TACOMA — Football coaches often point to turnover differential as a predictor of wins and losses. Losing the turnover battle often means losing the game. Unfortunately for the King’s football team, that statistic held true in Saturday’s 1A state championship game.
King’s couldn’t overcome four turnovers in a 28-7 loss to No. 1 ranked Royal.
“We lost the turnover game today, so we lost the game,” King’s head coach Jim Shapiro.
King’s fell short in the school’s first ever appearance in the state championship game, but Shapiro wanted his team to see the bigger picture — his team bonded as it shook the burden of six consecutive losses in the state quarterfinals.
“It was a great season for us,” Shapiro said. “Our whole thing was it wasn’t necessarily about the trophy, although that would be a great outcome for us. It’s all about loving each other and enjoying the trip and we did that today.”
Royal took control of the game on its first possession, driving 75 yards in eight plays capped off by a 10-yard touchdown run by senior Joseph Lang.
It was just the beginning of a busy afternoon for Lang.
Royal went up 14-0 later in the first quarter on a 2-yard TD run by Lang. The touchdown came just six plays after Lang intercepted King’s quarterback Koa Wilkins — the first of three interceptions Wilkins threw in the game.
“He’s not a guy that loves to throw interceptions,” Shapiro said. “He’s very competitive. That’s frustrating for him, I’m sure.”
Royal went up 21-0 in the second quarter on an 8-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Kaden Jenks.
All three of Royal’s first-half touchdowns came on the ground, but most of their yardage came through the air. Jenks completed 12 of 19 passes in the first half for 212 yards. He finished the game 16-for-24 for 229 yards.
“Offensively we actually moved the ball, but we turned the ball over,” Shapiro said. “I think the hard part was on defense we couldn’t get a stop. We moved the sticks a few times and then we turned the ball over. Combined with putting the defense back on the field, and defense is having a hard time in that first half stopping them. That’s not a good combination.”
King’s had its best drive of the half in the final moments of the second quarter, but it was halted when Edmund Sundquist was tackled after catching a pass at the 36-yard line of Royal. Sundquist appeared to have the first down, but the referees called for a measurement, which showed King’s was about an inch short of the first down.
King’s went for it on fourth down, but junior running back Andrew Cline was stuffed for a loss.
After halftime momentum swung in favor of King’s. The Knights drove 72 yards on 12 plays on the first possession of the third quarter, with junior running back Caleb Perry scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run.
Perry provided the spark the Knights needed. He finished the game with 117 yards rushing on 15 carries. Six of his first seven carries went for 10 yards or more.
“We needed to get the ball moving, so we put it in our play-makers hands,” Shapiro said. “That first drive was phenomenal. We definitely punched them back in the mouth a little bit. It’s just the turnover game hurt us in the first half.”
Royal had 282 yards of total offense in the first half, but managed just 30 after halftime.
“If we can control momentum then we can do things,” Shapiro said. “In the second half we definitely grabbed momentum back and then that sparks the defense because they aren’t on the field the whole time because the offense is moving the ball.”
Royal head coach Wiley Allred was impressed with the defense King’s played in the second half.
“They’re tough,” Allred said. “I didn’t know which way it was going to go from the start. I’m glad our offense really worked well in the first half. … They bring so much pressure that you really have to open it up or you’re just going to take three-and-outs.”
The problem for King’s offense wasn’t moving the ball, it was finding a way to score. The Knights came up empty on their second possession of the second half and Wilkins had a pass intercepted by Lang and returned 58 yards for a touchdown on their third possession which sealed the victory for Royal.
Lang finished the game with 66 yards rushing on 14 carries and two touchdowns and intercepted two passes.
“He’s a stud,” Shapiro said. “He’s a runner and a jumper in track and a phenomenal athlete. He’s a kid that’s going to put the team on his back and he did a great job for them today.”
After the sting of Saturday’s loss subsides, Shapiro wants his team to remember all of the things it gained this season.
“It’s the memories,” he said. “It’s the relationships and it’s the way the kids learned how to love each other that was the most important piece.”
Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.
Royal 28, King’s 7
At Tacoma Dome
Royal 14 7 0 7 — 28
King’s 0 0 7 0 — 7
R—Joseph Lang 10 run (Jose Ponce kick)
R—Joseph Lang 2 run (Jose Ponce kick)
R—Kaden Jenks 8 run (Jose Ponce kick)
K—Caleb Perry 3 run (Jack Van Dyke kick)
R—Joseph Lang 58 interception return (Jose Ponce kick)
Records—Royal 14-0. King’s 12-2.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
