Royal Kinghts shut out Columbia Burbank

ROYAL CITY - The Royal High football team seems to be coming together as coach Wiley Allred had envisioned, just as the post-season approaches,

Exploding for 34 points in the second quarter last Friday, the Knights posted their second straight 47-0 shutout. This time the victim was Burbank, as the running clock was started before half-time.

Royal's South Central A Conference East season concludes this Friday with a homecoming night visit from Kiona-Benton. Ki-Be was expected to challenge in the SCAC East this year but fizzled.

The Bears were hit by injuries early in the season and never recovered. Their latest loss was to Warden.

As for the postseason, it appears Royal will host Goldendale in the SCAC cross-over contests in the 10th week. The Timberwolves filled that role last year and three of the last four.

Striking first with the ground game, Royal took a 14-0 lead on runs of 15 yards and 1-yard by running back Damien Delarosa. He finished the evening with 78 yards on 19 rushes.

Then the Knights went to the air. Quarterback Alex Myrick hit tailback Christian Guerrero with a 20-yard scoring strike.

Myrick finished the game with 104 yards rushing and 138 passing on 11 completions in 18 attempts. Guerrero had 51 rushing yards and 32 receiving yards.

The game went to a running clock after a 10-yard pass from Myrick to Kent Christensen made the score 41-0 in the second period.

The rest of the scoring came on a 4-yard Guerrero run, a 23-yard Myrick interception return, and a 27-yard Luis Garcia interception return for a touchdown.

Playing outside linebacker, Garcia was a defensive leader with seven tackles. Tackle Marcos Morales also had seven tackles. Kent Christensen recovered a fumble.

On offense, Miguel Ayala rushed for 11 yards on three carries, Delarosa caught two passes for 36 yards, Brady Dixon caught two for 27 yards, Kent Christensen caught two for 25 yards, and Laddie Goroski caught one for 18 yards.

Royal had 22 first downs to four for Burbank. It held the Coyotes to 28 total yards and minus-14 rushing.