OXFORD - Mason senior Ryan Britenriker rushed for three touchdowns in the second half as the Comets rallied to beat Lakota West 33-22 Friday night, in a Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown season opener at Miami University.
The Comets outscored West 26-6 in the second half.
"We just came out with a purpose in the second half," Mason coach Gary Popovich said. "The kids started making plays, and we made some adjustments defensively that took away their running game up the gut."
West is ranked No. 8 and Mason No. 9 in the Enquirer Division I coaches' poll.
"It's a bitter pill to swallow," Lakota West coach Larry Cox said. "They came out in the second half and wanted it more than us. It's not just the kids, it's on the coaches too. We'll go back and work and we'll be a better football team."
Britenriker carried nine times for 56 yards overall. Mason senior Brian Porter had 19 carries for 156 yards and one touchdown. Mason quarterback Matt Koman completed 6 of 13 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.
For West, quarterback Dustin Huff completed 14 of 25 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Senior receiver Josh Chichester, an Ohio State recruit who is the area's top wideout, had eight catches for 156 yards and a touchdown.
West was held to 83 yards rushing.
West began the scoring Friday on a 10-yard pass from junior quarterback Huff to senior wide receiver Vince Cook. The PAT kick failed, leaving the score 6-0 midway through the first period.
Mason answered on a 2-yard run by Porter, and went ahead 7-6 on the PAT kick by Chris Collins with 9:52 left before halftime.
West regained the lead 13-7 on a 19-yard pass from Huff to Chichester.
West made it 16-7 with 55.3 seconds left in the second quarter on a 21-yard field goal by senior J.C. Casper.
Mason chopped its deficit to 16-13 with 9:52 left in the third period, on a 10-yard run by Britenriker. The PAT kick failed.
The Britenriker TD was set up by a fake punt, on which Porter ran 40 yards to the West 10-yard line.
Mason grabbed the lead 19-16 on a 36-yard pass from junior quarterback Koman to senior wide receiver T.J. Souder with 4:50 left in the third period. The PAT kick again failed, but Mason had seized the momentum for good.
Mason avenged a 26-20 loss to West in last year's season opener. Both teams went on to make the playoffs.
"I'm just proud that we came out in the second half the way we did, against a good football team," Popovich said. "Just a few big plays here and there, and it makes a big difference."
