Comets defense grounds Aviators for Battle of the Skies victory

Jack Mendelsohn | The Chronicle

The trophy is back where it belongs. After the Sycamore Aviators scored a touchdown on their second play of the game, the Mason Comets responded by scoring 29 unanswered points on their way to a 29-7 victory bringing the Battle of the Skies trophy back home. 

Sycamore wide receiver Tre Meadows put the Aviators on the board early in the first quarter when he scored on a 77 yard touchdown pass from Levi Simpson. That would be the Aves only score of the night. 

From that point on, Mason shut down Sycamore’s offense, allowing only 47 yards of total offense, forcing Simpson to throw four interceptions  The Comets‘ defense dominated Sycamore’s passing game, allowing only four completions over the course of the game on 17 attempts, making it nearly impossible for Sycamore’s offense to find a rhythm. 

After suffering a home defeat last year, Mason head coach Brian Castner wanted his team to bring the trophy back home. 

“We kept talking about getting the trophy back,” Castner said. “You know, we lost it last year, and it stung. It stung a bunch.” 

Offensively, Mason found a lot of success through the air with Ashton Sheafe, Mason’s senior quarterback, finishing the game with 13 completions on 17 passing attempts for 194 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. 

The Comets relied heavily on the passing game as Sheaf completed passes to five different receivers, including two big connections to junior wide receiver Taurien Wiggins who hauled in two touchdown passes on three receptions. Sheaf hit Wiggins with just 27 seconds left in the first half to send the Comets to the halftime locker room, leading 16-7.  

The Mason defense kept the Aviators grounded the entire game. Not only did they pitch a shutout for three quarters, they forced four turnovers and only allowed the Aves to generate 124 yards of total offense. Seventy-seven of those yards came on the second play of the game.   

The Comets took advantage of excellent field position throughout the game and Sycamore mistakes including forcing a safety in the second quarter. With the win the Comets improve to 5-4 and are now on a four game winning streak heading into the final home game of the season against league leading Lakota West.