ROYAL CITY — Close to half of the bleachers at David Nielsen Stadium were empty for Friday night’s crossover game with LaSalle as temperatures dipped into the low 30’s. Can’t really blame fans for staying home as coaches, players and media members alike were at times huddling around the propane heaters on the sideline.

But after a cold start on the field in which the Knights turned the ball over on their first two possession of the ball game, things heated up with six first half touchdowns by the home team.

“We had a couple of game now that we’ve turned the ball over early,” coach Wiley Allred said. “I’m not too concerned about that — don’t turn it over much at all — we just have to take better care of the ball.”

The first two scores came off short runs by Lorenzo Myrick and Alonso Hernandez to put Royal up top 13-0 at the end of the first 12 minutes of action.

Punt returns of 46 and 56 yards for touchdown by Angle Farias, a fumble recovery for a score by Jack Diaz, and a 4-yard Sawyer Jenks scramble for 6-points in the second quarter made it 41-0 Knights at the half.

The third quarter went scoreless.

Hernandez found the end zone on a 10-yard run to start fourth quarter scoring. LaSalle avoided the shutout when Kieran Kershaw connected up with Ryan Kershaw from 4-yards out.

Jenks, who had thrown 34 TD passes coming into the game finished with 102 yards on 18 attempts, one interception and no passing touchdowns.

“It’s just the way it works out some times,” Allred said. “He had a pass dropped in the end zone and threw an interception inside the red zone but he did end up running one in.”

Hernandez led the Knight ground attack with 95 yards on 13 carries and two scores.

The win extends the Knights win streak to 37 games, which is the state’s longest and the seventh longest in the nation.

Next up for Royal is Freeman at home Friday in opening round of the state playoffs.

“Freeman has a good team — beat Cashmere 34-19 — were down 19-7 and came back to win it,” Allred said. “They predominately run the ball but can throw it as well. They play tough defense and are well coached — won the title in 2013, so it should be a good one.”

Kickoff is 7 p.m.