer coming across the middle and dumped off a pass to Rimmer who turned it up field for the final 7 yards and his third touchdown of the game. Davis added the point after to make it 21-0 at the break.

Through 24 minutes, Boyd's defense limited the Royals to just 32 yards of offense and a first down.

The tough defensive play carried over into the second half, as they came up with a takeaway on Mason County's opening drive.

Gregory was flushed from the pocket and threw a pass towards the Boyd sideline, but Moatz stepped in from his safety spot and picked the pass off at midfield to give the Lions the ball at the Royal 46.

But the Lions would be unable to capitalize on the turnover, leaving the score still the same.

The Royals (3-1) would finally put a dent in the scoreboard early in the fourth. A 20-yard scramble from Gregory paved the way for the senior signal caller to nose his way in from 1-yard out to cut the deficit to 21-7 following Elijah Weber's extra point.

On their following possession, Boyd would chew up 5 minutes and 18 seconds to put the game away for good.

The drive featured Manning converting a 4th-and-8 with a tough 10 yard run and later a 7-yard run to help set up Cam May's 2-yard touchdown run.

Mason County would add one final score in the final seconds when Marquis Bluford caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Gregory to close out the scoring.

Boyd will be on a bye this coming weekend, but will be back at home on Sept. 25 when they host Johnson Central in their district opener.

Mason County 0   0   0  14 = 14

Boyd County 7 14 0 7 = 28

First Quarter

BC — Caleb Rimmer 11 run (Conner Davis kick), 1:35.

Second Quarter

BC — Caleb Rimmer 7 run (Conner Davis kick), 2:04.

BC — Caleb Rimmer 7 pass from Jace Manning (Conner Davis kick), 0:11.

Fourth Quarter

MC — Camden Gregory 1 run (Elijah Weber kick), 8:06.

BC — Cam May 2 run (Conner Davis kick), 2:48.

MC — Marquis Bluford 4 pass from Camden Gregory (Elijah Weber kick), 0:07.

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MC BC

First downs 7 8

Rushes-yards 31-103 32-198

Passing yards 32 79

Total yards 135 277

Cmp-Att-Int 5-19-1 8-19-0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-0

Penalties-yards 6-40 6-70

Punts-average 6-30.0 6-38.7

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Mason County: Reid Anderson 4-2, Camden Gregory 11-20 TD, Josiah Brooks 4-6, Leonard Avery 12-75; Boyd County: Weston Turner 1-0, Cam May 16-86 TD, Caleb Rimmer 7-61 2-TD, Jace Manning 8-51.

PASSING—Mason County: Camden Gregory 5-19-1 32 TD; Boyd County: Jace Manning 8-19-0 79.

RECEIVING—Mason County: Marquis Bluford 2-6 TD, Reid Anderson 1-22, Kavin Morton 1-minus 4, Leonard Avery 1-8; Boyd County: Cam May 1-15, Caleb Rimmer 2-10, Conner Davis 1-12, Charles Smith 1-9, Peyton Moatz 3-27.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—Elijah Weber, Mason County, 40 (Short).