King’s Way postseason-bound after 33-7 win over Castle Rock

When Ryan Charlton and Jace Barnes were freshmen, the King’s Way football team struggled through a winless season one year after the program didn’t play in 2020

On their home field Friday after a 33-7 win over Castle Rock, the seniors marveled at how far King’s Way has come since.

Not only was Friday’s win the first over Castle Rock for the senior class, it wrapped up a Class 1A postseason berth for the second time in three years.

There was no secret formula for the success that the King’s Way Christian football team has relied on.

“At the end of the day it just comes down to work,” Charlton said. “We put in the work and keep getting better every year.”

Hard work and a defense that on Friday forced five turnovers and held the Rockets scoreless after the first quarter.

“It’s just a bunch of dawgs on that side,” said Barnes, who plays linebacker. “I’ve been growing up with them since freshman year. It’s nothing but companionship and being physical on the football field.”

Owen Paulsen threw for 221 yards and three touchdowns, two to Asher Wyckoff. He also connected on a 51-yard touchdown to Caleb Silva.

If King’s Way (5-3, 3-3) beats winless Fort Vancouver in next week’s regular-season finale, the Knights will be no worse than the Trico League’s No. 4 seed to the postseason. King’s Way could find itself in a three-way tie for third if Castle Rock knocks off Kalama.

Castle Rock (5-3, 3-3) is also playoff-bound by virtue of the eight-team Trico League having five of District 4’s eight postseason berths. The five-team Evergreen Conference gets the other three berths.

Castle Rock struck first when Trevor Rogen hit Aiden Mead in stride for a 65-yard touchdown.

But King’s Way responded on the following drive when Paulsen found Wyckoff for a touchdown on third and goal from the 6-yard line.

The Knights’ best deep-play threat gave his team a 13-6 lead just before halftime. Silva got behind his defender and hauled in a touchdown pass for the fourth consecutive game.

Charlton extended the lead to 19-7 on an 11-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He finished with 117 yards for his third 100-yard rushing performance in the past four games.

King’s Way padded the lead in the fourth quarter when Wyckoff hauled in a 31-yard touchdown pass. Barnes, who entered Friday with just seven carries this season, capped the scoring with a 2-yard run shortly after he broke off a 42-yard run.

KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN 33, CASTLE ROCK 7

Castle Rock 7 0 0 0—7

King’s Way 0 13 6 14—33

First quarter

CR – Aiden Mead 65 pass from Trevor Rogen (Triston Olin kick)

Second quarter

KW – Asher Wyckoff 6 pass from Owen Paulsen (Caleb Silva kick)

KW – Caleb Silva 51 pass from Paulsen (kick failed)

Third quarter

KW – Ryan Charlton 11 run (pass failed)

Fourth quarter
KW – Wyckoff 31 pass from Paulsen (Silva kick)

KW – Jace Barnes 2 run (Silva kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Castle Rock: Dionicio Guzman-Cruz 12-94, Trevor Rogen 10-18, Jacob Lefever 2-14, Thatcher Heller 1-2, Owen Langdon 3-25. King’s Way: Ryan Charlton 19-117, Jace Barnes 5-70, Owen Paulsen 4-0, Grayson Bagley 1-(minus-3).

PASSING – Castle Rock: Trevor Rogen 14-31-1-141. King’s Way: Owen Paulsen 17-34-2-221.

RECEIVING – Castle Rock: Jacob Lefever 4-62, Thatcher Heller 3-14, Landon Fulton 3-35, Owen Langdon 1-4, Aiden Mead 2-76, Dionicio Guzman-Cruz 1-0. King’s Way: Asher Wyckoff 5-66, Ryan Charlton 4-33, Caleb Silva 2-59, Sam Somarakis 3-37, Rylan Richter 1-10, Mitchell Roane 1-4, Grayson Bagley 1-5.