KINGS MILLS — While his teammates celebrated around him, Lebanon High School quarterback Mason Reed sat back and watched with a sly smile.
In a game that means everything to both schools, Reed shined, throwing for three touchdowns and running for another as Lebanon shocked Kings 35-24 before a full house Friday night.
Reed threw for 170 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 80 yards and a score as Lebanon improved to 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference.
Reed said he was just doing his job.
“We came in, we had a great week of practice, going every day,” Reed said. “I want to give a big shoutout to my line and all my receivers. They made me look good.”
On a night when the Warriors’ vaunted running game was held to short gains, Reed’s passing was the key as he consistently found his receivers in clutch situations.
Lebanon coach Micah Faler, fresh off a Gatorade bath, said the play of his quarterback was clutch, adding that his offensive line was stellar.
“The fact we were able to run the ball opened up some play-action passing,” Faler said. “I tell you what, Mason Reed played his butt off. That is all set up by the offensive line.”
Lebanon gained 353 total yards and scored three consecutive touchdowns after Kings had taken a 14-7 advantage in the second quarter.
Logan Schmenk, the league’s leading rusher, picked up 103 yards on 31 carries, with his touchdown tying the game at 14.
Lebanon took the lead just before halftime when Wyatt Lassen somehow held onto a 10-yard touchdown pass while surrounded by three defenders.
Lassen’s score came with 22 seconds left in the half, putting the Warriors ahead 21-14 at the break.
After a time-consuming drive to open the second half, Reed broke free for a 34-yard touchdown run to make it 28-14.
Kings decided to abandon the small-ball running game, opting to go hurry-up, and quarterback Jack Stills answered the call.
Stills led a drive of eight straight passes, finally connecting with Alec Gendreau to make it 28-21.
Stills completed 23 of 34 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns. Gendreau snagged 11 passes for 129 yards, while Nathan Tucker caught five passes for 141 yards and a touchdown.
Despite allowing 417 yards to Kings, Faler said his defense came up big, especially late.
“This is a defense that has had its ups and downs this year,” Faler said. “But, I tell you what, when it mattered most, they consistently made play after play. My hat’s off to those guys. They stopped a good Kings football team tonight.”
Kings cut the lead to 28-24 entering the fourth quarter, but Lebanon put together a 10-play, six-minute drive capped by a 14-yard touchdown pass from Reed to Lassen.
Faler said his team answered the bell with the long drive.
“We told them, ‘Look, they are a good football team. They will come back,’” Faler said. “We knew we had to score in the fourth quarter. To win this game, you have to score in the fourth quarter, and they answered the call. They put together a drive, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Oliver Young entered as the league’s second-leading rusher, averaging 125 yards per game, but was held to 46 yards on 11 carries.
Lebanon hosts Milford next Friday, while Kings (3-3, 2-3 ECC) hosts Little Miami.
