LYNDEN – As both teams battled through a constant downpour of rain, Lynden Christian benefitted from forcing late turnovers and defeated Mount Baker 13-7 on Friday night.
The Lyncs began by forcing a Mountaineers punt, but then when attempting their first pass, the ball was tipped at the last second by Mount Baker senior Darius Gilstrap and intercepted by senior Luke Smith.
A quarterback sack by senior linebacker Hollis Owen put Mount Baker into a tough 2nd-and-16 situation, but the Mountaineers quickly flipped the field one play later when senior running back Brady Bruland ripped off a 49-yard run.
It was tough going after that, and Mount Baker was once again forced to punt.
The rest of the first half featured more punting, with both offenses having to battle both tough defenses as well as the elements. The Lyncs, however, was able to get deep into Mountaineers territory twice in the second quarter, but was turned away both times after not converting on fourth down.
The score remained tied at 0-0 at the half.
Lynden Christian took the second half kickoff, but was quickly forced to punt the ball away. Good fortune struck the Lyncs one play later as sophomore outside linebacker Chris Kooiman forced a fumble, and Owen fell on the ball immediately which set Lynden Christian up with great field position.
Three plays later, Kooiman scored the first touchdown of the game on a 10-yard run over right tackle, and the Lyncs led 7-0.
The Mountaineers were forced to punt once again, and it was shanked out of bounds to give Lynden Christian great field position once again. The Lyncs once again took advantage, and marched down the field and scored on a 16-yard pass from junior quarterback Eli Maberry to senior wide receiver Jayden Huleatt. The snap was low on the extra point, and unable to be converted, and the Lyncs then led 13-0.
Mount Baker then put together its biggest drive of the game, which featured a 24-yard run by Brice Cooper, and a 12-yard run by Kamden Moa, as the two juniors were giving the starting senior running backs a breather.
Moments later, on fourth-and-goal from the 10-yard line, Smith connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass to senior Dean Allred, and Mount Baker was now down 13-7 with 9:50 left in the game. It was the lone completed pass of the game for the Mountaineers.
The Lyncs were able to possess the ball for the vast majority of the fourth quarter, thanks to two Mount Baker fumbles that were recovered by the Lyncs. The fumbles were caused by Kooiman and Owen, and recovered by Jacob Penner and Kaden Veldman.
With 1:24 left in the game, Lynden Christian lined up for a 20-yard field goal which would have given the Lyncs a 9-point lead. The kick was missed, but a roughing the kicker penalty gave Lynden Christian a new set of downs, and after a few kneel downs, the game was over.
The Lyncs (4-3) will travel to Meridian (5-2) on Friday to take on the Trojans at 7:00, and the Mountaineers (4-3) will play their final conference game of the season on Friday when they host Blaine (5-2) at 7:00.
Lynden Christian 13 Mount Baker 7 MB 0 0 0 7 - 7 LC 0 0 13 0 - 13 LC - Kooiman 10 run (Penner kick) LC - Jay. Huleatt 16 pass from Maberry (run failed) MB - Allred 10 pass from L. Smith (E. Smith kick) MB LC 40-169 Rush Att-Yards 39-137 1-4-0 Comp-Att-Int 8-21-1 10 Passing Yards 111 Individual Leaders RUSHING - MB: Bruland 16-97, Cooper 6-37, D. Moa 9-19, K. Moa 3-14, L. Smith 3-2, Dugger 3-0. LC: Kooiman 13-68, H. Owen 9-29, Maberry 7-19, M. Owen 7-17, Johnson 3-4. PASSING - MB: L. Smith 1-4-0-10. LC: Maberry 8-21-1-111. RECEIVING - MB: Allred 1-10. LC: Robertson 4-79, Bosman 2-11, Jay. Huleatt 1-16, Hintz 1-5.
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