MASON, oh – Friday night’s game with #18 Colerain was all about pride for the #22 Mason Comets.
The squad had already been eliminated from playoff contention going into their regular-season Greater Miami Conference finale with the Cardinals, but there was the opportunity to finish the season on a winning streak while also upending Colerain’s push for the playoffs.
And that’s just what Mason did, knocking off GMC foe Colerain in hard-fought 42-33 victory at home Friday night.
The Comets led 7-0 after one quarter, due to a 1-yard touchdown run by senior running back CJ Layton, and extended that lead to 14-0 in the second quarter on another 1-yard touchdown run by Layton.
Colerain would get back into the game quickly, however, on a 38-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Roman Garr to wideout Chaz Forrester, Jr., to draw the Cardinals within one score at 14-6. It was the start of what would become a second quarter shootout between the squads.
Following the Colerain touchdown, Mason quarterback Alex Nagel ran one in from 8 yards out to make it a 21-6 game, then the Cardinals came right back with a 2-yard touchdown run by Tristen Von Rissen to make it 21-12. Rissen would follow that up with his second score on the night, a 1-yard touchdown run, and with Garr converting a 2-point conversion, it was suddenly 21-20 with 5:45 left in the first half.
Nagel would drive Mason back down the field on the next possession, however, and then rip off a 34-yard touchdown run of his own – his second on the night – to make it 27-20 Mason. Colerain had a chance to even the score at the end of the first half, drawing within two at 28-26 on a 27-yard run by Tariq Evans, but the 2-point conversion failed and it was 28-26 Mason at the half.
The Comets would extend that lead in the third quarter, as a 12-yard touchdown run by CJ Layton made it 34-26 going into the final quarter. Colerain wasn’t finished, though, as Garr threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to DeMonnie Dawson to make it 35-33 with over nine minutes left in the game.
The Mason defense, however, would not allow Colerain to score again, while Nagel sealed the victory with a 2-yard touchdown run – his third touchdown run on the night – to make it a 41-33 final.
Nagel would rush 35 times for 234 yards and three touchdowns for Mason, with teammate CJ Layton rushing 24 times for 115 yards and three touchdowns of his own.
Garr completed 21 of 35 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns for Colerain in the loss.
Mason finishes with a two-game winning streak to end the 2026 regular season 4-6. Colerain, meanwhile, ends the season on a three-game losing streak to finish 4-6, and misses the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Colerain: 0-26-0-7-33
Mason: 7-21-7-7-42
SCORING PLAYS
M: CJ Layton 1-yard run (Landen Darling kick)
M: CJ Layton 1-yard run (Darling kick)
C: Chaz Forrester Jr. 38-yard pass from Roman Garr (kick failed)
M: Alex Nagel 8-yard run (Darling kick)
C: Tristen Von Rissen 2-yard run (pass failed)
C: Von Rissen 1-yard run (Garr rush)
M: Nagel 34-yard run (Darling kick)
C: Tariq Evans 27-yard run (pass failed)
M: CJ Layton 12-yard run (Darling kick)
C: DeMonnie Dawson 10-yard pass (Blaine Scherz kick)
M: Alex Nagel 2-yard run (Darling kick)
RECORDS: Colerain 4-6 (4-5); Mason 4-6 (4-5)
UP NEXT: Colerain season is complete; Mason season is complete
