BY JEFF WOOD – For Whatcom Preps
BLAINE – The Lynden Christian Lyncs have been battle tested by their difficult regular season schedule and were rewarded with a home playoff game in the 1A State Playoffs by the WIAA.
Those tough games earlier in the year paid dividends as the Lyncs forged through the wind and the rain at Blaine High School to beat the Cascade Christian Cougars 40-14 on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams’ defenses controlled the game early on as the elements made it difficult to get much offense going.
A Judah Calvin fumble recovery was quickly given back to Cascade Christan by the Lyncs as the wet pigskin and playoff nerves got the best of ballcarriers in the first quarter. Lynden Christian’s defense was not giving up much ground however, and four plays later the Lyncs’ offense started on their own 18 after a Cougar punt.
A steady dose of Hollis Owen runs mixed in with a 41-yard Eli Maberry to Boyce Robertson fade pass got the Lyncs down to the red zone. Lynden Christian’s salty offensive line then paved the way for a seven-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Chris Kooiman.
The Matthew Stipkala PAT split the uprights, and LC led 7-0 after one quarter of play.
The Lync defense continued to stuff the Cougars as they allowed only 32 total yards in the first half.
LC put together two touchdown drives in the second quarter as they were now moving with the wind. A Maberry to senior receiver Jayden Huleatt 6-yard touchdown pass was followed by a Robertson TD snag on a drive where he caught three passes for 64 yards.
As the teams went to their locker rooms and out of the elements at halftime, the score was Lynden Christian 21, Cascade Christian 0.
On Cascade Christian’s opening drive of the third quarter, LC’s Kooiman recovered a fumble only to have Maberry return the favor by throwing an interception. The Cougars then managed a first down but were denied their best scoring chance thus far when a 4th-and-6 pass fell incomplete on the LC 34-yard line.
Kooiman and his offensive line went to work as he rumbled 40 yards down the near sideline breaking a few tackles along the way. He quickly punctuated the drive with a 4-yard burst. After the kick went off the south upright, the Lync lead stood at 27-0.
Cascade Christian kept with its bread and butter, throwing the ball, and started to have some success. A 34-yard touchdown pass narrowed their deficit to 27-7 after three quarters of play.
LC continued with its balanced attack and hit a key screen pass to senior tight end Trey Bosman to extend its next drive. Bosman also secured a touchdown reception two plays later which put the game out of reach, the Lyncs now with a commanding 33-7 lead.
Both squads scored one more time as the intensity of the game didn’t drop off like the temperature did. Robertson punctuated the win with a 39-yard touchdown reception as the Lyncs finished off the Cougars by a margin of 40-14.
Coach Terpstra will take his Lyncs (7-4) over east of the mountains next Saturday to Royal City where they will play the defending State Champion Royal Knights (10-0) who had a bye into the round of eight.
Lynden Christian 40 Cascade Christian 14 CC 0 0 7 7 - 14 LC 7 14 6 13 - 40 LC - Kooiman 7 run (M. Stipkala kick) LC - Jay. Huleatt 6 pass from Maberry (Yun kick) LC - Robertson 3 pass from Maberry (M. Stipkala kick) LC - Kooiman 4 run (kick failed) CC - 34 yard touchdown pass (kick good) LC - Bosman 9 pass from Maberry (run failed) CC - 27 yard touchdown pass (kick good) LC - Robertson 39 pass from Maberry (Yun kick) CC LC 20-30 Rush Att-Yards 33-110 18-39-0 Comp-Att-Int 17-24-1 239 Passing Yards 228 Individual Leaders RUSHING - CC: N/A. LC: Kooiman 14-82, H. Owen 13-40, Maberry 6-(-12). PASSING - CC: N/A. LC: Maberry 17-24-1-228. RECEIVING - CC: N/A. LC: Robertson 8-160, Bosman 4-39, Veldman 2-11, Jay. Huleatt 2-10, Kooiman 1-8.
