Kaden had a great supporting cast in state game

Pete Christensen Photo - Rugged Roya quarterback Kaden Jenks bulls his way through Connell's defense.

by Ted Escobar
| December 15, 2016 12:00 AM

I sat next to a sports reporter for the Tri-City Herald at the Tacoma Dome Saturday. He had covered the Kamiakin victory Friday night and would cover Richland’s runner-up finish Saturday night.

As we chatted prior to the game, I said we were about to learn if Royal, indeed, had the best quarterback in the state. He said that would be true no matter who won the game.

He seemed to have a question about the winner. He was already writing the upset story in his mind.

“He doesn’t have the supporting cast (Connell quarterback Brian) Hawkins has,” the young fellow said.

I didn’t say it, but I thought: This guy hasn’t seen Royal play. Kaden Jenks was great, but not without his supporting cast. Several Knights could be college receivers.

The TCH reporter added that he believed Connell would really get after Royal because of the last three games with Royal — all losses. That thought had already crossed my mind.

After Connell swept down the field and scored on the opening drive, I thought about the revenge factor a little more. My nervousness started to rise.

Then BOOM!

Three plays later, Royal was in the end zone on a 62-yard bomb from Jenks to wide receiver Juan Niebla. My nervousness subsided.

I looked at my newfound friend to see his reaction. He had that what just happened look. That wasn’t Corbin Christensen.

I was still a little on edge as the two teams slugged it out for a half and went to intermission with a 10-10 tie. I was fine after the defense’s first stop and the offense’s second drive of the second half. Both units had figured some things out during the rest, and Royal seemed to be in control.

After the third touchdown and 2-point conversion with the third quarter running out, I asked my colleague how many receivers Jenks had connected with to that point. Six, he said.

I couldn’t help myself. I ribbed him: “Looks like a pretty good supporting cast.”

All of the teaching coach Wiley Allred has been doing with these boys came to the surface in this final game of a two-year run of 27-0 and two state titles.

Grit – A nine-yard sack of Hawkins by Isaac Ellis led to the third touchdown. Late in the game, after Connell took the ball to the Royal 18-yard line on a 57-yard run by Hawkins and a face mask penalty, the defense killed the drive at the 13.

Complete the play – On the first touchdown, there were three defenders with a shot at Niebla. The last one shoved him hard enough at about the 10 to knock most runners out of bounds. Niebla maintained his balance and dived into the end zone.

Play in the moment – With second and 13 at the Connell 35, Christensen uncharacteristically dropped a catchable pass. He caught the next pass, on third and 13, for a first down at the 6.

Be smart – Late in the game, with 4th and 15 at his own 44, Hawkins launched a pass down the middle. Only Royal’s Juan Ojeda could catch it. He did, then he dropped it purposely before taking another step. Instead of a first down around its own 15, Royal had a first down at the Connell 44.

“I knew it was fourth down,” Ojeda said.

Be a leader – Jenks’s best game came in his last one. He passed the ball for 241 yards and two touchdowns. He ran it for 147 yards and one touchdown. That was 388 total yards. Team total yardage was 399.

In other words, Jenks put the team on his shoulders. He was the best high school quarterback in the state.

“He is a leader and a competitor,” Allred said.

If you didn’t notice, Royal used three different kickers. Juan Niebla kicked the only attempted field goal. C.J Quintero kicked off, and Alonso Hernandez kicked two extra points.

“Sometimes it takes a village,” Allred said.