I've been avoiding commenting on the Royal High football team for fear of jinxing the great season coach Wiley Allred and the boys are having.

But it's time. I couldn't hurt these boys any more than another team can, and I don't believe there is a team out there than can derail them.

If these boys play the football they've played all year for three more games, they'll sweep through the 1A playoffs to the title.

And that's not a big if. Royal has improved itself every step of the way, playing its best defense late in the season, and they say defense wins championships.

Royal gave up 47 points in the first six games for an 8-point average. It allowed only 21 in the last five for a 4-point average. One of the late victims was defending state champ Connell, 47-0.

There is a matter of two kickoff returns against the Knights for 14 points last week. They were an anomaly, not a weakness.

That won't likely happen again this year. Allred will make sure of that.

The seven points Goldendale scored came against an all-reserve lineup for the Knights. Even then, that group outscored the opposition.

So the defense is solid. What about the offense, you may ask.

Well, it's about as good as you can expect at the prep level. There are rugged, swift running backs. There are swift, wiggly receivers, and the line is veteran and skilled.

Triggering all of that is a quarterback the University of Oregon might want if he weren't only 5-9. Senior Alex Myrick is more than a dual threat.

Defenses know he can run and pass. What they have a tough time figuring out is when he's going to do which. Sometimes he does both.

No one ever knows who's going to win a game before it's played. But I like Royal over Cle Elum this week. It just seems to be in the cards.

The Warriors knocked off previously unbeaten Cashmere 48-6. That's impressive.

But Cashmere was suspect. It edged by one point the same Cascade team Royal beat 52-14 to start the season and 70-14 last weekend.

The only common opponent Royal and Cle Elum had was Zillah. The Leopards came from two touchdowns back to beat the Warriors. The Knights zapped Zillah, 44-7.

The only danger for the Knights is not showing up to play Saturday. That's not likely to happen. These boys have too much experience to make that mistake.

Besides, Allred and his on-field assistant - Myrick - will remind them of the goal and the task.