ROYAL CITY - It was a football fan's game for a half when Wahluke visited Royal for a South Central A Conference East high school football game last Friday and Royal led 21-12.

But in the second half, Royal's discipline and precision took command, and Wahluke crumbled for a 57-12 final score.

The outcome left Royal at 3-0 in the standings and Wahluke 1-1. Royal improved to 4-1 overall and Wahluke fell to 3-2.

Royal will take a break from league action this Friday, hosting SCAC West LaSalle. The Knights are favored, but LaSalle is an improving team, defeating Granger, 28-7, last Friday.

Wahluke will also be at home, hosting River View in a key SCAC East Contest. This could be the game that determines whether the Warriors will make the state playoffs this year.

The Panthers look good at 4-1 overall and 2-1 in league. But their loss was by 29-7 to Burbank, which has been ripped by Royal and Connell.

Last Friday's game had the makings of a donnybrook after the first two offensive drives. Running the ball, Wahluke blasted through the Royal defense in two minutes for a 6-0 lead. Royal came right back, passing the ball, and scored in 1:35 to lead 7-6.

Wahluke's drive was built on the legs of running back Francisco Cuevas. He opened the game with a 28-yard run to the Royal 48. On the next play, he carried to the Royal 5. Wahluke scored on third-and-goal from the 6 on a pass from Jared Sabin to Jonathan Abarca.

Royal started its first drive from the Royal 31. Six plays later, including three passes, the Knights were in the end zone on an 8-yard run by quarterback Alex Myrick.

Game on. Well, maybe not.

Wahluke reverted to an old bugaboo on its next possession. A false start gave the Warriors a daunting third-and-15 at their own 15. They lost a yard on a run and punted to Royal at the Wahluke 49.

On second down, Myrick found Danny Vermeer over the middle with pass completion to the Wahluke 9. Brady Dixon scored from the 1 three plays later, and the score was 14-6.

Wahluke moved the ball smartly on its next possession but was done in by another five-yard penalty. On third-and-eight at their own 49, the Warriors were caught for delay of game. They gave the ball up on a punt.

Vermeer returned the kick 18 yards to the Royal 42 to set up another scoring drive. The big play was a 21-yard run by running back Alex Ramirez to the Wahluke 4. Dixon scored on a fade route to the right corner of the end zone.

Royal threatened on its next possession, driving to the Wahluke 14, but the Warrior defense got its back up and pushed Royal back to the 16 and a high fourth down pass.

Then Wahluke went on an 84-yard drive that kept the Warriors in the game. With 12.8 seconds left in the half, Sabin launched a pass from the Royal 29 into the left corner of the end zone for the score. Rafael Mendoza skied over two Royal defenders to make a circus catch.

Like the week before at Granger, Wahluke was poised for a comeback. But the opponent was Royal, and the Knights drove to a score on the second half opening possession and stole momentum away.

The Knights scored twice in the quarter and three times in the fourth to pull away. Wahluke faded, but Royal coach Wiley Allred was still appreciative of the Knights.

"They were tough and hard-hitting," he said. "They made us play."

The rest of the scoring for Royal was:

Johnny Villanueva, 22 pass from Myrick.

Vermeer, 24 pass from Myrick.

Myrick 7 run.

Ramirez 31 run.

Freddy Ramirez 26 fumble return.

Cuevas led the Wahluke rushers with 132 yards on 13 carries. Sabin carried 15 times for 31 yards and Ricky Silverio ran nine times for 17 yards.

Sabin had a tough night through the air, completing three of 14 passes for 46 yards. Mendoza caught two passes for 39 yards, and Abarca had one for seven yards.

Royal rushing was led by Ramirez, with 146 yards on 14 carries. Myrick ran 13 times for 59 yards, Damian DeLeRosa carried six times for 49 yards and Dixon gained five yards on two carries.

Myrick had a stellar night at quarterback. He was sacked once but, otherwise, was well-protected by his line. Throwing tight spiral after tight spiral, he connected on 17 of 26 passes for 261 yards.

Vermeer led the receivers with 90 yards on five catches. Christian Guerrero had three catches for 45 yards, Villanueva had three for 32, DeLaRosa had one for 28 and Dixon two for 28.

Royal had 24 first downs to 14 for Wahluke. Wahluke had only two penalties, and they killed drives. Royal had 13 but was able to overcome them.