1A preview: Royal vs. Archbishop Murphy

Royal Knights

Coach: Wiley Allred, 42-4 in four years.

Season snapshot: 12-0 overall, 5-0 in South Central Athletic Conference. Top-ranked Royal averaged an astonishing 63 points over a seven-week period.

Scouting report: To win, Royal must slow Archbishop Murphy's wing-T offense, stop long runs and control ball.

Three to watch: QB Kevin Gilbert (6-3, 190, Sr.) passed for 1,973 yards and 26 TDs and ran for 7 TDs. LB/RB Dane Christiansen (5-8, 175, Sr.) leads defense that hasn't allowed more than 15 points in any playoff game. TE/OLB Steele Brown (6-0, 190, Sr.) also anchors defense.

Numerology: 2 state titles in past eight years ('96, '00).

Playoff pedigree: Qualified for state playoffs every year but one since 1994 and is making fourth trip to the finals during that span. Punter Cody Hebdon, who is doubtful tomorrow with a neck injury, is the only one on this year's roster who played on the 2000 title team.

Quick kick: "This weekend, there won't be much going on downtown or on the slopes. Including the police officers heading over there, I'm wondering about security. It doesn't take much to empty out this town." — Coach Wiley Allred

Inside slant: Athletic programs are supported by a booster club that makes money off hunting groups traveling to this small town in Benton County, particularly from the Seattle/Tacoma area. Farmers donate access to fields, and people buy weekend or season passes. Money has paid for a new weight room and a softball complex.

Archbishop Murphy

Coach: Terry Ennis, 17-4 at two seasons at Archbishop Murphy.

Season snapshot: 11-1 overall, 5-0 in Northwest 1A League (1st). A 22-19 win in Week 6 at then-No. 4 Orcas Island, a semifinalist last year, was the year's biggest.

Scouting report: Wildcats must overcome their inexperience and get rid of butterflies early against battle-tested Royal.

Three to watch: RB/DB Jevon Butler (6-0, 183, Jr.) 1,791 rushing yards, 20 TDs. RB/DB Ben Waiss (5-9, 165, Jr.) 715 rushing yards, 7 TDs. QB/LB Axel Wolff (5-11, 185, Sr.) only 13 of 22 passing, but runs wing-T offense and anchors tough defense.

Numerology: 2 years of varsity football for Wildcats.

Playoff pedigree: South Everett school's first playoff appearance, but Ennis has been here before, with two finals appearances and a state title at Cascade in 1991.

Quick kick: "It's like any athletes. You do it long enough and the light goes on. But you never know when that's going to be. It goes on at different times for different people." — Coach Terry Ennis, on Wildcats' development

Inside slant: When Ennis took over the program three years ago, QB Wolff didn't know how to take a snap. Several other players had never worked out with weights, and some struggled benching just the bar.