LYNDEN – The Lions scored 24 points in the first quarter, and cruised to a 50-8 win over Lakewood at Rollie DeKoster Field on Friday night.
Lynden went right to run game to begin the contest, and finished its first drive with a 29-yard touchdown run off left tackle by junior running back Max Assink.
After forcing a punt, the Lions drove into the red zone but ultimately stalled and had to settle for a 24-yard field goal by sophomore Malachi Koenen.
That would be far from the last time Koenen was heard from in the opening quarter. He quickly intercepted a Lakewood pass on the following possession, which gave way to a 2-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Brant Heppner, behind a echoing block from Koenen.
The 5-foot-9 200-pound sophomore then intercepted another pass on the next drive, and this time Coach Blake VanDalen called Koenen’s number at the goal line and he punched it through for six points.
After his extra point was made, Lynden held a 24-0 lead, and Koenen had scored half of them, while also picking off two passes, and the game hadn’t gotten into the second quarter yet.
Heppner let it loose in the second quarter, and found junior wide receiver Dani Bowler on a fly pattern in which he streaked past two defenders to haul in a 78-yard touchdown pass.
Assink then grabbed his second touchdown of the game, and the Cougars scored their lone touchdown on a 21-yard pass over the middle late in the second quarter.
The Lions led 37-8 at the half.
Lakewood attempted some trickery on the second half kickoff return with a misdirection handoff, but the ball was fumbled deep in Cougar territory and senior Parker Williams flew in like a missile to land on the unclaimed pigskin.
Lynden’s offense couldn’t make much of the short field and opted for the 42-yard field goal by Koenen.
Assink then scored his third touchdown of the game later in the quarter, and he finished with a career-high 135 yard rushing on 17 carries. His previous best was 129 yard which came last season against Lakewood.
If Koenen’s amazing first quarter wasn’t enough, he went for history later in the third. By connecting on a 25-yard field goal he became the first player in school history to make three field goals in a single game, and his 14 kicking points broke the Whatcom County record for a single game.
Williams led the defensive charge, which allowed just 16 yards rushing on 14 carries. He finished with five tackles, one tackle for loss, one quarterback sack and a fumble recovery.
Lynden (7-1) will travel to Burlington-Edison (4-4) on Friday to take on the Tigers at 7:00.
Lynden 50 Lakewood 8 LAK 0 8 0 0 - 8 LYN 24 13 13 0 - 50 LYN - Assink 29 run (Mal. Koenen kick) LYN - Mal. Koenen 24 FG LYN - Heppner 2 run (Mal. Koenen kick) LYN - Mal. Koenen 1 run (Mal. Koenen kick) LYN - Bowler 78 pass from Heppner (kick failed) LYN - Assink 12 run (Mal. Koenen kick) LAK - 21 yard touchdown pass (2pt run good) LYN - Mal. Koenen 42 FG LYN - Assink 1 run (Mal. Koenen kick) LYN - Mal. Koenen 25 FG LAK LYN 14-16 Rush Att-Yards 37-235 16-37-2 Comp-Att-Int 11-22-0 224 Passing Yards 229 Individual Leaders RUSHING - LAK: N/A. LYN: Assink 17-135, Lalji 6-45, Mar. Koenen 3-21, D. VanDalen 1-12, Mendoza-Batey 3-8, Lopez 1-8, Heppner 4-3, Mal. Koenen 2-3. PASSING - LAK: N/A. LYN: Heppner 11-22-0-229. RECEIVING - LAK: N/A. LYN: Oudman 7-85, Bowler 3-137, Assink 1-7.
