Royal to start season on top

ROYAL CITY — Reigning state champion Royal is the unanimous choice for No. 1 among class 1A programs in the Associated Press Washington high school preseason football poll.

The Knights received 10 first-place votes, comfortably ahead of South Central Athletic Conference (SCAC) East rival Connell at No. 2. Their showdown at Connell on Oct. 4 could be the unofficial state championship game.

One reason the Knights were ranked No. 1 is returning quarterback Kaden Jenks. He recently finished second at the Northwest 9 camp, trailing only Dylan Morris of Graham-Kapowsin among top Northwest prep quarterbacks..

Royal will be tested early with a season-opening game against perennial 2A power Ellensburg — ranked No. 4 — and an away game the next week against Zillah — ranked five spots behind Royal.