By MATT FULTZ — For The Independent
LLOYD — Mason County’s Colt Fearis has almost no experience playing quarterback at the varsity level, but you would never would have guessed that after his performance Friday night.
Fearis rushed for five touchdowns on 120 yards and completed both of his passes in the Royals’ 47-13 victory over Greenup County.
Mason County coach David Buchanan was confident that the senior could handle that position after an injury forced star quarterback Neal Pawsat out of the game.
“He has played quarterback in our system but, when he was a sophomore, we moved him to wide receiver because we knew Neal Pawsat was going to be a great quarterback, and we knew he was going to be a great wideout,” said Buchanan. “He has got a big heart and he’s a great kid.”
Fearis was forced into the position after Pawsat was injured on the fourth play of the game. Pawsat, who suffered a knee injury, is expected to miss the rest of the season. The Royals are 10-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class 3A but Pawsat’s injury could make them vulnerable in the playoffs.
After a Greenup County fumble on the second play from scrimmage, the Royals drove 72 yards for their first score. The drive was capped by a 7-yard run by Fearis.
The Musketeers (3-7) were able to knot the score at 7 about four minutes into the second quarter when Corey Lyle pounded his way into the end zone from 7 yards out. Lyle finished with 116 yards on 12 carries.
But from there it was all Mason County.
The first play after the touchdown, Jordan Gilbert took a reverse and outraced everyone 82 yards for the score.
That was only the beginning of the problems for the Musketeers, who fumbled the ball away on their next three possessions, leading to 20 points for Mason County.
All three touchdowns came on runs by Fearis of 3, 3, and 1 yards, giving the Royals a 33-7 halftime lead.
“Four turnovers, that pretty much can sum up this ballgame,” said Greenup County Mike Copley. “We kicked ourselves in the butt. I feel like they couldn’t stop us, we just had four turnovers.”
The Royals added to their lead early in the third quarter when Fearis ran right up the middle for a 40-yard touchdown.
Each team would score in the final period, Mason County’s on Akeem Jackson’s 6- yard run and Greenup County on Lyle’s 1-yard plunge.
Although upset with the loss, Copley will use the game as a teaching tool.
“We have got to build on the positives and correct the weakness and keep going to work,” he said.
The Musketeers visit Bell County, the second-ranked team in Class 4A, next week in the playoff opener.
