By Chris Asbrock

In what was the game of the week for some media outlets in the city, the Mason Comets (2-1) came out and made a statement against the Winton Woods Warriors (2-1), shutting out the Warriors, 22-0, in front of a packed house at Atrium Stadium at Dwire Field in Mason.

The Comets came into the game, ranked #10 in the city in Division 1 according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Many people did not give the Comets a chance against the Warriors (2-1), the #1 ranked team in Division 2.
Two plays in and the Warriors were in shambles.

The first play from scrimmage turned out to be a false start penalty. The second play, the Warriors coughed up the football with Mason recovering the ball at the 18 yard line. Lucas Edwards made Winton Woods pay as he punched it in from 3 yards out, to give the Comets a 7-0 lead.

Mason coach Brian Castner looked to capitalize on the momentum as he called for an “onside” kick. The gamble paid off as the Comets recovered the squib kick at the 39 yard line. It took a little more than two and a half minutes for the Comets to score again. Junior RB/WR Jeron Besecker ran one in from 15 yards out to extend the Mason lead to 13-0. The PAT was subsequently unsuccessful.

The rest of the quarter was pretty uneventful as both defenses stood tall and forced punts. The first quarter ended with the Comets on top, 13-0.

Castner once again dipped into his bag of tricks as he called for a fake punt on 4th & 2. Lucas Edwards, who is the jack of all trades, scampered for the first down.

The defenses once again stood tall in the second quarter as neither team was able to muster anything offensively. The Comets here handed a gift as they took over at the Winton Woods 25 yard line, following a 22 yard punt. Mason burned off the final 1:37 of the half, capping it off with a Grant Kramer 45 yard field goal with no time remaining in the half.

The teams headed into the locker rooms with the Comets shockingly up, 16-0.

The rest of the game, much like the entire game, was dominated by the defenses. Both teams were unable to get anything going until Grant Kramer extended the Mason lead to 19-0, with a 26 yard field goal.

The Comets tacked on another field goal with :32 left in the 3rd quarter, as Kramer once again struck from 29 yards out.

With Mason up 22-0, the Comets defense was able to squash any momentum Winton Woods could have gained, as Cameron Pitts recovered a fumble at the 2 yard line.

The Comets defense was the story of the game as they held Winton Woods Senior running back Marcus Davis to only 54 yards rushing, on 12 carries.

Both teams will be challenged this upcoming week as Mason will travel to local rival, Lakota West. The Winton Woods hosts Thurgood Marshall (Dayton, OH).