If there were a year to ever pick against Royal in the race for the SCAC championship, this might be the year, and Cashmere might be the choice.

The Bulldogs scored 40 or more points eight times a season ago, and held six opponents to a touchdown or less, pitching four shutouts. They have eight returning starters on offense, seven on defense with most of them were all-leaguers in 2024.

So, yeah, it’s tempting. 

Then you remember what Wiley Allred’s Knights have done to all but two opponents in the past decade, winning eight championships along the way.

“Whoever puts out the rankings, it should be Royal one through nine and everybody else No. 10,” Cashmere coach Bryan Bremer said. “I tell Wiley, ‘You keep setting the bar high and we’ll keep chasing it.”

Despite graduating 10 all-SCAC players, Royal remains the favorite in the league, if not the state. Dynamic quarterback Lance Allred graduated, leaving lefty Grant Wardenaar to take the reins behind a line that includes three-year starter Abel Garcia.

“We have a lot of unknowns,” said Royal’s Hall of Fame coach, noting a large group of underclassmen. “We have to get their confidence going.”

The Bulldogs boast a hefty offensive arsenal led by quarterback Ryan Hatmaker (1,889 passing yards, 37 TDs, 4 ints.), and all-league receivers Logan Spies (834 receiving yards, 18 TDs) and 

Tom McDevitt (550, 11), and a defense anchored by tackle Prin Fox, a UNLV commit.

“It’s a special group, but the thing that kind of goes under the radar is how good of leaders they are,” Bremer said. 

Zillah hosts Connell to open the season, and the two teams again should in contention for a spot in the Week 10 playoff. 

The Leopards were hit hard by graduation, and we’ll lean on younger players, while the Eagles return six starts on each side of the ball.

Devon Bouvier is the new coach at College Place, and the Hawks offense will have Hayden Hafen –  847 rushing yards, 10 TDs as a freshman – to ease in the new regime.

Wahluke has tailback Franco Perez and QB Keaton Zirker to help the Warriors climb the standings.