Top-seeded Knights prepare for No. 8 Lynden Christian

ROYAL CITY — Winners of seven of the last eight 1A state championships, playing football late into November and December is nothing abnormal for the Royal Knights; what is new is a first-round bye, which the team received in part to being named the classification’s top seed in the playoffs this season. 

The Knights will face No. 8 Lynden Christian on Saturday in the state quarterfinals. 

“It’s been a long wait,” Royal head coach Wiley Allred said. “Having a bye has been nice, but I think the kids will be really ready for this one.” 

The 1A classification and its 12-team playoff format is the state’s only classification where teams received first-round byes this season; the other five classifications all have 16-team postseason tournaments, where each team plays in the first round. 

Joining Royal with first-round byes were No. 2 Seton Catholic, No. 3 La Center and No. 4 Cashmere. 

While a bye week can be a benefit in allowing players to rest before hopefully stringing together a deep playoff run, it’s not a time for relaxing in Royal City. 

“We utilized it to get some things done, get better in some areas,” Allred said. “Install a few things on offense, defense and special teams. I feel like we used the week off — we're not inclined to stand still, we want to get better each day. I think the kids have done that, so we’ll see how that’s going to be. It’s just a change of routine.” 

Everything adds up. 

“We just had to stay mentally prepared; went through the basics, the fundamentals more,” junior Shea Stevenson said. “Just try not to skip over the little details.” 

Following the week off, Royal will host Lynden Christian on Saturday; the Lyncs defeated No. 9 Cascade Christian 40-14 in the first round last Saturday and have won four of their last five games after a 3-3 start to the season. Lynden Christian finished second to Nooksack Valley in the Northwest Conference standings. 

Despite the two schools being separated by more than 250 miles and the Cascades, there’s a familiarity between the programs with recent matchups. 

“We seem like we’re a league opponent now, we know each other very well,” Allred said. “We’ve seen turnover with kids, and they’ve seen ours as well. The system that they employ is solid football; they’re tough defensively, and they’re tough offensively.” 

Lynden Christian snapped Royal’s 36-game winning streak with a 21-14 win in Royal City in 2022, while the Knights avenged the loss in last season’s 28-7 win in Lynden. 

“They have the same coaches, and I’m sure they have a lot of the same people playing,” senior Jackson Larsen said. “It’s good to watch film and see what they’re going to do, with the same schemes.” 

While the Lyncs come into Saturday's game at 7-4, the Knights remain unbeaten with a 10-0 mark this season. Royal has allowed just six points over their last four games, all of which came in the state crossover win over Klahowya on Nov. 8. Over the past month the Knights have defeated Wahluke 70-0, Naches Valley and Wapato both by scores of 76-0 and Klahowya 76-6. 

Despite the dominating wins, Allred noted that things change when the postseason rolls around. 

“The 70 points is not really indicative of one thing or another, we’ve just dominated the opponent because we’ve been physically superior; just faster and stronger,” Allred said. “Now, we’ve got to make sure we focus on what’s ahead of us, which is teams that will have similar physicality as we do. We’ve just got to continue to execute the little things.” 

It’s not just the offense that has been reaching the end zone for the Knights this season; Royal has also scored 11 defensive touchdowns — eight via interceptions and three by fumble recoveries — and seven special teams touchdowns, including four by punt returns, two on kickoffs and one blocked field goal attempt returned for a score. 

“I just think they gain confidence for kids,” Allred said. “Every time you’re touching the ball, you’re looking for an opportunity. It’s not just guys that are scoring; guys are blocking, guys are pressuring the quarterback. When you score on defense, it’s more than one guy. Same on offense.” 

Stevenson echoed Allred’s sentiment. 

“I think it gives us a lot of confidence knowing that we’re that dangerous in everything,” Stevenson said. “I think it shows that we are a powerful offense, defense and special teams.” 

Senior Santana Luna, Royal’s leading rusher and punt returner, called it a group effort. 

“I just see my teammates blocking their hearts out — the reason I score is because they’re blocking really well, so it’s all because of them,” Luna said. 

Seeing a teammate score on offense is exciting on its own, but there’s something different about a defensive or special teams touchdown.  

“I’m super excited (seeing teammates score non-offensive touchdowns), because I know all the effort and work they put into it,” Larsen said. “I just want to go celebrate with them because I know it’s a big moment for them.” 

Kickoff between the Knights and Lyncs is at 2 p.m. Saturday in Royal City. The winner will advance to play the winner of No. 4 Cashmere and No. 5 Nooksack Valley. 

“Continue to play like we’re capable of, and be excited to be here,” Allred said of what it’ll take to win Saturday. 

    Royal senior Santana Luna (4) outruns a Klahowya defender during a state crossover game on Nov. 8.
  

    Royal senior Benson Jenks (10) returns a kickoff for a touchdown during a Nov. 8 game against Klahowya. The Knights have scored seven special teams touchdowns this season, including two on kickoff returns.
  

    Royal defenders pounce on a loose ball during a Nov. 8 game against Klahowya. The Knights have forced 34 turnovers this season.