SIMI VALLEY — Royal’s dynamic and deep backfield was already a major reason why the Highlanders had started the season 4-0, including three wins by more than 30 points. Now, they have their star back.
In his second game back from a hamstring injury he suffered running track in the spring, Royal senior Landen Murray appeared to be back in top form, rushing for 81 yards and three touchdowns while catching two passes for nearly 100 yards and another touchdown to help lead the Highlanders to a dominant 49-12 win over Glendale at home Friday.
“Physically I’m there, but mentally I’ve been dealing with this injury for so long that it’s like I just needed to get out there, get some reps, get a sweat in and just go out there,” said Murray, who rushed for 749 yards and eight touchdowns last season. “So, for me, not even about the touchdowns, but just getting the work in with the guys and being able to play at game speed, it’s everything to me.”
Though Murray took the lead Friday, Royal’s full backfield was on display in Friday’s nonleague contest as Josh Garcia rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns of his own, Landon Shaffer scored on the ground as well and Joey Salazar rushed for over 120 yards.
“We have a 1-2-3-4-5 set that I can’t be more proud of,” interim Royal Head Coach Cody MacArthur said.
In the rare instances where the Highlanders (5-0) needed to turn to the air, quarterback Preston Murray delivered, completing all four of his passes for 158 yards, including a clutch 25-yard toss on fourth-and-long in the first half and a 64-yard touchdown pass to Murray in the second.
Many of those big throws came in play action, when Royal’s motion- and deception-heavy offensive style shined most. MacArthur said that, at times, the referees and team film crews can even get confused by how fluid the offense is moving. Glendale coach Manuel Lemus said their execution made it difficult for his defense.
“Even watching it on film, there was really no tendency as far as who’s getting the ball. They really spread the ball,” Lemus said. “So, you don’t know what to expect.”
Dynamiters star running back Arman Papazyan was kept quiet for much of the first half, rushing for less than 30 yards and a touchdown, but was able to break out in the second half with a 61-yard touchdown and multiple long kick returns to provide a spark for Glendale (2-5). He finished with 140 yards on 21 carries.
However, by that point, Royal’s strong defensive line play, led by Skylar Batchelor who got in the backfield multiple times and blocked an extra point, had kept Papazyan limited long enough to cruise to victory.
“We scouted them out. We knew No. 2. … So, we were ready for him,” MacArthur said of Papazyan, who had rushed for 1,130 yards and 12 touchdowns over Glendale’s first six games. “I mean, that guy doesn’t go down. You hit him, but if you don’t wrap that kid up, he’s impressive. He looks like a high-level kid.”
At points early on, efforts to limit Papazyan led to some openings in the passing game for Glendale. After Royal missed a field goal on its second drive, the Dynamiters drove 80 yards to pull close at 7-6 thanks to multiple big passes from Glendale quarterback Allen Joshua Corwin and two Highlander offsides penalties.
However, two Corwin interceptions and a fumble hurt Glendale’s chances at a comeback as Royal scored on every remaining possession, outside of a one-play drive that concluded the first half.
Overall, Corwin finished with 108 yards on 9-for-18 passing. Royal’s Anthony Ramos and Rishabh Sharma made the interceptions.
“There’s a lot of room for improvement right now,” Lemus said of his team that had won two straight games heading into Friday. “What’s also important is we need to rest. I mean, we’ve been at it since double Week 0. So, we need a break.”
The game wrapped up nonleague play for both teams. Glendale is heading into back-to-back bye weeks before beginning league play against Temple City on Oct. 16, while Royal will get an earlier start to league play against Santa Paula next Friday.
“I am so confident,” Landen Murray said when asked about how he is feeling going into league play. “Tonight, we enjoy the win. But tomorrow morning, we’re back to work.”