LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio — No. 8 Lakota East needed a fourth-quarter comeback and a late field goal to survive No. 21 Mason, 24-20, in a tightly contested GMC battle Friday night.
Mason led for much of the night and took a 17-14 advantage into the fourth quarter, but the Thunderhawks responded when quarterback Nile Knutson connected with Braxton Thurman for a 12-yard touchdown to put Lakota East ahead, 21-17.
The Comets pulled within a point on Landen Darling’s 21-yard field goal with 7:26 remaining, but Lakota East answered late. AJ Fitzstephens drilled a 28-yard field goal with 38 seconds left to provide the final margin.
Knutson did most of his damage through the air, completing 22-of-30 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns. His three scores went to three different receivers: Landon Skoog, Carter Jones and Thurman.
Thurman led the Thunderhawks with 10 receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown, while Jones caught six passes for 82 yards and a score. Skoog finished with four catches for 33 yards and a touchdown and also completed a 47-yard pass.
Mason countered with a ground-heavy attack that produced 191 rushing yards on 43 attempts. Quarterback Alex Nagel led the Comets with 111 yards on 26 carries, while Jeciah Killens rushed seven times for 56 yards and scored both Mason touchdowns on runs of 17 and 9 yards.
The Comets struck first on Killens’ 17-yard touchdown run late in the opening quarter. Lakota East answered with two Knutson touchdown passes in the second quarter to take a 14-7 lead before Darling’s 29-yard field goal cut the deficit to four at halftime.
Killens’ second touchdown put Mason back in front, 17-14, in the third quarter before the Thunderhawks scored 10 points in the fourth to escape with the victory.
Lakota East finished with a 319-251 advantage in total offense and 18 first downs to Mason’s 15. The Thunderhawks threw for 257 yards as a team, while Mason controlled the ground game, outrushing East 191-62.
The victory gives No. 8 Lakota East another ranked win and keeps the Thunderhawks in the thick of the GMC race.
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Mason: 7-3-7-3-20
Lakota East: 0-14-0-10-24
SCORING PLAYS
M: Jeciah Killens 17 run (Landen Darling kick)
LE: Landon Skoog 3 pass from Nile Knutson (AJ Fitzstephens kick)
LE: Carter Jones 5 pass from Knutson (Fitzstephens kick)
M: Landen Darling 29 field goal
M: Killens 9 run (Darling kick)
LE: Braxton Thurman 12 pass from Knutson (Fitzstephens kick)
M: Darling 21 field goal
LE: AJ Fitzstephens 28 field goal
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