In the midst of a tight three-point Frederick lead, the Cadets needed every one of the future Division-I recruit's heroic plays to stop the Cavaliers.

The hobbled and dehydrated Mason swatted a pair of third-down passes by South Carroll quarterback Alexander Terpening and came up with a back-breaking interception with 2:36 to play as the Cadets went on for a 19-9 victory.

"They told me to eat bananas. I'm eating bananas by the bundle at home, drinking all the Gatorade," Mason

said. "It also happened during the Tuscarora game when it was hot. I'm just glad I got the interception before I cramped up."

So was Cadets coach Vince Ahearn.

"Two weeks ago against Liberty, (Mason) scored on a fumble recovery and iced the game. For a guy to win two games like that, that's a player and that's what a Division-I athlete is," Ahearn said.

With the Cadets staked to a 12-9 lead, Mason halted a drive with a batted ball at the 50-yard line with 10:24 to play. Mason's second pass deflection came on a third-and-8 on the Cadets 34 with 5:02 left in the game. The Cavaliers went for it on fourth down, but Cadets lineman Josh Tomlinson stopped Terpening for a 9-yard loss.

"The coaches tell me constantly to stay on my feet. They kept throwing over my head, so I just started swatting them down and I thought I would pick one off," Mason said.

Following a Cadets punt and a 15-yard penalty by the Cavaliers, Mason mustered up his grand finale on defense. Terpening released the ball right into Mason's hands at the 10-yard line and he fell forward for a yard before he cramped up and collapsed to the ground.

"If I wouldn't have cramped up, I would have took that one to the house. I couldn't crawl into the end zone," Mason said.

Turnovers continue to plague the Cadets as they coughed up the football four times in the first half.

"Anytime you feel like you're not playing well and you come away with a 'W', you should be grateful," Ahearn said. "Someone asked me, 'Are our kids playing hard?' Yeah, they are. Maybe they're playing too hard."

Deon Walker threw an interception on the Cadets' first offensive play, Jalen Gee fumbled twice, and a punt sailed over Trayvon Hoy's head for a Cavaliers safety that cut Frederick 's lead to 12-9.

Sophomore running back Deonte Taylor shined on offense as he ran for 167 yards on 25 carries with a pair of touchdowns. Taylor's second touchdown, a 4-yard run with 2:18 to play, iced the game.

"The tempo was up this week in practice. The holes were there to run through thanks to my offensive line, and I kept the ball high and tight like (Ahearn) said," Taylor said.

Back at the .500 mark, the Cadets have a short week ahead. With three days of practice next week, Frederick travels to face undefeated Linganore .

Post your comments » Residents turn out in support of sheriff, staff after federal lawsuit filed Dozens of residents turned up Thursday at a restaurant to express their support for Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins as he prepares to defend himself and two deputies in a federal lawsuit. Caterer charged with DUI; police deliver lunch Talk about fast food. Fire and police blotter Traffic stop leads to arrests City passes speed camera ordinance Smile, speeders. You'll soon be on camera. Convicted murderer requests new trial A man who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the bludgeoning death of his friend will protest his conviction in a hearing five months from now.