Royal High School football adds impressive chapter to already-rich history with another WIAA 1A title
SEATTLE - As the rain began to fall at Husky Stadium, Royal High School players surrounded longtime football coach Wiley Allred and handed him the golden-ball WIAA trophy.
They waited for a response, which Allred gave them by balancing the big trophy on his head. He then took a couple steps forward and wiggled his hips as part of an uncharacteristic celebration dance.
It was certainly a night to celebrate as the Knights added another chapter to their rich history - a state-record 12th WIAA title after a convincing 49-7 victory Friday over Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls in the Class 1A championship game.
Junior Lance Allred was a one-man wrecking crew, accounting for 351 yards of total offense and six touchdowns, plus two of the team's three interceptions on defense.
With the win, the Knights joined Bellevue (2001-04; 2008-11 in 3A) and Lacrosse-Washtucna (2002-05) as the only program in Washington state history to win four consecutive WIAA titles.
Their 12th title also broke the tie with Bellevue (11) for most in state history in the WIAA tournament era.
No wonder Wiley Allred, 63, gave his players and coaches a different look with the dance moves.
"That’s about the most I’ve done - ever," the coach said with a chuckle.
Lance Allred capped Royal's first drive with a 12-yard touchdown run to give the defending state champions a 7-0 lead. He later added a 3-yard score midway through the second quarter.
The Knights' key sequence came late in the first half. Allred's 33-yard scoring scamper extended Royal's lead to 21-0 with 1:44 remaining.
Forty-five seconds later, Allred picked off Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls' quarterback Calvin Mikkelsen in the right flat at the Eagles' 35-yard line.
Two plays later, Allred connected with Caden Allred on a 31-yard touchdown down the left sideline, and the Knights' lead grew to 28-0 with 54 seconds to go before intermission.
"Momentum is a big thing," Lance Allred said.
The junior quarterback finished 12-for-16 for 182 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed for 169 yards on 23 carries. He was the best player on the field.
"We’re kind of happy to have Lance on our team," Wiley Allred said. "He’s been that guy, and he’s just gotten better playing quarterback throughout the year.
"Opposing defenses are never safe until they put him not the ground. He’s pretty dynamic."
Mikkelsen's 5-yard score to Hiro Patterson at the 3:12 mark of the third quarter gave the Eagles their only touchdown, and ended Royal's 2023 state-playoff shutout streak at 177 minutes in three-plus games.
Photo by Steve Faber
Photo by Steve Faber
Photo by Steve Faber
(All photos by Steve Faber/For SBLive Sports)
