Royal throttles Okanogan to move one step closer to Tacoma Dome

WENATCHEE — The two-time defending state champion Royal Knights took another step on their journey back to the Tacoma Dome with a 49-0 dismantling of previously unbeaten Okanogan in the 1A quarterfinal game Saturday night at the Apple Bowl in Wenatchee.

They have 39 consecutive wins now, but it’s not the game they want. It was just a means to the end, and in their case, one more state championship for the mantle.

“I didn’t see this coming,” Royal coach Wiley Allred said. “I think if they would have scored on the first couple of possessions, it might have been a different story.”

There’s that little ditty about offense wins games and defense wins championships, and when you have both, chances are pretty good you haven’t lost in a good long while. Royal (12-0) put up 21 first-quarter points and extended the lead to 28-0 by the half, finishing the night with 21 first downs and 418 total yards. They were playing under a running clock with 13 minutes remaining in the game.

Scary thing is, that’s not the impressive part. While the offense was in full, boogey tilt mode, the Knights’ defense throttled the best offense they’ve seen this season. The Bulldogs rolled into town with a ground game averaging 275.5 yards per game with tailback Julian Cates (167 ypg) leading the charge. Royal held Okanogan to just six first downs (0-8 on third down), 155 total yards, and held Cates to just 29 yards on 11 carries.

The play of the game that indicated all hell was going to break loose in the second half was on Josue Ramos’ longest run of the night. The 5-foot-6 speedster got to the edge on the far sidelines, then broke it back into open field with no one within 10 yards of him and a clear shot at the end zone.

“The guys upstairs said touchdown (in my headset),” Allred said. “I said, ‘No, Angel’s back there.’”

Sure enough, cornerback Angel Farias, who had a spectacular, diving one-handed catch in the first quarter and later a 35-yard punt return to the Bulldog 7-yard line, worked his way through the congestion, found another gear and got the angle on Ramos. Farias cut him off at the Royal 18 with such intimidation, that the Bulldog running back completely stopped in his tracks trying to cut it back and was taken out with an explosive hit when the rest of the trailing defense got there.

Royal held Okanogan in the red zone and took over on downs.

“We never give up on a play,” Farias said. “That’s the way we’re taught, never give up.”

Never give up is as much a tradition at Royal as the winning. Not nose tackle Logan Gomez or guard Ramses Gonzalez or the guys up front. Not linebackers Alonso Hernandez or Jack Diaz, not the cornerbacks Corbin Christensen or Farias. Even the players that come in with the game out of reach have played a part in the Knights’ eight shutouts this season. Juan Ojeda had Royal’s fourth pass interception of the night in the fourth quarter.

The extent of the Bulldogs offense — one failed 37-yard field goal attempt on their first possession and a trip to the red zone on their second possession of the second half.

Lorenzo Myrick stepped in front of an Alex Nelson pass for the first interception of the night on the Bulldogs’ first possession of the third quarter. Christensen caught two balls for 55 yards on the offensive side, but the 6-3, 170-pound senior’s touchdown came on a pick-six, his second of the third quarter.

“The game plan was to stop the run and force them into a passing situations,” said Logan Gomez, who along with Myrick had fumble recoveries. “It was a tough battle up front. You just have to stay low and keep driving your feet. It’s the playoffs and it’s really fun for me because of the support our community gives the football team.”

Alonso Hernandez broke off a 65-yard touchdown run on the opening play from scrimmage. The 5-10, 190-pound running back was nigh unstoppable, finishing with 198 yards on 22 carries and three touchdowns.

“We knew they were going to come hard and we wanted to come harder,” Hernandez said. “It was a statement that we were going to play every down harder than the one before. Our tradition is winning, but it’s a new year and we’re just trying to win another championship.”

While the Knights are clear in their intent, the rest of the playoff picture has been painted in broad strokes. Last year’s state runner-up Connell lost in the first round to Colville, then Colville lost to Newport in the quarterfinals.

Royal (12-0) will play Newport (11-1) in the state semifinals on Saturday, 1 p.m., at Lions Field in Moses Lake. Meridian (12-0) and La Center (9-2) will play in the other.

Royal 21 7 21 0 - 49

Okanogan 0 0 0 0 - 0

Scoring summary

R - Alonso Hernandez 65 run (Osvaldo Guerrero kick)

R - Isaac Ellis 2 pass from Sawyer Jenks (Guerrero kick)

R - Jenks 1 run (Guerrero kick)

R - Hernandez 1 run (Guerrero kick)

R - Lorenzo Myrick 6 run (Guerrero kick)

R - Hernandez 7 run (Guerrero kick)

R - Corbin Christensen 34 pass/interception (Guerrero kick)

State quarterfinal results

Class 4A

Central Valley 41, Skyline 0

Richland 28, Gonzaga Prep 21

Woodinville 49, Graham-Kapowsin 17

Sumner 56, Monroe 14

Class 3A

Bellevue 42, Timberline 7

O’Dea 42, Ferndale 14

Garfield 13, Eastside Catholic 10

Rainier Beach 37, Peninsula 28

Class 2A

Hockinson 34, Liberty 20

West Valley 28, Selah 15

Archbishop Murphy 28, North Kitsap 21

Tumwater 23, Steilacoom 13

Class 1A

Newport 21, Colville 7

Royal 49, Okanogan 0

La Center 41, Cascade Christian 35

Meridian 28, Montesano 7

Class 2B

Kalama 50, Pe Ell/Willapa Valley 15

Napavine 35, Toledo 7

Asotin 27, Davenport 12

Liberty 51, DeSales 7

Class 1B

Odessa 60, Garfield-Palouse 14

Sunnyside Christian 62, Cusick 20

Almira/Coulee-Hartline 60, Naselle 32

Lummi 62, Tacoma Baptist 42