For the second week in a row, missed early opportunities hurt the Hamilton High School football team.
HHS turned the ball over on its first two possessions and visiting Mason scored on its first three drives for a 34-14 win at Virgil Schwarm Stadium on Friday night.
“Those early turnovers just killed us, but we still battled back,” Hamilton coach Chad Murphy said. “It’s a different game if we don’t turn it over, but that’s football. I am proud of my boys. They just keep battling their tails off.”
Matt Sora ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns as the Comets improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Greater Miami Conference.
Big Blue quarterback Eric Jackson (25 carries, 78 yards) was held in check by a tough Mason defense as HHS fell to 3-2, 0-2.
“That No. 5 (Jackson) is a war daddy, just a horse,” Mason coach Brian Castner said. “I love the way Hamilton came out in the second half. It showed our maturity. We were able to fight through it. Coach Murphy is doing a heckuva job at Hamilton.”
Mason built a 17-0 halftime lead, scoring first when Preston Hutchinson hit Cameron Buford from 16 yards out on the Comets’ opening drive.
Sora scored on a 10-yard run on the second drive before Andrew Hauer capped the half with a booming 47-yard field goal.
Hamilton came out of the break fired up, scoring on Johnny Jones’ 23-yard run, but Mason countered with a 24-yard Hauer field goal before Sora scored again on a 27-yard run midway through the final quarter.
Jackson scored on a 12-yard run with three minutes left.
Mason outgained HHS 436-327 in yardage, with 267 coming on the ground.
Both teams are on the road next week as Hamilton plays Lakota East and Mason battles Colerain.
Mason 7-10-3-14—34
Hamilton 0-0-7-7—14
M: Cameron Buford 16 pass from Preston Hutchinson (Andrew Hauer kick)
M: Matt Sora 10 run (Hauer kick)
M: Hauer 47 field goal
H: Johnny Jones 12 run (Trace Sword kick)
M: Sora 27 run (Hauer kick)
H: Eric Jackson 12 run (Sword kick)
M: Michael Kopaygorodsky 11 run (Hauer kick)