Knights make late run but Bulldogs hold on

Derrick Pacheco/Columbia Basin HeraldRoyal junior running back Will Christensen (27) dives for a first down during the Knights' semifinal loss to the Cashmere Bulldogs Saturday at Lions Field.

by Derrick Pacheco<br>Herald Sports Editor
| December 1, 2008 8:00 PM

Cashmere 34, Royal 20

MOSES LAKE - The Royal Knights football team found themselves in unfamiliar territory following Saturday afternoon's semifinal game with Cashmere.

The 12-1 Knights couldn't capitalize in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association 1A football semifinals as the Cashmere Bulldogs eliminated the Knights 34-20 at Moses Lake's Lions Field.

The loss ended Royal's season and eliminated all hopes for back-to-back titles for the Knights.

Royal senior quarterback Connor Paysse said Saturday's loss was devastating.

"It's the worst feeling I've ever felt in my life," he said. "No if ands or buts, it's over. It sucks."

The Knights fell behind midway through the first quarter when Cashmere's Brendan Burrill scored on a 2-yard run.

Royal responded with 15.9 seconds left in the first quarter when Paysse found junior wide receiver Ben Singer open in the corner of the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown pass.

Royal head coach Wiley Allred said he was proud of the way his offense performed all season.

"We had 11 new starters on offense this year," he said. "I thought they played really well."

The Knights missed the extra point opportunity and the Bulldogs held a 7-6 advantage.

Paysse and the Royal offense erased the deficit when Paysse found senior wide receiver Blair Collins for an 18-yard touchdown pass. The Knights missed the two point conversion but held a 12-7 with seven minutes left in the half.

Following the Royal touchdown, the Bulldogs took possession of the football and started to march their way toward Royal territory.

With the Bulldogs facing a third-and-seven opportunity, Cashmere quarterback Derek Todd dropped back in the pocket.

With Todd scrambling, desperate to find an open receiver, Royal senior defensive lineman Devin Dyer caught Todd from behind for a sack and a 15-yard loss. Cashmere would punt, giving the Knights possession at midfield.

Royal could not capitalize on the ensuing possession and Cashmere forced a three-and-out for the Knights.

With Will Christensen lined up to punt, he mishandled the snap and the Knights and Bulldogs fought desperately to control the loose ball before Cashmere defensive back Miguel Ruiz picked it up and returned it 20 yards for the Cashmere touchdown. The Bulldogs converted the two-point try to take a 15-12 lead.

Cashmere would force another Royal punt late in the first half and the Bulldogs continued to put the pressure on the Royal defense.

With the Bulldogs threatening, Todd again dropped back in the pocket and threw the ball toward a Cashmere receiver at the 26-yard line.

Todd's pass sailed through the air toward the Cashmere receiver before Royal sophomore defensive back Shaq Ledezma stepped in front of the receiver, intercepting the pass and sending the Knights into halftime with a 15-12 deficit.

The Knights kept the Bulldogs out of the end zone but not off the scoreboard in the third quarter. Royal would fall behind 18-12 when Hernan Hernandez kicked a 41-yard field goal for the Bulldogs.

Allred said the Cashmere defense was strong in the third quarter.

"In the third quarter is when I noticed we couldn't get any calls right," he said. "(Cashmere) played good defense."

Cashmere continued to add to their lead in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs built a 27-12 lead with five minutes remaining in the game.

With time on their season winding down, Royal responded.

The Knights offense began to move the football down the field as Paysse found Singer open three times on the drive and Royal advanced the ball to the 9-yard line.

Allred said his team was able to move the ball in their two-minute offense.

"We opened it up again in the two-minute offense," he said. "It seems to me we should have played the whole game in that."

With the ball on the 9-yard line, Paysse took the snap from senior center Sam Rice and dropped back to throw. Paysse stood looking for an open receiver and found junior tight end Marc Albertson in the corner of the end zone.

Paysse threw the ball toward the corner where Albertson and Cashmere defensive back Casey Collins jumped for the football. The ball began to fall short as Collins reached up to take the pass away from Albertson.

Both players fell to the ground as Casey Collins lost control of football. The ball bounced off Casey Collins' chest and into Albertson's outstretched arms as he sat on the turf for the Royal touchdown.

Albertson said he couldn't believe how the play unfolded.

"How?" Albertson said of his touchdown catch. "You gotta hang with it."

Royal converted the two-point attempt and pulled within 27-20 of Cashmere and Albertson's touchdown catch gave the defending champions an opportunity to get back in the game.

"I was pretty excited about that," he said. "It still gave us a chance."

Paysse said he had confidence in Albertson when he released the football.

"That was the break we needed, for sure," Paysse said. "Marc just kept his eyes on it the whole time."

The Knights pulled within a touchdown of the Bulldogs following the score and looked for an opportunity to tie the game with three minutes left.

Royal faced a fourth-and-five opportunity on the Cashmere 30-yard line with 2:43 left in the game.

With Royal's season hanging in the balance, Allred put the ball in the hands of Blair Collins.

Blair Collins scrambled to find an open receiver on a halfback-option play but the Cashmere defense smothered his available targets. Blair Collins couldn't find an open receiver as the Bulldogs forced him to the Lions Field turf at the line of scrimmage.

"We could have made it real interesting if we would have got that fourth down," Allred said.

Royal couldn't convert the fourth down play and Allred said he knew it would be difficult.

"We knew we were up against it," he said. "Coming down in the fourth quarter with the ball and a 7-point deficit, I was proud of the way we almost finished. I thought we might get one in there."

The Bulldogs took possession of the football with 2:35 left and sealed Royal's fate when Todd scored on a 61-yard touchdown run with less than a minute to play as Cashmere eliminated the 2007 1A state champions.

While the season didn't end the way Paysse had wished, he was proud of his teammates.

"We definitely overcame every obstacle you can think of," he said. "This whole team collectively came together and we all did a great job."

Although Royal will not play for the 2008 championship, Allred is proud of his Knights.

"It's the final four, anything can happen," he said. "It was a good season. I wish we could have represented the Eastside but Cashmere will do a fine job of that."

After the loss, the Knights gathered to share the experience with their family, friends and fans outside the Lions Field locker room.

Although the loss is disappointing, the Knights are proud of their success this season.

"None of us are very happy about it," Singer said of the loss. "We are happy we made it this far. We came a lot closer as a team throughout the season than we thought we would."

While Royal will not have the opportunity to travel to Tacoma this weekend to play for the state title, the Knights know the future is bright for the Royal football program.

"We know that we can reload," Albertson said. "That was pretty much our thing this year. You have to come together and play as a team."