Royal football wins, back in final 8

ROYAL CITY - Royal scored last to win a class 1A high school football playoff game, 38-35, at Colville Saturday afternoon and get back to the final 8 for the first time since 2008.

The goal this Saturday afternoon against Chelan at Wenatchee will be to make it to the final 4, where Royal resided from 2002-2008. But Chelan, a 35-19 winner over Cle Elum, will have a lot to say.

"They've got athletes everywhere," Royal coach Wiley Allred said. "They have the best athlete in the state at quarterback."

That quarterback is Michael Amsel Jr., a junior who was the school's best athlete as a freshman and started at quarterback then. He's more than capable as a runner and passer.

Allred is excited about his team's chances. When the Knights, 9-2, lost their opener to Cashmere, he wasn't sure they would get to this point. But they keep scratching and clawing.

"They are resilient," he said.

Never more so than the second half at Colville, which was played in a snow storm. After an Alex Myrick pass was tipped and then intercepted, Allred asked his boys to run to victory.

Center Collin Christensen, 5-7, 225, guards Ken Christensen, 6-2, 210 and Carter Christensen, 6-0, 200, and tackles Uriel Carmona, 5-10, 175, and Abel Castellon, 5-10, 200, and tight end Brady Dixon took the challenge to heart. They opened holes in the Colville defense that led to victory.

"We went to a double tight end I, which we didn't run all year," Allred said. "Reed Lefler was the second tight end."

That formula worked. After Colville scored early in the fourth quarter to lead 35-32, Royal executed a 65-yard scoring drive that featured all running. Myrick plowed in from the one-yard line for the winning score with 2:30 left.

Then it was hang-on time.

Marcos Morales pounced on a fumbled Colville snap that doomed the Indians. There was still 1:30 left, and Colville had all three of its times out.

Royal needed first down to be able to run out the clock and, once again, the line came through with the necessary running lanes.

"It was the offensive line and Damien DeLaRosa, Christian Guerrero and Alex Ramirez," Allred said.

The outcome was an exciting finish for the Knights, but the beginning was forgettable. They trailed 14-0 after one quarter and were still behind 21-20 at the half. Early play included a missed extra point kick and a missed two-point conversion.

Royal started to get back into the game with a 10-yard scoring run by Myrick in the second period that made the score 14-6. Damien DeLaRosa added an 11-yard run, and Christian Guerrero scored on a 35-yard pass from Myrick. A 2-point conversion pass from Myrick to Danny Vermeer made it 21-20.

Guerrero gave Royal its first lead on a 24-yard pass from Myrick to cap the third period opening drive. He scored again on a 3-yard run in the fourth period, and Myrick closed out the scoring.

It was a great rushing day for the Knights. They totaled 290 yards on 46 carries. They added 134 passing yards on 8-15 passing by Myrick.

Ramirez led the rushers with 110 yards in 14 carries. Myrick ran 16 times for 69 yards, Guerrero seven times for 60 yards and DeLaRosa six times for 46 yards.

Dixon was the leading receiver, catching three passes for 65 yards. Guerrero caught two passes for 39 yards, Vermeer caught two for 17 yards, and Johnny Villanueva caught one for 13 yards.

The defensive effort was led by Myrick, playing safety. He had eight solo tackles and two assists. Villanueva had six tackles and one assist. Dixon had four tackles and three assists. Justin Edwards had two tackles for loss and one fumble recovery.