The epicenter of the Class 1A football world is a week away from again being Royal’s David Nielsen Field.

The Knights, ranked No. 1 in VarsityWA’s debut rankings and winners of 48 straight games and the last six 1A state championships, will welcome third-ranked Cashmere to town, in the fifth matchup between the teams – two of them deep in the postseason – since realignment made them conference rivals.

Last year’s two matchups were decided on the final play of overtime in the regular-season matchup, and in the final moments of the state championship game when Cashmere just missed a two-point conversion attempt.

“We’ve only lost four games the last two seasons,” Cashmere coach Bryan Bremver said. “We’ve proven we can play with them but we haven’t proven we can beat them.”

The Knights and Bulldogs again are the class of the conference, if not the state, with a junior-led Zillah squad eager to jump into one of those top two spots.

“Cashmere has built their program into a standard and Zillah is working hard to do the same thing,” Royal coach Wiley Allred said.

Here’s a breakdown of the SCAC teams in predicted order of finish:

ROYAL

Allred’s crew returns a strong core that could send its senior class off with a fourth straight championship without a blemish on its record.

Lefty quarterback Grant Wardenaar returns to lead the offense which will lean on running back Dax Jenks, who rolled in the postseason after an injury slowed him early.

Eight starters are back on defense, which had six shutouts last season, including first-team all-SCAC lineman Orlando Santillan, and Fischer Livingston, Wardenaar and Jenks, who moves from linebacker to the backfield.

After an opening trip to Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls, the Knights open conference play with likely its biggest test – Cashmere.

“We gotta get right to it and I’m sure they feel the same way,” Allred said.

CASHMERE

While the Bulldogs continue to try to get over the Royal hump, they’ve dominated everybody else, and return plenty from last year’s lineup.

SCAC Defensive Player of the Year Grey Jacobson is back from a unit that didn’t give up a point the first month of the season. Seven other starters return on defense, including all-state linebacker Jacoby Tait.

Cashmere is filling several holes on offense, including quarterback Rylan Hatmaker, who earned first-team all-SCAC honors before heading to Central Washington.

Bremer is confident in those who are stepping up.

“It’s the next-man-up mentality,” he said. “We have the right nucleus that has the recipe.”

Three-sport standout Mac Carlson is set to take the quarterbacking reins. After getting reps in the many lopsided football wins, he was a first-team all-conference pick in basketball and baseball.

“He’s a very trustworthy kid you don’t have to worry about,” Bremer said of his new quarterback. “The thing we love about Mac is that he plays other sports and he’s a limelight guy.”

Sophomore running back Jayce McMahon is expected to make a big leap this season for a team that has advanced to the state quarterfinals or beyond in four straight seasons.

“The thing we talk a lot about is building a legacy,” Bremer said. “The way you do that is to have deep playoff runs.”

ZILLAH

The Leopards return a strong core led by its juniors as they try to return to the playoffs after falling in the regional round a season ago.

With 11th-graders Beau Donahoe (QB), Maverick Myers (RB), Jace Salme (WR) and Brayden Russell (do-it-all) manning the skilled positions, Zillah appears stacked.

“If we can get out of our conference, I like our chances against anybody around the state,” Zillah coach Ryan Watson said. 

“Hopefully, by the end of the season, we’re healthy and get a good matchup.”

Up front, Zillah has a few returning starters led by two-way all-league picj Emmanuel Fernandez.

WAPATO

A year ago, the Wolves battled past Cascade to earn its way into the play-in round of the 1A playoffs.

This year, they’re looking for more.

Coach Ray Reyes has helped beef up turnout for the program, which has three or more victories the last three seasons after six combined wins in the preceding seven seasons.

All-conference tailback Buddy Lopez leads the offense, and the defense returns seven starters.

CONNELL

Scott Forsyth, who was the football coach and athletic director, has departed and is now at Royal.

New AD Mike Don, a Prosser alum, tapped former Othello player Micah Gilles to lead the Eagles.

Standout quarterback Hunter Vanhollebeke and top target Max Anderson have graduated, but Connell returns two-way standout Adam Mauia and stellar receiver Ben Naef to help the transition.

NACHES VALLEY

The Rangers went from winless in 2024 to 5-5 last season, and a state play-in contest.

Naches Valley plans to keep it going.

“We’re not only trying to maintain but take the next step with the momentum that we got back last year,” Rangers coach Matt Keeler said.

A group of nine seniors will lead the way, including all-SCAC lineman James Allan.

Starting quickly will be key, with a back half of a conference schedule that includes Royal, Cashmere and Zillah.

“I’m optimistic that we can get some of the momentum going, and then we run into the buzzsaw,” Keeler said.

COLLEGE PLACE

The Hawks went from 5-5 overall and 4-4 in conference play in 2024, to 1-9 and 0-8 a season ago.

Injuries played into that, with standout running back Hayden Hafen limited to just a few games.

With seven starters back on offense and six on defense, College Place will try to claw its way back in the standings.

KIONA-BENTON

The Bears saved their best for last season, earning a victory against College Place in the season finale.

With 10 starters back on offense and 11 on defense, Kiona-Benton might notch its first win before late October this season.

WAHLUKE

Warriors coach Anfernee Cortez enters his seventh season leading the program, and could build from the front back.

Second-team all-SCAC offensive lineman Juan Cuevas – all 6-foot, 285 pounds of him – and 230-pounder defensive third-team Ramiro Gonzales return, as does longtime running back and defensive back Franco Perez.