PLAYOFF-BOUND ROYAL, MORRIS RUN PAST SIMI VALLEY ROYAL 42, SIMI VALLEY 8.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Royal High offensive lineman Matt Augusta hoisted running back Greg Morris on his shoulders as teammates chanted, ``Morris, Morris!''

It was an appropriate gesture, since Morris carried the team on his shoulders in its rivalry game against Simi Valley.

Morris ran for 145 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead the Highlanders to a 42-8 rout over the Pioneers Friday at Royal. The Highlanders advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1994.

``It's a great reward for these kids,'' coach Gene Uebelhardt said. ``This was their goal. The fact that we have only four seniors starting shows we should be there making a run like we did in the early 90s.''

Royal improved to 6-3-1 and 3-2-1 in the Marmonte League while Simi Valley (0-10, 0-6) remained winless.

Morris, a junior, topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Morris scored touchdowns on runs of 5, 1 and 4 yards. He had several long runs to set up his own scores.

``It was the line,'' Morris said. ``They had a couple games - the last two - where they were a little edgy and not doing great. But they came out tonight and blew them off the ball. They gave me 1,000 yards.''

And Simi Valley came out as though the game was going to be a game, much as rivalries should be.

The Pioneers marched 66 yards in 10 plays and scored on fourth-and-goal in the opening series. Chris DeLung patiently followed his blocker, Adam Smylie, and scored form 4 yards out. He also ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 Pioneers lead.

DeLung had 87 yards on 28 carries. But that was about all the offense Simi Valley had.

Simi Valley scored first, but Royal answered with 42 consecutive points and the defense posted a shutout the rest of the way.

``Every game we come out pretty soft,'' Morris said. ``We came back after that series and played hard. After (our) first drive, I didn't have any doubts. I was pretty mad about those eight points.''

Uebelhardt, who was given a Gatorade shower, thought Simi Valley's early touchdown helped his team.

``It was good for us to see that off the bat,'' Uebelhardt said. ``It got our guys to realize, `Oh, we're actually going to have to play.' ''

And that they did.

Robert Davis scored from 2 yards out on an end-around to put Royal up 35-8 late in the third quarter.