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Mason earns rare playoff win

Mason won just its second playoff game in school history, first at the Division I level and first of the 21st century.

Matt Sora rushed for 245 yards as the Comets – 1-7 all-time entering this postseason – held off Elder, 21-20 on Friday in a first-round playoff game on Friday.

Mason RB Matt Sora (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Mason RB Matt Sora (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

“We played really hard for each other tonight,” Sora said. “We got the win tonight, and we didn’t play for ourselves. We weren’t selfish.”

Mason actually fumbled on its first possession, but the Panthers returned the favor later in the opening quarter.

An unnecessary roughness penalty by Elder set up a Jake Harris touchdown on an 7-yard run late in the first frame.

Panthers QB Michael Bittner tied it on a keeper in the closing minute of that stanza.

Elder took the lead on a 23-yard pass from Danny Nieman to Kyle Trischler. making it 14-7 in the second quarter.

But with 1:23 left in the first half, Sora found the end zone on a 12-yard carry to even it at 14.

The 206 Mason defense (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

The 206 Mason defense (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

The Panthers took their second lead of the game when Tiariq Dailey took one in on a 25-yard rush late in the third quarter, but a missed extra point after that TD would prove costly.

Sora scored from 30 yards out with 9:33 to play, and the Comets took the lead on the PAT.

Mason sealed it by pinning Elder at its own 1 with punt with 26 seconds remaining.

“We’ve had our ups and downs this season, but we put it together tonight,” Comets coach Brian Castner said. “Our defense is tough and they don’t like to give up that much.”

– TSF’s Clayton Castle contributed to this report

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