Royal captures second straight state championship
CONNOR VANDERWEYST | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 11 months AGO
TACOMA — Kaden Jenks totaled 246 passing yards and 146 rushing yards, leading top-ranked Royal to its second straight undefeated season and Class 1A state championship 25-10 over Connell.
It was the seventh state championship and the first time the Knights had repeated since the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
Saturday morning's match-up was between a pair of South Central Athletic Conference East rivals that played earlier in the regular season.
The Eagles were upset-minded early, taking a 7-0 lead after Brian Hawkins found Steven Kroontje for a 31-yard touchdown pass with 8:36 to play in the first quarter. However, Royal answered less than a minute later when Jenks hit Juan Niebla for a 62-yard yard touchdown.
Both teams exchanged field goals and sat tied 10-10 at halftime.
Royal scored a pair of third-quarter touchdowns — a 22-yard reception by Corbin Christensen and a 1-yard run by Jenks. The latter score was set up by a 44-yard completion to CJ Quintero up the sideline.
Neah Bay 64, Odessa-Harrington 34
TACOMA — Odessa-Harrington's undefeated season came to an end in the Class 1B state championship.
Up against perennial power Neah Boy, the Titans lost 64-34. The Red Devils won their third state championship in four seasons.
Neah Bay's Cameron Buzzell totaled four touchdowns, helping Neah Bay take a 34-14 lead at halftime.
Colton Hunt led the Titans with 154 passing yards and three total touchdowns.
Napavine 34, Liberty (Spangle) 16
TACOMA — After finishing second the past two seasons, Napavine won its elusive state championship 35-16 over Liberty of Spangle.
Wyatt Stanley rushed for two touchdowns and the Tigers pulled away with a 20-6 second half.
Archbishop Murphy 56, Liberty (Issaquah) 14
TACOMA — Archbishop Murphy completed its dominant — if not controversial season — with a state championship 56-14 against Liberty of Issaquah.
The Wildcats led 35-7 at halftime, which included two touchdown runs by Collin Montez. Connor Johnson hit big play after big play, finishing with 356 passing yards on just 10 completions.
Reily Larson ran for a touchdown and Alex Olague caught a touchdown for Liberty.
Kamiakin 14, O'Dea 7
TACOMA — Kamiakin outlasted O'Dea 14-7 in overtime for the school's first state championship.
After a scoreless first half, O'Dea took a 7-0 lead after a 20-yard run by Jaymn Patu. Kamiakin tied the game late in the fourth quarter on a 53-yard pass from Zach Borisch to Darreon Moore.
Borisch scored the game-winning touchdown from 15 yards out in overtime.
Camas 24, Richland 14
TACOMA — Camas quarterback Jack Colletto passed for a touchdown and ran for a touchdown, leading the Papermakers to a Class 4A state championship against Richland 24-14.
A fumble recovery in the end zone by Parker McCary pulled the Bombers ahead 14-10 in the third quarter before the Papermakers answered with two touchdowns — a 38-yard run by Will Schultz and a 34-yard run by Colletto.