Royal tames Othello Huskies

The setting was new for Jeff Jack.

Yet, the first-year Royal running back was right at home in the Knights' backfield. Rushing for 107 yards and two touchdowns to lead Royal past Othello 28-21 at Lampson Field in Kennewick on Saturday.

"I just think he is going to get better from here," said Royal head coach Wiley Allred. "Some of his aiming points weren't right and as soon as he gets that down, he will be a tougher player."

Jack scored his first touchdown of the game in the second quarter, pressing from three yards out to give Royal its second lead of the game with 1:31 left before halftime. Jack's second touchdown came at the opening of the fourth quarter for Royal's final score of the game.

"The first half went a little shaky, but I think I did pretty good," Jack said.

Othello's struggles came on the ground as the Royal defense held Geoff Kirkwood to 21 yards rushing for the game. The offense was left up to Huskie first-year quarterback Wally Cantu and a mix of wide receivers in Aaron Hafer and Parker Roylance.

Cantu connected with Hafer once and Parker twice on 173 yards passing. Roylance was able to get by the Royal secondary for scores of 50 and 57 yards, exposing a weakness in the Knights' secondary.

"They got us on the pass and we prepared hard for the option and I think our kids did a great job of that," Allred said.

After a shaky start for both offenses, Ray Valle hooked up with Kyle Scroggins for a 31 yard touchdown pass. Cantu matched Valle with a 50-yard pass to Roylance to even the score.

Charles Booth opened the door for Othello with a fumble recovery at the end of the first quarter and Cantu found Hafer for the second Huskie touchdown of the game from 28 yards out. Othello missed the extra-point, but led 13-7 over Royal with 11:17 remaining in the first half.

Royal's next possession was highlighted with a 54-yard reception to James Dykes from Valle to put the Knights on the Othello 13-yard line. Royal muscled the ball to the 1-yard line, but the Huskies took a goal-line stance.

Royal allowed only four yards on Othello's drive out of its own end zone, forcing the Huskies to punt.

Valle passed to Jack twice for a total of 32 yards after the Othello punt and found Dykes once for 30 yards before handing off to Jack for a 3-yard touchdown run. Royal took a 14-13 lead before halftime and never looked back.

To start the third, Royal needed 14 plays and 4:54 to score on a pass from Valle to Dykes to take an eight-point lead. Jack scored the Knights' final touchdown of the game to start the fourth with a 9-yard run for a two-touchdown lead.

"To me it is a really big boost to us because I think it was a really great thing for the kids who got to play," Allred said.552OOf n',"L (c)O:f