ANACORTES – When the schedule came out, few predicted that this week-nine matchup would pit two undefeated teams playing for the Conference Championship. As the season unfolded, this became the game that everyone around Whatcom and Skagit County were wanting to see.
It proved to be a great contest as Lynden outdueled Anacortes 23-13 at Seahawk Stadium on Friday night to win it’s fifth straight Conference Championship.
The Seahawks possessed the ball for most of the first quarter, including a 15-play 80-yard drive to open the game. A good mix of runs and passes led Anacortes down the field, and sophomore Brady Beaner scored the first touchdown of the game on a 5-yard run.
The Lions then drove down the field, but came up short when Beaner intercepted a pass in the end zone.
Lynden then gave Anacortes a dose of their own medicine when a deep Seahawk pass was intercepted at the goal line by senior safety Kobe Baar.
The Lions then drove 90 yards on 10 plays, which culminated in a perfectly thrown pass by sophomore Brant Heppner which found senior wide receiver Isaiah Stanley in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown pass. Troy Petz’s extra point tied the game, 7-7.
After forcing a Seahawk punt, Lynden drove 71 yards on 12 plays. An play number 13, it proved to be unlucky for the Lions as senior defensive back Hayden John stepped in front of the Lion pass at his own six-yard line and raced 94 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Collin Anker blocked the extra point, and Anacortes led 13-6 with less than a minute to go until halftime.
Stanley returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards, and that was followed up by a 25-yard pitch-and-catch from Heppner to Stanley, which set up a 36-yard field goal attempt by Petz just before halftime. The kick had plenty of distance, but sailed wide.
The Lions opened up the second half receiving the football, and put together a classic Lynden drive that took up a lot of time, covered a lot of yards and this time on the 13th play of the drive, senior running back Lane Heeringa scored from a yard out. Petz’s extra point gave Lynden a 14-13 lead.
Anacortes was then faced with a 4th-and-2 on its own 29-yard line. The Seahawks elected to go for it, but the fly sweep was sniffed out right away by Baar who flew up from his safety position to make the stop and give the ball back to his team.
The Lions took advantage of the short field and senior quarterback Kaedan Hermanutz scored on a 2-yard touchdown run seven plays later. The extra point was blocked, which kept Lynden’s lead at seven points, 20-13.
Anacortes put together another strong drive, this time getting into the red zone, but it was all for not as Petz intercepted a pass at the goal line and returned it 27 yards. Lynden used the momentum to lean on it’s opponent and push the ball down the field methodically.
Petz finished the drive when he kicked a 25-yard field goal with 2:38 left in the game.
The Seahawks failed to pick up another first down, and gave the ball up on downs.
Heppner led Lynden on the ground (82 yards) and in the air (81 yards) for the game, while Stanley led his team in receiving with 86 yards on four receptions.
Heeringa had another huge game defensively, this time with 12.5 tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback sack.
The Lions (9-0) will be off next week, and they will wait to see who their opponent will be in the first round of the Class 2A State Playoffs.
Lynden 23 Anacortes 13 LYN 0 7 13 3 - 23 ANA 7 6 0 0 - 13 ANA - Bra. Beaner 5 run (Barton kick) LYN - Stanley 18 pass from Heppner (Petz kick) ANA - John 94 interception return (kick blocked) LYN - Heeringa 1 run (Petz kick) LYN - Hermanutz 2 run (kick blocked) LYN - Petz 25 FG
LYN ANA 48-269 Rush Att-Yards 25-107 7-11-2 Comp-Att-Int 16-24-2 157 Passing Yards 142 Individual Leaders RUSHING - LYN: Heppner 13-82, Nolte 9-78, Heeringa 16-55, Hermanutz 10-54. ANA: N/A. PASSING - LYN: Hermanutz 4-7-2-76, Heppner 3-4-0-81. ANA: N/A. RECEIVING - LYN: Stanley 4-86, Petz 1-38, Baar 1-25, Heeringa 1-8. ANA: N/A.
Grammatically, it’s is the contraction of it is; its is the possessive form of it. In both instances you should have used its, not it’s.
Otherwise, it’s a nicely written article.