ROYAL CITY — Five-time defending state champion Royal made it 46 wins in a row in a rematch of last year’s Class 1A state title game, defeating Seton Catholic 48-10 at Dave Nielsen Memorial Field on Saturday afternoon.

The top-seeded Knights wasted no time pouncing on the No. 8 Cougars, taking a 27-0 lead after one quarter. Quarterback Grant Wardenaar connected with Shea Stevenson on a 36-yard touchdown to open the scoring before Stevenson ran back a 29-yard interception return to make it 14-0. Dax Jenks scored on a three-yard run and then Wardenaar and Stevenson linked up for a 30-yard scoring play to push the lead to 27-0.

Wardenaar gave the Knights a 34-7 halftime lead with a one-yard TD run and then Jenks opened the second half with a 90-yard scamper to stake the Knights to a 41-7 advantage. Brody Bishop tacked on a six-yard rushing TD late in the third to help the Knights finish off their 20th consecutive state playoff victory.

Royal outgained Seton Catholic 470 to 205, including 249 yards on the ground. Jenks finished with 139 yards and two TDs on nine carries and Wardenaar ran nine times for 57 yards and a TD. He also completed 19-of-25 passes for 221 yards and two scores.

The Knights (11-0) will host No. 4 Lynden Christian at 3 p.m. next Saturday at Nielsen Field.

NO. 2 CASHMERE 59, NO. 10 LIFE CHRISTIAN 16: At Wenatchee, senior quarterback Rylan Hatmaker threw for 176 yards and four touchdowns as the Bulldogs (10-1) reached the 1A semifinals for the second straight season.

Isaac Zavala caught seven passes for 69 yards and a TD, Logan Spies had four catches for 51 yards and two scores, and Jacoby Tait added a pair of rushing touchdowns to help Cashmere build a 22-10 halftime advantage. Thomas Bergren and Levi Strutzel also found the endzone. The Bulldogs really turned it on in the third quarter, outscoring the Eagles 23-0.

Cashmere’s defense held LCA to -17 rushing yards on the afternoon and recorded 10 sacks — seven by Grey Jacobson. Braylon Rubio hauled in a pair of interceptions and the Bulldogs scooped up two fumbles to set up a semifinal showdown with No. 3 Mount Baker back at the Apple Bowl at 3 p.m. next Saturday.