Ten in a row

ROYAL CITY — The Knights were crowned league champions for the 10th-straight season with Thursday night’s 49-7 win over Connell, gaining nearly 400 yards of offense in the win.

Thursday night was the seventh time the Knights have held an opponent to seven or fewer points this season.

“They were solid all day,” Royal head coach Wiley Allred said of the defense. “Connell’s a really good football team, and I thought our d-line, all the way back to our secondary and our linebackers had a solid say. Coach (Jeremy) Scroggins does an awesome job with the defense and had them dialed in really well.”

Connell’s lone touchdown-scoring drive came midway through the third quarter, stemming from four penalty calls against the Knights; two personal fouls, a facemask and a defensive holding call. Penalties were a common occurrence throughout the game, as Royal was penalized 13 times for 82 yards.

“We were coming off a week last week where we had maybe two penalties, and we were told we were the best group they had all year, both players and coaches,” Allred said. “A lot of it has to do with the reaction of the officials as well, and our kids just need to settle completely down and play football. I thought it was a great football game other than that. I think everyone just needs to settle down.”

Even with the fouls, Royal was able to overcome holding penalties on three of its touchdown drives.

“I was really proud of our kids, how they overcame that. They made big plays all night,” Allred said.

On the Knight’s opening drive, junior quarterback Lance Allred found junior receiver Jackson Larsen on a nine-yard strike on fourth-and-three to set up a first down on the Connell five-yard line, with Allred running from three yards out two plays later for the team’s first score. Sophomore running back Shea Stevenson got into the end zone on a nine-yard pass on the next Royal drive, and senior receiver Case Christensen scored on a 71-yard catch-and-run midway through the second quarter.

Royal was up 22-0 at the half.

“I cut back a couple times, saw my linemen and my team blocking for me,” Christensen said. “I was hyped on that one.”

Allred scrambled in the pocket on Royal’s second drive of the third quarter and hit Stevenson on a 41-yard deep ball down the field, setting up the sophomore’s second touchdown of the game on a five-yard run two plays later.

“I saw Lance was trying to make a play, and I didn’t see anybody behind me so I ran up the field,” Stevenson said. “He’s a good quarterback, got me the ball. He’s a playmaker.”

A similar play happened earlier in the game before Stevenson’s first touchdown, where Allred ran around in the pocket before finding junior receiver Caden Fitzhugh deep down the field for a 34-yard completion.

“Lance being Lance, he’s awesome,” Wiley Allred said. “You never know what he’s going to do or where he’s going to do. He’s pretty electric.”

Royal scored on quarterback sneaks on its next two drives, scoring from two and five yards out. A strong push by the offensive line allowed Allred to get into the end zone.

“We’ve got a lot of good linemen, and they love the call,” Lance Allred said.

The Knights forced three Connell turnovers Thursday night, including an interception by Christensen where the senior returned the ball close to 90 yards, falling short of scoring a touchdown by just one yard.

“I’m thinking ‘Get in the end zone, get in the end zone,’” Christensen said. “I was one yard short, but we’ll get it one time.”

Royal’s Week 10 Crossover opponent was unreleased in time for press deadline.

“It’s the first goal we have every season,” Lance Allred said of winning the league title.

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com. He is our dedicated sports reporter and covers a dozen high schools along with Washington college sports. 

Box score

Connell: 0-0-7-0 7

Royal: 7-15-13-14 49

    Royal junior Nathan Niebla (32) celebrates after blocking a punt in the second quarter against Connell.
  

   Royal sophomore Shea Stevenson (23) intercepts a pass in the first half against Connell.
  

    The seniors on Royal’s roster were honored before the Knight’s 49-7 win over Connell on Thursday.