BY MAKAYLA SPARKS – for Whatcom Preps
SEDRO-WOOLLEY – In game that many saw as a precursor for the playoffs, the fans were not disappointed. The Lynden Lions scored their winning points with no time on the clock in their 29-28 victory over the Sedro-Woolley Cubs.
The Cubs received the opening kickoff, but the Lions defense made the first noise of the game, forcing a punt. After receiving the ball on their own 11 yard line, Lynden powered down the field on their first drive, including the first long pass of the game, when Lynden junior quarterback Brant Heppner connected with senior receiver Cooper Moore which picked up 51 yards.
With five minutes to go in the first, Heppner rushed into the end zone from three yards to put the first points on the board. A successful extra point give the Lions the advantage, 7-0.
The Lions touchdown, however, didn’t go unanswered. A little over two minutes later, Sedro-Woolley senior quarterback Carsten Reynolds scored his team’s first points on a 52 yard run. The Cubs successful extra point, left the end of the quarter in a 7-7 tie.
Neither team let up pressure heading into the second quarter, as Sedro-Woolley struck again. The Cubs scored another rushing touchdown from nine yards out and took the lead 14-7.
Lynden answered back with a seven-minute drive which ended in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Heppner to senior receiver Brady Elsner. The Lions held the Cubs out of the end zone for the rest of the half, and the game sat tied 14-14 at half time.
After receiving the ball to start the third quarter, Lynden punted it back to Sedro-Woolley. Four and half minutes later, the Cubs scored from two yards out on yet another rushing touchdown, gaining the lead once again, 21-14.
As the chess match continued between the two teams, the Lions proved to still be an issue for Sedro-Woolley. They converted an important fourth down on their next drive and set themselves up to tie the game one last time.
With a minute left in the third, Heppner found Elsner for his second 12-yard touchdown pass. The Lions saw a shed of light on defense when Elsner recovered a Cub fumble that was forced by junior outside linebacker Isaiah Oudman, but it was quickly diminished when Reynolds grabbed his first of two interceptions.
The third quarter ended, 21-21.
With only one more quarter of play left, both teams found themselves riddled by injuries and without some key pieces. Sedro-Woolley was up to the challenge as Reynolds rushed for his second touchdown from a yard out with 8:26 left on the clock. Three minutes later, he picked off his second interception of the night.
Just when it felt like Sedro-Woolley had the game in hand, Lynden had a little more gas in the tank.
The Lions received the Cub punt with 2:12 to go in the game. Down a running back, receiver, and lineman, the Lions put together a series of quick passes, and moved down the field at an impressive speed, but two offsides penalties seemed to halted them as they were staring at a 1st and 20.
Moments later, Heppner found Elsner for their third touchdown connection of the game as the clock ran down to zero. With no time left, the score sitting 28-27 for the Cubs and only the extra point attempt to decide the game’s fate, the Lynden coaching staff chose to go for the two point conversation.
“We were blessed to be in that situation, so we weren’t going to sit back,” Lions head coach Blake VanDalen commented after the game.
With the game on the line, Heppner faked one pass before letting the real one go. Headed for sophomore receiver, Dani Bowler in the corner of the end zone, the pass was exactly where it needed to be. Bowler secured the ball and the comeback, sending his team home victorious.
With the two points added, the final score was 29-28 for the Lions.
“I tip my hat. That’s a great team we just played,” said VanDalen. “I can’t predict the future, but I would bet that we’ll see each other again. They’ve got some amazing players.”
Offensively Lynden was led by Heppner, who rushed for 68 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown. He also completed 19 of 36 pass attempts for 206 yards and three touchdowns.. Senior running back Luke Human had 42 yards on nine carries.
In the receiving game, Lynden was led by Elsner (11 catches for 85 yards and 3 touchdowns) and Moore (three receptions for 62 yards).
Next week, the Lions (3-1) head back home to take on the Sehome Mariners (3-1) on Friday, September 29, at 7pm.
Lynden 29 Sedro-Woolley 28 LYN 7 7 7 8 - 29 SW 7 7 7 7 - 28 LYN - Heppner 3 run (Koenen kick) SW - 52 yard touchdown run (kick good) SW - 10 yard touchdown run (kick good) LYN - Elsner 12 pass from Heppner (Koenen kick) SW - 2 yard touchdown run (kick good) LYN - Elsner 12 pass from Heppner (Koenen kick) SW - 1 yard touchdown run (kick good) LYN - Elsner 5 pass from Heppner (Bowler pass from Heppner) LYN SW 34-135 Rush Att-Yards 43-287 19-36-2 Comp-Att-Int 5-10-0 206 Passing Yards 51 Individual Leaders RUSHING - LYN: Heppner 19-68, Human 9-42, Ayres 4-20, M. Assink 2-5. SW: N/A. PASSING - LYN: Heppner 19-36-2-206. SW: N/A. RECEIVING - LYN: Elsner 11-85, Moore 3-62, Bowler 2-30, Oudman 1-15, VanDalen 1-8, Ayres 1-6. SW: N/A.
