Knights dominate scrimmages

ROYAL CITY — If you’re wondering whether the Royal High School football Knights will be tough in 2015, the answer is yes.

And entertaining, too, as coach Wiley Allred suggested in the preseason football magazine in this week’s The Royal Register.

Chelan and Quincy found out just how tough last Saturday in a three-team jamboree at Quincy. Royal scored two touchdowns against Chelan and three against Quincy.

That was five touchdowns in 20 offensive plays from the 30-yard line in. At the same time, the Knights stopped The Goats and Jacks cold, allowing not even one first down between them.

“I was most pleased with the defense,” Allred said.

Allred was particularly happy with the development of Valente Cortez at linebacker and Hunter Follett at defensive tackle.

“Valente has just been doing everything well,” he said. “Hunter is getting off blocks and using his hands well.”

A bright spot on offense, other than the skill position players, was Hugo Ledezma at center. Allred liked his blocking, and he said Ledezma was good all night on direct snaps to quarterback Kaden Jenks.

Jenks, the two-year veteran junior, led an attack that scored three times through the air and twice on the ground. For the two scrimmages, Jenks completed 8-of-12 passes. Wide receiver Jose Ponce caught two of the scoring throws, and wide receiver Carson Gilbert caught one.

The running was “okay,” Allred said, but it was difficult to really judged on a short field. Athletic running back Joe Lang got the two running scores.

All in all, Allred doesn’t know how his offense is going to look, pass-minded or run-oriented. It can strike through the air and on the ground.

“It’s going to depend on what we see defensively,” he said.

Whatever the strength of the Knights, they’d better be ready for this Friday night at Ephrata. The 2A Tigers came to Royal last year and dropped a one-point game. They should be itching for revenge.

The non-league contest will get under way at 7 p.m.