Royal levels Lakeside 60-7, moves into state quarterfinals

NINE MILE FALLS - The Royal Knights were nothing short of spectacular as they opened 1A state playoff competition on Saturday against the Northeast League champion Lakeside Eagles.

Like Royal, Lakeside had lost just once all season coming in. But the Knights, seeded third out of the South Central Athletic Conference, made the Eagles look like a subpar opponent with a 60-7 thrashing.

Royal moves into the state quarterfinals this Saturday. The Knights take on the Cascade-Leavenworth Kodiaks (10-1) at Kennewick's Lampson Stadium. Game time has yet to be announced.

Dexter Allred opened the floodgates with a 5-yard run early on. Hector Ledezma caught an 8-yard touchdown from quarterback Austin Allred, and the Knights (11-1) took a 12-0 lead into the second period.

Ledezma, who finished with 130 yards on 18 carries, picked up his first score on a 2-yard plunge early in the second. Royal's defense, which allowed just 183 total yards, owned the remainder of the half. Jacob Christensen's 25-yard interception return, followed by Blair Collins' 45-yarder, provided the final two scores of the half and were part of the five interceptions Royal collected on the afternoon.

Austin Allred, who completed 10 of 16 passes for 146 yards and rushed six times for 94 yards, scored from 12 yards out early in the third period to make it 41-0. Another 2-yard Ledezma run, a 30-yard pass from Allred to Collins, and a 33-yard blocked punt return from Ernie Garza gave the Knights their final points.

Colt Brown and Ledezma each caught three passes to lead Royal's receiving corps. Lakeside quarterback Blake Voort was just 3 of 11 for 31 yards through the air, including the five picks.