‘That wasn’t really something I was expecting’

ROYAL CITY – Heading into the 1A state football championship game against Seton Catholic earlier this month, Royal senior Lance Allred didn’t expect to add his name to the record books. 

“That wasn’t really something I was expecting,” he said. “We knew that running was going to be a strength against them with the matchups we had. Seeing Santana (Luna) throughout the season, they were worried about him. They left me alone on a couple of plays, and I was able to break through with my line making big holes.” 

Allred wound up carrying the football 21 times in the state championship game, rushing for 235 yards and six touchdowns on top of completing 15-of-21 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown. His seven total touchdowns are a record for the 1A title game. 

“Our plan was not necessarily to run him a ton, but we were not going to be afraid to run him,” Royal head coach Wiley Allred said. “Similar to the year before.” 

In last year’s championship game against Lakeside (9 Mile Falls), Lance completed 12-of-16 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns while carrying the ball 23 times for 169 yards and three touchdowns – the six total touchdowns were the previous record for the 1A title game. 

The senior quarterback opened the scoring in this year’s championship game with a 39-yard run in the first quarter, then added touchdown runs of 19, three, 14, 49 and 48 yards. His passing touchdown went to fellow senior Jackson Larsen in the second quarter, who reached the end zone on a catch-and-run of 34 yards. 

“Our linemen did amazing that game. I had one or two big runs where I barely got touched,” Lance said. “A ton of thanks, a ton of credit to them. Also, it opened up real well when we motioned Santana (Luna) out. It would take a couple guys out of the play because if you don’t guard him, then he’s going to make you pay for it.” 

With Seton Catholic defenders keying in on senior running back Santana Luna, who totaled more than 1,000 yards of offense and 21 touchdowns this season, the opportunity was left open for Lance to run with the football against the Cougars. 

“The linebackers, for Seton Catholic, I thought they went with Santana (Luna) really hard,” Wiley said. “When they went with Santana, it left Lance the ability to get in some open space – that's where a lot of it comes from.” 

After playing slot receiver in his sophomore year, where he received first-team all-league honors, Lance moved to quarterback ahead of the 2023 season, filling the top spot in the depth chart after his older brother, Dylan Allred – who he still seeks advice from, and will go over game film with – had graduated in June of that year. At the time, he bested fellow rising juniors Ezra Jenks and Ben Jenks in the off-season competition, who had all split time at quarterback during their freshman seasons. 

“I think Lance was a little more physically developed at the time, which gave him an advantage – because all three were good quarterbacks in their own right, but they all found a place to get on the field,” Wiley said. “Ezra started at safety for us, and Ben at slot receiver this year and outside linebacker. It was fun to watch because their freshman year, they rotated every series at quarterback, and they were so selfless.” 

Lance accounted for nearly 3,800 yards of offense and 55 touchdowns in 2023, earning Offensive Player of the Year in the South Central Athletic Conference (East) and SBLive WA’s 1A Player of the Year award. 

After his first year under center in 2023, Lance returned to lead the Knights at quarterback this fall – his biggest focus in the off-season? Confidence. 

“I think I had the ability, but just getting to know the guys and putting in the work with the guys to get the confidence to throw the ball, and make my own calls,” Lance said. “It was really just confidence, and then timing with my teammates.” 

A key part of Lance’s game at quarterback is his ability to run with the football, which he flashes on the field when games become competitive. In Royal’s regular season game against Cashmere in October, he completed 19-of-21 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns while running for 144 yards and four scores on 13 carries. Against Prosser, he ran for 128 yards and a touchdown; he also ran for two touchdowns in both of Royal’s playoff games before the state championship. 

“We’re all tested going against those teams; there’s D1 commits on both sides of the ball, so I have to move around a bit. It’s not quite as easy,” Lance said. “People aren’t always open like they are against some teams, so I just have to make a little extra time for my guys, and they find a way to get open.” 

While some plays are designed runs for the quarterback, Lance’s ability to scramble out of the pocket has led to plenty of highlights. 

“I’ve become a fan just like everybody in the stands, wondering, ‘What is he going to do next?’” Wiley said. “We really don’t give him any hard and fast rules ... He’s pretty aggressive and confident, and I definitely don’t want to take that away from him. He’s done a great job of making those decisions on his own with some parameters, and some great guys around him.” 

While running out of the pocket, two things can happen. 

“Most of the time, I’ve built up a little reputation that I can run,” Lance said. “When I leave the pocket, sometimes (defenders) abandon guys, and if they abandon them, then it makes it real easy to throw – it makes them wide open. If no one wants to abandon, I’ll just pick up as much as I can.” 

What happened in the championship game was an occurrence all season for the Knights – it's difficult for opposing teams to stop everybody. 

“He's not the quickest or the fastest guy we’ve ever had, but he runs like it; he’s probably one of the most elusive runners we’ve ever had,” Wiley said. “It helps to have a Santana, who’s extremely fast and very good on his own, and to have an offense where they have to worry about the pass game and all the receivers. The offensive line, that’s the key to it.” 

Lance recalled a moment from his junior season, a short way into his time as the team’s starting quarterback. After a game against Zillah where he didn’t feel that he played his best, the Knights came back the week after and defeated Lynden Christian on the road. 

“I felt like I hadn't played great, so I talked to my coaches and they talked me through it and gave me some confidence, as well as my teammates and family,” he said. “The next week, we went and beat Lynden Christian, who had a great team that year. I think that was a big turning point for my quarterback career.” 

What statistic stood out to Wiley the most this season? Lance’s completion percentage, which stood at more than 73% this fall. 

“As a quarterback, even at the next level, they’re not looking at how many yards you had, but if you have something over 70% completion percentage, that’s pretty impressive for a high school kid,” he said. “That goes to the line, and the receivers didn’t drop many balls either. He’s in the top five in quite a few categories, but that one stands out the most.” 

It’s five percentage points higher than the next closest signal caller in Royal’s program history, Wiley said. 

“I think that means a lot for my receivers as well,” Lance said. “There was a lot of balls this year that I had Jackson (Larsen), Ben (Jenks), Shea (Stevenson), Deme (Holman) -- all of those guys, I could throw it up and they’re all going to go for it and put up a big fight.” 

Lance capped off his varsity career at Royal with three state championships. In his senior season, he completed 140-of-192 passes for 2,463 yards and 40 touchdowns with five interceptions. On the ground, he ran 71 times for 650 yards and 17 scores. 

“This is what you grow up to watch; you watch all your brothers, cousins, friends. You look up to the whole high school team, and going to state is always a huge goal,” Lance said. “When you’re able to go and finish off your career winning it, it’s almost a big relief because this is what you’ve always been hoping for. It was really exciting to do it with that team.” 

    Royal senior Lance Allred drops back to pass against Klahowya in the Week 10 state crossover matchup. Allred threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 40 touchdowns this season.
  

    Royal senior Lance Allred (11) throws a pass into the flat to fellow senior Jackson Larsen, left. Allred’s completion percentage was a standout statistic, Head Coach Wiley Allred said.
  

    Royal senior Lance Allred (11) powers his way into the end zone on a carry near the goal line against Lynden Christian. Allred ran for at least two touchdowns in each of Royal’s playoff games this season, including six in the state championship game.