MASON, Ohio – No. 21 Mason picked up its first victory of the season and opened GMC play with a 43-24 win over rival Sycamore on Friday night.
Junior quarterback Alex Nagel did most of his damage with his legs, rushing 19 times for 189 yards and four touchdowns. Nagel scored three times in the second half as the Comets turned a 13-12 halftime advantage into a convincing victory.
Sycamore (0-2) struck first on a Zachary Branam touchdown pass, but Mason answered with a pair of second-quarter rushing scores. Nagel put the Comets on the board with an 11-yard touchdown before Sampson Dorsey scored from 11 yards out to give Mason its first lead.
Nagel took over after halftime. He scored on runs of 19 and 10 yards in the third quarter before Jamien Martin added a 10-yard touchdown run that helped Mason build a 35-18 advantage entering the fourth.
Sycamore stayed within striking distance behind Branam, who completed 26-of-35 passes for 346 yards and four touchdowns. Zeontay Smoot was his top target with 12 receptions for 104 yards and two scores.
Nagel’s fourth rushing touchdown, an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter, helped put the game away. Mason finished with 347 total yards, including 319 on the ground, and averaged 8.9 yards per rushing attempt. The Comets also forced three Sycamore turnovers.
Mason (1-1) will look to build on its first victory when it host Oak Hills next week. Sycamore will try to rebound against Hamilton on the read.
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Mason: 0-13-22-8-43
Sycamore: 6-6-6-6-24
SCORING PLAYS
S: Zachary Branam 11-yard TD pass, conversion failed
M: Alex Nagel 11-yard TD run, Landen Darling kick
S: Zachary Branam 11-yard TD pass, conversion failed
M: Sampson Dorsey 11-yard TD run, Darling kick failed
M: Alex Nagel 19-yard TD run, Nagel rush
S: Zachary Branam 16-yard TD pass, conversion failed
M: Alex Nagel 10-yard TD run, Darling kick
M: Jamien Martin 10-yard TD run, Ethan Aduci kick
M: Alex Nagel 11-yard TD run, Aduci kick
S: Zachary Branam 8-yard TD pass, conversion failed
