EVERETT – The Lions did it again, winning their fifth game in a row, and 28th straight Northwest Conference 2A matchup be defeating Archbishop Murphy 28-21 at Terry Ennis Stadium on Friday night.
The Wildcats proved to be a handful, and showed it from the opening kickoff which they returned 94 yards for a touchdown. Lynden returned the favor when sophomore Dani Bowler returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown, but they play was called back due to a penalty.
Following three straight running plays to begin the game, the Lions went to the air with junior quarterback Brant Heppner who launched a strike down the right sideline which hit senior Cooper Moore in stride at midfield who then took it the rest of the way untouched for a 70-yard touchdown.
Archbishop Murphy then drove 67 yards on 15 plays (14 of them on the ground), and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to regain the lead 14-7, which stood until the first quarter ended.
Another long pass from Heppner to Moore, this time down the middle of the field for 39 yards, aided Lynden on the following drive, which ended with a 1-yard plunge into the end zone by Heppner. Malachi Koenen’s extra point tied the game at 14-14.
The rhythmic scoring between the two powerful squads was broken when the Lions forced the Wildcats to punt near midfield, and when the snap skidded back to the punter, he mishandled it and was tackled for a loss by junior outside linebacker Isaiah Oudman.
Lynden took advantage of the short field and soon scored again when Heppner ran four yards behind a wall that was developed by senior left tackle Kuyper Assink and senior left guard Bennett Roorda.
Archbishop Murphy would score one more time in the second quarter, and the score was tied 21-21 at halftime.
The Lion defense came out with a different mentality in the second half, and shut the Wildcats out the rest of the way.
Moore led the way with 10 tackles, who normally plays cornerback, but against the run-heavy squad he played up in the box to give run support. He was aided by senior inside linebacker Charlie Ayres who racked up 9.5 tackles, as well as defensive linemen Jesse Stewart, Logan Ostry, Parker Williams and Assink, who each had stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Lynden would score its final touchdown of the game in the third quarter when Heppner threw a 2-yard jump pass over the line of scrimmage which found Oudman in the end zone.
The Wildcats threatened late, but a deep pass was intercepted by senior cornerback Brady Elsner which sealed the victory for Lynden.
The Lions (5-1) will host Burlington-Edison (0-5) on Saturday at 7:00.
Lynden 28
Archbishop Murphy 21
LYN 7 14 7 0 - 28
ATM 14 7 0 0 - 21
ATM - 94 yard kickoff return for a touchdown (kick good)
LYN - Moore 70 pass from Heppner (Koenen kick)
ATM - 1 yard touchdown run (kick good)
LYN - Heppner 1 run (Koenen kick)
LYN - Heppner 4 run (Koenen kick)
ATM - 5 yard touchdown run (kick good)
LYN - Oudman 2 pass from Heppner (Koenen kick)
LYN ATM
40-184 Rush Att-Yards 43-185
8-16-1 Comp-Att-Int 2-3-1
219 Passing Yards 16
Individual Leaders
RUSHING - LYN: M. Assink 15-81, Heppner 20-75, Ayres 5-28. ATM: N/A.
PASSING - LYN: Heppner 8-16-1-219. ATM: N/A.
RECEIVING - LYN: Moore 4-132, Oudman 2-37, Bowler 1-38, Elsner 1-12. ATM: N/A.
