Royal tops Ki-Be, 56-0, turns to the post-season
ROYAL CITY - The Royal High School Knights completed the South Central A Conference season Friday with a 56-0 victory over Kiona-Benton and their first title since 2008.
This Friday they will turn to a 7 p.m. visit from Goldendale for the annual SCAC cross-over state playoffs play-in game. The Timberwolves, fourth in the SCAC West, have been the opposition three of the last four years, and Royal has won each time.
If Royal wins that contest, it will advance to the state playoffs a week later against the winner of this Friday's Cascade-Medical Lake clash. Cascade was a 52-14 victim of the Knights in a non-league season opener.
"We're all in good shape (physically) and anxious to get the playoffs going," Allred said.
Goldendale will be trying to reverse a losing trend with Royal, but it may have trouble even scoring. Royal posted four shutouts this season and three in a row at the end of the campaign.
Royal comes into the post-season with an average victory margin of 48-5. The average score the last three games was 50-0. The defense owned the field.
The closest any opponent came to the Knights this year was SCAC East second-place River View, 39-7. SCAC West champion Zillah was a 44-7 victim.
Despite his club's apparent superiority, coach Wiley Allred is not taking anything for granted. He will prepare his team for Goldendale as he did for every opponent.
"They pass, and they run. They have balance," Allred said.
Friday the Knights exploded on offense but, once again, it was set up by the defense. There were five pass interceptions and one fumble recovery.
One of the picks was returned 40 yards by Laddie Goroski for the opening score. It was followed up by a 67-yard punt return by Alex Myrick for the second score. The issue was settled after one quarter, 35-0.
"Seven different kids scored, and six of them were seniors," Allred said. "We didn't plan it that way, but that was a nice way to celebrate senior night."
Myrick led the defense with three interceptions. Goroski had two. Marcos Morales had seven tackles, and Reed Lefler had six, including one sack.
The rest of the scoring Friday was a 27-yard run by Jake Janett, a 14-yard run by Damien Delarosa, a 26-yard pass from Myrick to Kent Christensen, a 16-yard pass from Myrick to Christian Guerrero, a 56-yard run by Myrick and a 20-yard run by Manny Quintero.
Myrick led all rushers with his lone 56-yard run. Delarosa got 53 yards on six carries, and Quintero had 50 yards on four carries.
Myrick completed five of six passes for 126 yards. Kent Christensen collected two of the aerials for 70 yards.