ROY -- It's been a long time coming for the Royals.
736 days to be exact.
Roy built an 18-3 first half lead over visiting Clearfield before holding on for an 18-16 homecoming victory. It was Roy's first win since defeating Weber 17-14 September 5, 2008, snapping a 20-game losing skid.
"I couldn't be prouder," Roy coach Ron Koford said. "These kids have overcome things that no one should have to overcome. They lost their coach 16 days before the first game and some of these guys haven't won since they were sophomores. (The assistant coaches) and the boys get the credit."
The star of the game was Braden Gregg. The senior picked off two passes in the first half, returning one 90 yards for a touchdown. He also recovered a fumble at the Roy 10 with Clearfield threatening late in the third quarter and caught two third-and-long passes -- one for 17 yards and the other for 32 -- with the Royals trying to run out the clock in the final minutes.
Roy, which had been outscored 105-6 in its first three games coming in, drove 67 yards down the field on its first possession. Jake Trujillo capped off the drive with a two-yard plunge to make it 6-0.
The Falcons countered with an Austin Warner field goal from 36 yards out as time expired in the first quarter, but the Royals took control in the second period, scoring a pair of touchdowns in the final four minutes.
First, Hunter Grimes took a pitch to the right side and cut back across the field, scoring on a 68-yard run. Then, with Clearfield driving at the Roy 20 in the final seconds of the first half, Gregg stepped in front of Dereck Winslow's throw at the 10 for a pick-six.
The Falcons came out energized in the second half and made a game of it, shutting down Roy's ground attack. With 6:29 to play in the third quarter, Andrei Magee scored from three yards out, but an unsuccessful two-point attempt kept the score 18-9, leaving Roy with a two-possession advantage.
The Falcons had a chance to inch closer, but committed their third turnover of the game from at the Roy six on a fumble. With 3:37 to play, Clearfield cut the deficit to 18-16 on a six-yard run from Winslow, however Roy's two key third down conversions on its ensuing possession sealed the game, setting off a celebration on the field.
Magee led all rushers with 153 yards on 25 carries.
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