Four straight!

SEATTLE — For the fourth consecutive season, the Royal Knights finished the season on top of the 1A classification on the gridiron. 

No. 1 seed Royal defeated No. 2 Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) 49-7 in Friday afternoon’s 1A State Football championship game in Seattle.

“Even in the crowd as kids, you’ll see it happen, and then when it’s your chance you don’t want to mess it up,” Royal junior Lance Allred said. “You put in all the work in the off-season and then you go and win it like this — it’s awesome.”

The Knights scored 21 points in the second quarter to take an overwhelming lead over the Eagles, who were held to under 200 yards of offense and didn’t reach the end zone until just over three minutes were left in the third quarter.

The scoring onslaught began with a 12-yard touchdown run by Allred in the first quarter, his first of three rushing touchdowns on the day; the junior also scored on runs of three and 36 yards in the second quarter.

Royal capped off the first half with a 31-yard strike from Allred to receiver Caden Allred to go up 28-0 at the break.

“The momentum was really big, and then knowing we got the ball after the half likely helped,” Lance Allred said. “Being able to connect with guys and getting blocks – it was the best.”

    Royal junior Lance Allred (11) amassed over 350 yards of total offense in Friday’s championship win, accounting for six total touchdowns.
  

Lakeside received the game’s opening kickoff on Friday, but struggled to find its footing offensively; its first two drives were stalled by sacks on third down by the Knights, with seniors Jared Lee, Bennett Brown and Juan Morales all getting into the backfield to take down Eagle quarterback Calvin Mikkelsen.

“I think it really set the tone for us up front,” Brown said. “It changed what they had to do on offense, and that set up our secondary; that was huge.”

“It’s crucial to set the tone for how the game’s going to be,” Lee said. “They definitely gave us a challenge.”

After failing to convert on its fourth drive of the game Lakeside opted to attempt a fake punt from near midfield, but Royal junior Jackson Larsen broke up the pass to set the Knights up with a short field. 

On the next offensive play, Larsen caught a 35-yard deep ball to set up Lance Allred’s second rushing score.

“I saw the reversing back and forth, so I decided to sit back and deflected it,” Larsen said. “Just got to do what you’ve got to do.”

    Royal junior Jackson Larsen (21) breaks up a pass on a fake punt in the second quarter.
  

Sophomore Shea Stevenson scored on Royal’s opening drive of the second half, catching a short pass and diving toward the pylon to put the Knights up 35-0. 

The Eagles answered with a touchdown of their own on a five-yard reception by senior Hiro Patterson, then recovering an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. Royal’s defense held firm on a fourth-down stop, when junior Santana Luna got into the backfield to record a tackle behind the line of scrimmage on a run play.

    Royal sophomore Shea Stevenson, in black, reaches across the goal line for a nine-yard touchdown against Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls).
  

“They’re not an easy team to move the ball against; our kids made some great plays in the passing game and doing the best they could in the run game,” Royal head coach Wiley Allred said. “The defense has been solid all year.”

Royal added fourth-quarter scores with a 34-yard reception by senior Case Christensen and a five-yard run by senior Jared Lee.

“It’s the dream,” Lee said of scoring a touchdown in the state title game. 

Allred finished the game with 355 total yards and six total touchdowns; the Royal quarterback completed 12-of-16 passes for 182 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while adding 173 yards and three scores in the run game. On defense, the junior recorded five-and-a-half tackles and intercepted two passes.

“He’s an elite competitor, he works his tail off all year round,” Wiley Allred said. “He just got better and better throughout the year. Fearless, humble, he’s the best player you can have.”

    Royal senior Juan Morales (50) chases after Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) quarterback Calvin Mikkelsen in the first half of Friday’s 1A State Football championship game.
  

Film study was a key component in his preparation for the game, Lance Allred said.

“We’d watched a lot of film this week, I feel like we knew our opponent really well,” he said. “It took a little bit, but we got comfortable.”

Christensen led the Knights in receiving with three catches for 64 yards and a touchdown. Lance Allred’s 173 yards on the ground were a game-high, while Lee and junior Ethan Ellis combined for 92 yards on 18 carries. 

Friday evening was the fourth time in a row Royal has hoisted the 1A championship trophy and the seventh time they’ve done so in eight tries; the Knights defeated Lynden Christian 26-22 in 2019, Eatonville 41-0 in 2021 and Mount Baker 35-20 in 2022. There was no state tournament in 2020 due to COVID.

“This has been a ride,” said Brown, one of Royal’s eight seniors. “Since third grade, playing with my brothers – it’s been really special. I’m super thankful for all the coaches and the opportunity they’ve given me to succeed. This is awesome.”

The title is Royal’s 12th overall and 10th since Wiley Allred took over as head coach of the program in 1999.

“It’s always the one we’re at that’s the (most fun),” Wiley Allred said.

    The Royal Knights take the field ahead of Friday’s 1A state title game. The team took the championship for the fourth consecutive year by earning the crown for the 2023 season.
  

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.

Box score

LKS: 0-0-7-0 7
ROY: 7-21-7-14 49