Editor’s note: During the two weeks leading up to Week 1 of the  high school football season, VarsityWA is traveling around the state and  visiting preseason camps to catch up with some of Washington’s best  football programs. Follow along for updates throughout camp.

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ROYAL  CITY — Wiley Allred, longtime coach of six-time defending Class  1A football champion Royal, is a whiz at being the ideal blend of  war-time general and joke-telling grandpa during practice.

And  since the opening of preseason practices coincides with the livestock  market auction at this weekend’s Grant County Fair, more than a handful  of his players have that on their minds, too.

Allred could sense  that Wednesday morning — so much that he switched into game-week mode,  demanding players to increase their attention to detail and intensity  for the evening practice.

That fed right into the hands of  ultra-competitive starting quarterback Grant Wardenaar, who flicked  spiraling passes all over the field, hitting his wide receivers in  prefect stride.

It was a bit surprising given Wardenaar has spent much of his summer in his primary sport: Basketball.

“With  how our schedule is lined up with our competition … I talked to him  about it earlier (Wednesday) morning that we’ve got to up the intensity  and get going right away,” Wardenaar said.

By the end of the final  practice, during the Knights’ red zone and two-minute work, Wardenaar  was putting on a masterclass in commanding the offense. He was offering  plenty of zingers, too — footballs in the air and a few verbal digs — to  close things out.

“It’s always good competitive fire,” Wardenaar said.

Wardenaar admits he has a passion for football, but he loves basketball — the sport in which he’s put the most time and effort.

And  the teenager admits he had to remind Allred he will be laser-sharp for  football once August comes into view — and backed that up Wednesday.

“He is a sharp kid, so I trust him and he trusts me,” Allred said. “It’s  also how he’s been training from home to compete. That’s how he does it  in every sport he plays.”