Royal Knights shut out Freeman, advance to quarterfinal round
Bob Kirkpatrick/The Sun Tribune - Corbin Christensen (14) and Isaac Ellis (far right) peer into the Scotties backfield during Friday night’s contest with Freeman.
Pete Christensen Photo - Ramses Gonzalez (left), Jack Diaz (center) and Isaac Ellis wrap up Freeman running back Konner Freudenthal. The Knights beat the Scotties 35-0 and will take on Okanogan at the Apple Bowl in Wenatchee Friday.
ROYAL CITY — Sawyer Jenks tossed three touchdown passes, Angel Farias returned his fourth punt of the season for a score, Alonso Hernandez had a pick-6, and Royal extended its win streak to 38 games with a 35-0 route of Freeman at David Nielsen Stadium Friday.
“Our defense played really well — just had a couple of miscues on the offense with the snaps and a fumble that kept us out of the end zone,” coach Wiley Allred said. “Freeman is a good defensive team — our kids played hard though and our blocking up front was good.”
The Scotties came to town looking to pull off the upset after a convincing 35-19 win over Cashmere the week prior, but the Knights had another thing in mind as the state’s No. 1 ranked 1A team dominated from the get-go.
Freeman won the toss and deferred to the second half; a decision that didn’t go so well for the team from Rockford as Royal’s opening possession turned into seven points just 2 minutes and 36 seconds into the contest.
The Knights second possession of the ball game off a Scotties punt started at their own 14. Jenks mishandled the snap and lost 5 yards, but the team made up ground and then some on an end around by Farias who advanced the ball to the 24. Freeman held however and forced a punt.
The Scotties drive started on their own 48 but stalled and they had to punt. The kick took a hard left off a bounce and wound up in the coffin corner at the 8-yard line on Royal’s side of the field. Angel Farias, who had already returned three punts for touchdowns this season, picked the ball up, made a few moves while directing traffic and raced downfield for the score. The PAT made it 14-0 and rounded out first quarter scoring.
A Sawyer Jenks TD pass to Corbin Christensen from the Freeman 19 (PAT) pushed the Knights lead to 21-0. With just under 5 minutes to go in the half, Jenks hooked up with Farias for 58-yard score (PAT) and Royal blew the game open 28-0.
The Knights had a chance to build on the lead with the ball at the Scottie 23 with under a minute left, but Jenks was sacked for a loss on a 4th-and-sixth play and the ball went over to Freeman on downs.
The third quarter went without a score, as both teams created a myriad of miscues.
The last 12 minutes of the contest was shaping up to be a scoreless quarter as well until Alonso Hernandez stepped in front of a Desmond Parisotto and turned it into a 46-yard pick-6.
“I thought Sawyer was throwing the ball really well and our offense executed well the first half, “ Allred said. “We actually had some big plays in the second half but just didn’t convert — had a few snaps go over Sawyer’s head.”
Jenks had a solid outing completing 16-of-22 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns, but Freeman did hold Royal to a season low 43 rushing yards.
“We only gave Hernandez and Myrick seven carries each, but they averaged 5 yards per carry,” Allred said. “We weren’t afraid to run the ball – just got into situations – third and long – that dictated otherwise.”
The Knights defense completely shutdown the Scotties, holding Freeman to 45 yards on the ground, 17 through the air, and forced 10 punts on the night.
Up next is a Friday state quarterfinal showdown with 10-0 Okanogan at the Apple Bowl in Wenatchee.
“They have a good team and are well coached,” Allred said. “They won the 2B championship two out of the last three years and were 1A champs in the 1999/2000 season. We beat them in the championship game the following year, so this game should be highly competitive.”
Kickoff is 4 p.m.