Royal rolls to state tournament
Derrick Pacheco/Columbia Basin HeraldRoyal senior quarterback Connor Paysse (4) throws a pass during the second half of the Knights' 49-14 win over Goldendale Friday night. Royal advanced to the 1A state football playoffs with the victory.
Knights 49, Timberwolves 7
ROYAL CITY - The defending 1A state champion Royal Knights football team decimated the visiting Goldendale Timberwolves 49-7 to qualify for the 2008 Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) playoffs.
The Knights capitalized on five passing touchdowns from senior quarterback Connor Paysse as Royal distanced themselves from Goldendale early.
Paysse's first touchdown pass gave the Knights a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when the senior found junior tight end Marc Albertson for a 16-yard score.
The Royal offense clicked early and the Knights defense kept Goldendale off of the scoreboard for most of the night, forcing punt after punt.
With senior wide receiver Blair Collins lining up to return punts, Goldendale attempted to kick the ball away from him all night. Collins has returned seven punts this season for touchdowns. His seven returns are second nationally in the history of high school football.
After the Royal defense force Goldendale to punt the ball out of bounds, Paysse led his offense down the field early in the second quarter.
With Royal holding a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter, Paysse scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Knights a 14-0 advantage in front of the home crowd.
The Knights continued to pour on the defensive pressure as senior defensive linemen Jace Christensen and Angel Ledezma continued to put pressure on Goldendale quarterback Austin Ross.
After the Royal defense forced another Timberwolves punt, the Knights offense took over.
Paysse led his team down the field with junior running back Will Christensen picking up first down after first down on the drive.
With the Knights facing third down and 10, Paysee dropped back in the pocket and found Will Christensen on the Royal sideline. Will Christensen caught the ball and maintained his balance as he danced along the sidelines, staying in bounds and earning Royal another first down deep in Goldendale territory.
After Royal's first down, Paysse took the snap from the 11-yard line and handed it to Will Christensen.
Will Christensen ran over a pair of Goldendale defenders as he scored on an 11-yard touchdown run to give the Knights a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Following another Goldendale punt, Paysse threw the second of his five touchdown passes late in the second quarter as the Knights scored with less than a minute left to take a commanding 28-0 halftime lead at home. Paysse connected an a 9-yard touchdown pass with junior wide receiver Ben Singer.
With his Knights leading 28-0 at the beginning of the second half, Paysse took over. The senior quarterback threw three third-quarter touchdowns to seal Goldendale's fate as the top-ranked Knights rolled into the playoffs.
Paysse threw second-half touchdowns to Collins, Ledezma and Albertson as the Knights dismantled Goldendale.
With the victory and berth into the WIAA playoffs, the Knights will host the Chelan Goats Friday night in Royal in the first round of the 2008 1A state football playoffs.
Kick off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Royal's David Nielsen Memorial Field.