Royal football’s Hall of Fame coach Wiley Allred isn’t sandbagging when he says the Knights are replacing eight starters on each side of the ball from last season’s team that won the school a fifth straight Class 1A state championship.

The Knights had a big – and immensely talented – senior class last season.

These new starters, though, are no slouches, because if ever there were a program that embodies iron-sharpens-iron, it’s Royal.

Top-ranked again, the Knights face another challenge to their supremacy and 39-game winning streak when No. 2 Cashmere visits David Nielsen Memorial Field on Friday night for an SCAC showdown.

“It’s fun to play on this stage,” said Allred, who reached the 300-victory club last December when the Knights humbled Seton Catholic to keep the 1A crown. “We’re in a process of improvement. We need to be at our best to have a chance.”

A season ago, best is definitely what Royal was at in its two matchups with the Bulldogs.

The Knights scored the final 41 points of the teams’ regular-season matchup for a 55-14 victory, and followed that with a 44-7 handling in the semifinals.

In both games, Royal took advantage of every opportunity it was presented. That’s something Cashmere coach Bryan Bremer has reminded his players.

“The way we see it, it’s not us versus Royal, it’s us versus us,” he said. “They forced us not to play our game. You can’t get caught up with what they do.”

What both teams have done this season is dominate.

Cashmere has yet to be scored on, outscoring opponents 251-0 while the Knights have given up a lone score. 

The Bulldogs defense is anchored up front by UNLV commit Prin Fox, who last week recovered a fumble in the end zone for his first touchdown.

Rylan Hatmaker is back at quarterback for Cashmere, with Logan Spies and Tom McDevitt his top targets. The Bulldogs offense is averaging more than 14 yards a passing attempt and 8 yards a carry.

For Royal, Grant Wardenaar has stepped in at quarterback following the graduation of two-time 1A player of the year Lance Allred.

The 6-foot-4 junior lefty, who also is a basketball standout, has taken over quite admirably, throwing for 16 touchdowns against a lone interception.

Shea Stevenson has been on the receiving end of 10 scoring passes for the Knights, and matched his own school record last week with four touchdown receptions against Zillah.

Up front, seniors Rolando Cedillo and Abel Garcia lead a stout line.

“They’re figuring out their roles still, but the kids have responded well,” Allred said.

Bremer noted that the complexity of the Knights’ offense can keep you guessing.

“Once you stop one thing, it’s what they’re going to do next (you have to worry about),” Bremer said. “Wiley will do whatever it takes to win.”

Friday should be the first time either team will play much or any of the second half without a running clock. And, if last year is any indicator, the first of two matchups.

“This is two really, really good teams,” Bremer said. “Who executes better, who sticks to the game plan should win.”