'One game at a time'

This year could be the best coaching job ever by Royal High football's Wiley Allred. A rebuilt program has made it to the top 8 in the state in class 1A football.

Don't be surprised if the Royal Knights advance beyond the top 8 to the final 4. That was not a slouch Riverside team that went down, 42-0, last Friday night in the first round of the state playoffs.

Confidence is building. Wiley has brought this team along at the measured pace of "one game at a time". All his players needed was time on the field, time in the trenches - development.

If he could get his boys to the state playoffs, Wiley knew, then anything could happen. At that point, his players would be seasoned veterans.

Last Friday was an example of the dividends patience can pay. Freshman quarterback Kaden Jenks played like a senior. Sophomore running back Darren Miller played like a senior.

Last Friday's victory had to be especially sweet for Miller. He was a running back in the Riverside program last year. Friday he had his best game of the year, toting the ball 28 times for 125 yards and three touchdowns.

Jenks had his best game of the year. He completed seven of 11 passes for 148 yards against the pressure of a state tournament and against a state-caliber team.

The other thing Wiley counted was development of his defense. There were some tough nights during the regular season, but it came together before the end of the year.

In the regular season, that defense gave up more than 40 points twice. So far, in two state tournament games, it has allowed a total of seven points.

I still remember the outcome of the fourth game this year, the 45-14 loss to Zillah. There were more than a few "oh-ohs" heard around the community.

The first three games had been struggles even though they were victories. Royal had to work hard to defeat teams that in previous years it had handled easily.

Then there were whippings at the hands of Connell and River View and more "oh-ohs."

The team finished third in a three-way race in the SCAC East for a play-in game to the state playoffs.

You could say Royal (6-3 at the time) started post-season play as the No. 32 team in the state. Zillah, 9-0, started as the No. 1 team in the state, having obliterated its final regular-season opponent, 85-0.

Wiley has brought his team from nowhere to third place in the SCAC East. Now he has guided the Knights to the top 8 in the state.

I won't be surprised if the Knights win this weekend's game and advanced to the final 4. Might as well continue this unbelievable roll.