Royal football rolls, 79-9, rests this week
Pete Christensen Photo - Royal lineman Chase Janett protects quarterback Kaden Jenks against a River View rusher but keeps an eye out for additional challengers.
Pete Christensen Photo - Wyatt Allred, 72, and Isaac Ellis latch onto a River View ball carrier as Alonzo Hernandez, 34, and Juan Hernadez, 76, close in.
ROYAL CITY — The Royal High School football team concluded an unbeaten regular season last Friday with a 79-9 thumping of River View at River View.
The 9-0 Knights now have two weeks to prepare for their first opponent in the class 1A state playoffs. The long break should allow for the healing of bumps and bruises.
The playoff picture will be set after this weekend. Several schools across the state are having play-in games. SCAC West leader Zillah will also have two weeks off.
Royal is the defending class 1A state champion. The Knights have a 23-game winning streak going over two seasons.
Last Friday’s game appeared to be contest at the outset. Royal scored first on a 25-yard run by Danny Cuevas. RV came right back with a 45-yard scoring run by Spencer Weatherby. The score was 7-6.
Then, as the Knights revved up their offense, the Panthers started to fade. The score was 22-6 at the end of the quarter.
Then Royal exploded as never before. The Knights put up seven touchdowns and 50 points in the second period.
Coach Wiley Allred, who was substituting from the outset, then called his starters to the bench. Employing every player available, he was able to slow the game down. Royal was able to win the second half on a Jack Diaz, 10-yard run.
Led by a 75 percent passing performance by quarterback Kaden Jenks, the Knights rolled to 462 yards of total offense. The defense held RV to 149 yards.
The scoring for the Knights, after the Cuevas touchdown was:
Danny Cuevas 12-yard run.
Juan Niebla, 15-yard pass from Jenks.
Corbin Christensen, nine-yard pass from Jenks.
Christensen, 35-yard pass from Jenks.
Christensen, 55-yard pass from Jenks.
Isaac Ellis, 13-yard pass from Jenks.
C.J. Quintero, nine-yard pass from Jenks.
Juan Niebla, 32-yard run.
Jack Diaz, 10-yard run.
Jenks had another stellar night. The 6-2, 215-pound signal-caller completed 10 of 16 passes for 276 yards and six touchdowns.
Christensen collected four of the aerials for 150 yards and four scores. Niebla caught three passes for 62 yards, and Quintero caught three for 45 yards.
Cuevas led the rushing attack with 103 yards in nine carries. Niebla caught one pass for 32 yards. Team rushing was l63 yards.
Senior Johnifer Garcia led the defense with six solo tackles and four assists. Sophomore Alonzo Hernandez made four solos and two assists.
Eddie Cortez, Angel Farias, Juan Hernandez, Addin Felker, Logan Gilbert, Adrian Banda and Johnny Guadarrama made or were in on multiple tackles.
Cuevas had one kickoff return of 76 yards. Jenks and Christensen intercepted one pass each.