The Mason Comets fell to the Lakota East Thunderhawks 21-17 after a rollercoaster of a game.
Making his second career start, junior quarterback Jake Harris connected on a pass to fellow junior Austin Croy creating an explosive start for the Comet offense. The first points of the game came on a 21-yard play action pass from Harris to junior tight end Christian Hutchinson with 1:45 left in the first quarter. The Comets were out front at the conclusion of the first quarter with a 7-0 lead.
The Thunderhawks took advantage of a Comet fumble when senior Silas Ingram punched it in with 2:12 left in the half. The point after touchdown however, was no good leaving the score at 7-6, Comets.
The Thunderhawks’ advance didn’t damper the Comets’ spirits. With only 52 seconds left in the first half, junior Matt Sora ran in for a four yard touchdown. After the Andrew Hauer’s PAT was good Mason took a 14-6 lead into the half time break.
The second half would be a completely different story.
Lakota East took charge of the game in the second half, starting off with a strong return by senior Justin Fuller putting the Thunderhawks at their own 44-yard line. The Thunderhawks tied the game after a touchdown and a successful two point conversion. The score was tied at 14-14 with 7:20 to go in the third quarter.
Following the touchdown, senior Michael Kopaygorodsky, returned East’s squib kick and put the Comets at their 26-yard line. Harris and Croy connected once again, moving towards the end zone. The Comets were unable to punch it in the end zone and had to settle for a Hauer 40 yard field goal giving the Comets a 17-14 lead with 3:47 remaining in the third quarter.
On the next drive the Comets had the East offense in a hole facing third and 22 but a half back pass caught the Mason defense off guard and jump started the Thunderhawk offense. The home team took advantage of the momentum to drive 79 yards capped off by Dylan Fry eight yard touchdown run to give the Thunderhawks a lead they would not relinquish. The Comets entered the fourth quarter trailing 21-17.
After a frustrating start to the fourth quarter, the Comets were able to put themselves at the East 40-yard line but a fumble recovered by East allowed for the home team to remain in control of the game.
After being held to only three points in the second half head coach Brian Castner lamented that the Comets needed to learn from their mistakes if they’re going to keep their play-off hopes alive.
“We’re gonna keep doing what we do and start playing better,” Castner said.
The loss dropped the Comets into a log jam with five other teams tied for second place in the conference. The Comets will look to bounce back at home next Friday against a vastly improved Princeton Vikings team before closing out the season at Sycamore.
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