No. 1 Royal Knights: 2019 Washington high school 1A football preview

By WILL HOLLAND Royal is ranked No. 1 in Scorebook Live Washington’s preseason 1A football Top 10. Here’s an inside look at the 2019 Knights. Links: Royal team

By WILL HOLLAND

Royal is ranked No. 1 in Scorebook Live Washington’s preseason 1A football Top 10. Here’s an inside look at the 2019 Knights.

Links: Royal team page | 2019 schedule | Roster

2018 IN REVIEW

12-1 overall record, 6-0 in 1A South Central - East League; lost to Colville 31-28 in 1A state semifinals.

COACHING RESUME

Head coach: Wiley Allred, 21st season.

Overall record: 229-27

Coordinators: Offense: Wiley Allred (OC); Defensive: Jeremy Scroggins

Base schemes: Spread offense; 3-4 defense.

RETURNING 

Offense - 1. Defense - 5.

TOP RETURNERS

S Lorenzo Myrick, 5-10, 165, Sr.

OL Leighton Bateman, 6-3, 275, Sr.

K Oswaldo Guerrero, 5-8, 150, Sr. 

DB Tyler Allred, 5-9, 160, Sr. 

DL Michael Perez, 5-11, 210, Sr. 

THREE TO SEE

Ath/S Lorenzo Myrick, 5-10, 165, Sr.

Two-time first team all-league defensive back selection as well as a threat out of the backfield on offense, Myrick plays with heart and rarely leaves the field. A two-star athlete, per 247 Sports.

OL Leighton Bateman, 6-3, 275, Sr.

Bateman was a second team all-league selection last year as a center. The big man will be a veteran force on an offensive line that loses two first team all-league selections from last year’s squad. 

DB Tyler Allred, 5-9, 160, Sr.

Allred joins Myrick in one of the most dangerous defensive backfields in the state. The 5-9 safety was also a first team all-league selection last year, and his speed will give quarterbacks nightmares again this year. 

OUTLOOK

The Knights come into 2019 off of a historic 2018 season. While not able to defeat Colville in the state semifinals, the 2018 Knights squad won league and cemented itself in the Washington football record books, as they eclipsed the longest winning streak in state history at 53. But they have a lot of ground to cover this year, as they lose six first team all-league selections from last year’s team (four all-state selections). They’ll rely on the use of their two-way standout Lorenzo Myrick to run the ball on offense, hoping to give him some open space after losing two starters on the offensive line. The quarterback situation will be up in the air, as Royal loses their 2018 state player of the year, Sawyer Jenks. Head coach Willy Allred said this team is a “strong group, but a lot smaller - so we better be faster.”

2019 SCHEDULE

Sept. 6, 7 p.m.: at Ellensburg

Sept. 13, 7p.m.: Othello

Sept. 20, 7 p.m.: at Wahluke

Sept. 28, 7 p.m.: Okanogan

Oct. 4, 7 p.m.: at Warden

Oct. 11, 7 p.m.: at Connell

Oct. 18, 7 p.m.: Kiona Benton

Oct. 25, 7 p.m.: at River View

Nov. 1, 7 p.m.: College Place

*home games in bold