FERNDALE – In an evenly matched football game, it comes down to the smallest plays that can make all the difference in the world. In Whatcom County’s biggest football rivalry, a pass broken up in the end zone by Ferndale sophomore corner back Damien Toney just before halftime and a 4th-down stop by Golden Eagle junior middle linebacker Jazen Guillory were those moments as Ferndale beat Lynden 28-19 on Friday night.
The Golden Eagles did a fantastic job of balancing their running attack with their three superb backs. It was classic Ferndale, as all 299 yards of total offense was picked up on the ground.
Sophomore Isaiah Carlson led the way with 125 yards on 16 carries, junior scat-back Thomas Broselle’s quick feet picked up 97 dazzling yards on 11 carries and the bruising junior fullback Ryan Pelton pounded his way up the middle for 81 yards on 16 carries.
Not only were the rushing attempts evenly distributed, but all three players scored a touchdown (with Pelton scoring twice), and the Golden Eagles scored a touchdown in each quarter of the game.
The Lions were able to run the ball effectively as well, with senior quarterback Baylor Ayres picking up 103 yards on 25 carries and senior running back Caleb Wheeler finished with 93 yards on 16 carries, as well as a pair of touchdowns.
With time running out in the game, Lynden was forced to throw more often, and Ayres led a 96-yard drive at the end of the game, with most of the damage coming through the air. He eventually found wide receiver Isaiah Stanley for a 20-yard touchdown as time expired. The emerging sophomore led the Lions in receiving with six catches for 63 yards.
Ayres completed 14-of-27 passes for 165 yards and the late touchdown.
Guillory led an attacking Ferndale defense with 14 solo tackles and a pass knocked down. Sophomore defensive linemen Jake Mason and Landen Hatchett were also extremely disruptive and made multiple plays at, or behind, the line of scrimmage.
Lynden senior defensive lineman Carter Van Diest had a team-high 8.5 tackles, including a tackle for loss, while linebackers Connor White and Taivin VanDalen combined for 14.5 tackles.
The Golden Eagles (2-0) will travel to Sehome (2-0) to take on the Mariners on Friday at 7:00. The Lions (1-1) will take on Squalicum (2-0) this Friday at Civic Stadium at 7:00.
Lynden 19
Ferndale 28
LYN 6 0 7 6 – 19
FER 7 7 7 7 – 28
FER – Pelton 1 run (Werth kick)
LYN – Wheeler 9 run (kick failed)
FER – Broselle 10 run (Werth kick)
LYN – Wheeler 9 run (Petz kick)
FER – Carlson 4 run (Werth kick)
FER – Pelton 1 run (Werth kick)
LYN – Stanley 20 pass from Ayres (no conversion attempted)
LYN FER
41-196 Rushing Att-Yards 45-299
14-27-0 Comp-Att-Int 0-3-0
165 Passing yards 0
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – LYN: Ayres 25-103, Wheeler 16-93. FER: Carlson 16-125, Broselle 11-97, Pelton 16-81, Rasmussen 2-(-4).
PASSING – LYN: Ayres 14-27-0-165. FER: Rasmussen 0-3-0-0.
RECEIVING – LYN: Stanley 6-63, Slayton 4-48, Jacob 2-34, Wheeler 1-12, Antypas 1-8. FER: None.
