Knights crowned state champions

TACOMA — It was a cool, calm and collected victory on the Royal sidelines after the Knights defeated Tonasket 34-14 for the State 1A Football Championship Saturday.

"I felt like we played hard on defense in the second half," said head coach Wiley Allred. "Offensively, we moved well the whole game."

The Knights scored their final touchdown of the game with 50 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter — a 10-yard pass from Ray Valle to Kyle Scroggins — to seal the victory but there were no screams of delirious joy or players rushing onto the field.

There was a team, satisfied with their victory, lining up to shake the hands of their adversaries and gathering to claim their trophy in the middle of the field.

The quiet win Royal earned was not a foregone conclusion when the game began, with Tonasket scoring the first touchdown of the day on a two-yard run with 3:11 left in the first quarter.

With the first touchdown of the game, a roar was issued from Tonasket's fans but it was quickly silenced by the Knight's own scoring drive.

Royal began the series with first down and 15 after a false start.

Valle pushed his team upfield on the next play, hitting Scroggins for a 40-yard gain and putting the Knights deep into Tonasket territory.

Jeff Jack ran the ball down to the 13 yard line and set up the first touchdown for Royal.

"I can't say enough about Jeff," said Allred. "Jeff played his heart out."

AJ Eldredge gave the Knights their first score of the game with 36 seconds left in the first quarter.

Tonasket wasted no time is striking back as the second quarter opened, putting it in the end zone with more than eight minutes left in the half.

The Knights tied it up with a 69-yard, six play, three minute march for a touchdown.

The drive began with Valle finding Patrick Dorsing for an 18-yard gain.

On the ensuing three plays, Jack marched the ball downfield for Royal, going 27 yards in quick succession.

Valle spread the passing around, hitting Daniel Garza for a 12-yard reception before scoring with a 12-yard pass to Eldredge.

With 5:30 left before halftime, Royal put together solid defense to keep Tonasket out of the end zone.

Near the end of the half, Dorsing sacked the Tonasket quarterback for a 9-yard loss.

"Pat was phenomonal on defense," said Allred.

Royal began the third quarter with an incomplete pass but were quick to recover and gain momentum as the game wore on.

Valle found Scroggins twice for a combined 25 yards on the next two plays and again, later in the drive, with a pass deep for a 25-yard gain.

Then it was time for Jack to put the ball on the ground again, running for 19 yards and putting the ball on the Tonasket one-yard line.

On a second and goal play, Valle executed a quarterback sneak to score, making it 21-14 and giving Royal their first and final lead of the day.

"Our offensive line, Shaun Meseberg, Kalvin Stakkeland, Skyler Hebdon, Tyson Allred and Pat, they played a great game," Allred said.

Tonasket's offensive unit came out on to the field and were ushered back to the sidelines just two plays later, after an interception by Jack returned possession to Royal.

On the next drive, Jack ran for 29 yards and a touchdown but failed to make the extra point. Royal was up 27-14.

In the fourth quarter, Royal was forced to punt the ball away in their first offensive series but were able to make up for lost time with Scroggins' catch to end the game.

Royal finished the game with 177 rushing yards and 225 in the air. The Knights punted the ball twice and won the possession battle by three minutes.

Valle was 14 for 19 passing for 220 yards, four touchdowns, one interception and five yards rushing on four carries.

Jack had 159 yards on 25 carries, one touchdown and one interception.

Scroggins had seven catches for 136 yards and one touchdown.

Eldredge had 48 yards on five catches, two touchdowns and one interception.

Dorsing had one catch for 18 yards and one kickoff return for nine yards.

Garza had 23 yards on two catches, two kickoff returns for 42 yards and was 1 for 1 passing for five yards.

Jacob Christiansen had one interception.

The victory is Royal's sixth championship.