Royal wins opener with late field goal

ROYAL CITY - Cesar Bernal kicked a 21-yard field goal with eight seconds left in the game to give Royal High School a 17-14 victory over Cascade in a non-league football season opener Friday night.

The winning score was set up by a determined final drive that started in Royal territory with just under three minutes left. The drive was helped by a 15-yard pass interference penalty against Cascade.

Royal tried to score three times from inside the 10-yard line but was denied by a Cascade team that is much improved over last year. Coach Wiley Allred then turned to Bernal, who had missed a 35-yard attempt earlier in the game.

On the game-winner, Bernal hit the ball so high that it couldn't be blocked.

Bernal hooked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds to the right, giving Cascade the ball near midfield with eight seconds still on the clock. Cascade tried a flea flicker to the right sideline and completed a long pass, but time ran out as the receiver skipped out of bounds.

It was a strange game for the Knights. Their offense showed up early, and they led 14-0 midway through the second period. They had touchdowns by Miguel Anaya from three yards and Jose Ponce on a 37-yard pass from quarterback Carter Allred.

But the defense didn't hold. Cascade rallied for a touchdown before halftime. After the second half kickoff, the Kodiaks took the ball on a long drive to score the tying touchdown.

Then the Royal defense rose again. The Knights stopped every Cascade Drive cold after that.

"We made some defensive adjustments in the second half," coach Allred said. "I was pleased with the effort."

Royal gained yardage on offense but didn't challenge the end zone until the final drive.

It was a good start for the rebuilding Knights. It was a clean game, with no fumbles and only 30 yards in penalties. Royal rushed for 84 yards and passed for 174.

Darren Miller was the workhorse running back, carrying the ball 21 times for 109 yards. Anaya added five yards on four carries. Allred gained yardage on planned running plays but ended up with -14 total yards because of sacks.

Allred had a good night passing the ball. He completed seven of 11 passes for 169 yards.

"He dropped a couple of passes right on José Ponce for long plays in the first half," coach Allred recalled.

Back-up Kayden Jenks completed 1-1 for five yards.

Jose Ponce Led the receivers with four catches for 118 yards. Miller caught one pass for 15 yards, Ayala caught one for 19, Jacob Lee caught one for 16 and Luis Garcia caught one for six.

Ayala led all tacklers what nine stops. Jacob Lee had four tackles, Teddy Mead and Gerard Weyn had 3.5, and Garcia had three.

Next up for the Knights is Quincy at Quincy Friday night. Allred expects the Jacks to be improved over last year. They lost to Ephrata, 28-12, last Friday, but they were still in the contest, 14-12, late in the fourth quarter.

"They will be tough physically," Allred said.