LYNDEN – Hopefully it won’t take another 28 and a half years to play each other again, as the Lynden Christian and Lynden football teams engaged in a gridiron battle that was reminiscent of a state playoff game.
After LC held a 21-0 lead early in the third quarter, the Lions roared back with 21 points of their own, but eventually fell to the Lyncs 28-21 at Rollie DeKoster Field on Tuesday night.
The Lyncs got off to a fast start, driving down the field with relative ease on the their first possession, which ended on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Logan Dykstra to Cole Moorlag. Moorlag’s corner route was ran perfectly, and Dykstra’s timing couldn’t have been better as the ball was already in the air before Moorlag turned to look for it.
Dykstra then hit Shale Whittern on a 12-yard touchdown pass on the following drive, and it looked like it could get out of hand early. But, Lynden made some adjustments, and definitely wouldn’t give up that easy.
With the score 14-0 in the second quarter, the Lions were able to get into the red zone, but were turned away when Lynden Christian junior cornerback Sam Penner intercepted a pass in the end zone. It was just the fifth interception thrown by Baylor Ayres in his entire career (over 200 pass attempts).
LC had a chance to score at the end of the half, but Jackson Apol’s 35-yard field goal attempt came up a few yards short, and LC went into the visiting locker room with a 14-0 halftime lead.
The Lions had the opening possession of the second half, but a strip sack by Dykstra gave the ball back to the Lyncs at the Lynden-20 yard line. Dykstra also made the recovery. One play later, the 6-foot-5 215-pound senior found Moorlag for another touchdown. Apol’s extra point made it 21-0, and all the momentum was with the Lyncs.
It didn’t last long.
The ensuing kickoff was received by Lynden senior Caleb Wheeler, who then returned it through the LC special teams and 73 yards later, scored a touchdown. Troy Petz’s low extra point kick was blocked, but the Lions’ momentum was starting to build.
And, what could really flip the tables in this already emotionally-played football game following a kick return for a touchdown? How about an onside kick?
Petz approached the ball like normal, but lightly kicked it up the field, sprinted after it and recovered it at the Lync 47-yard line. A brilliant call by Lynden coach Blake VanDalen, as far as timing goes, as well as knowing his personnel, recognizing Petz is one of the fastest players on his team.
Lynden’s power run-game started to really come into form at this point, as Wheeler and Ayres ran hard behind left tackle James Sorenson, left guard Christian Bethea and center Matthew Furdyk. Ayres was able to punch it in from two yards out, and we had a one-score game.
The Lion defense was also able to take hold, and forced LC to punt on the following drive (the Lyncs’ third punt of the game, after coming into the contest without punting all season). For the third drive in a row, the Lions were able to move the ball well, and this time it was Ayres that found sophomore wide receiver Campbell Nolte on a 14-yard touchdown to make the score 21-19. It was a heck of a way for Nolte to record his first varsity reception.
Lynden knew it had to go for two at this point, and Coach VanDalen inserted backup quarterback Kaeden Hermanutz in as the slot receiver. It was shades of 1992, when the original “Hermy Special” was created with Aaron Hermanutz tossing a deep touchdown against Lynden Christian after running a reverse from the slot receiver position. In this generational moment, it was Kaeden, Aaron’s son, who took the pitch from Wheeler on the reverse, and he found Ayres in the end zone to tie the game up at 21.
What most didn’t know at this moment was that Lynden Christian had been holding back its secret weapon. The fourth quarter was about to begin, and the Lyncs hadn’t handed the ball off to a running back all game. Dykstra had ran the ball a handful of times, and they had ran a few fly sweeps. Speedy senior David Bootsma was as fresh a daisy, and it was time for him to show his speed and running ability.
Bootsma began the fourth quarter with multiple first down runs, and there was little that could be done to slow him down. LC was able to move the ball down the field, and eventually scored what would be the game-winning touchdown on a pass play from Dykstra to junior Caleb Ryan from eight yards out.
Ryan had his best game of the year, catching five passes for 57 yards, and he came into the game as the only LC player with experience against Lynden at the varsity level. As a tight end for Sehome last season, he caught seven passes for 105 and a touchdown against Lynden at Civic Stadium.
The Lions would get as close as the LC 27-yard line late in the fourth quarter, but a third down quarterback sack by senior linebacker Cody Bajema backed Lynden up five yards. Bajema then pressured Ayres again on fourth down, and Ayres’ desperation pass fell incomplete.
The Lyncs then used the fresh feet of Bootsma, and the power running supplied by Dykstra, to run out the clock. Bootsma finished with 91 yards rushing on just eight carries, all in the fourth quarter.
Dykstra had another wonderful game, completing 18-of-29 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns. He has now thrown 16 touchdowns on the season, and hasn’t thrown an interception. But, his biggest contribution to the game might have been on defense where he had 8.5 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble a fumble recovery and an interception from his defensive end spot.
Wheeler again led the Lions in rushing with 123 yards on 23 carries.
The Lyncs (4-0) will finish out the season by playing their first game at home on Saturday against Mount Baker (5-0). Lynden (3-2) will host Sehome (3-1) on Saturday. Both game will be at 7:00.
Lynden Christian 28
Lynden 21
LC 14 0 7 7 – 28
LYN 0 0 21 0 – 21
LC – Moorlag 8 pass from Dykstra (Apol kick)
LC – Whittern 12 pass from Dykstra (Apol kick)
LC – Moorlag 20 pass from Dykstra (Apol kick)
LYN – Wheeler 73 kickoff return (kick blocked)
LYN – Ayres 3 run (Petz kick)
LYN – Nolte 14 pass from Ayres (Ayres pass from Hermanut)
LC – Ryan 8 pass from Dykstra (Apol kick)
LC LYN
26-135 Rushing Att-Yards 52-200
18-29-0 Comp-Att-Int 7-20-2
229 Passing yards 70
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – LC: Da. Bootsma 8-91, Dykstra 15-27, Sipma 2-13, Apol 1-4. LYN: Wheeler 23-123, Ayres 29-77.
PASSING – LC: Dykstra 18-29-0-229. LYN: Ayres 7-20-2-70.
RECEIVING – LC: Moorlag 5-60, Ryan 5-57, Whittern 4-60, Apol 1-17, Sterk 1-14, Sipma 1-13, Bajema 1-8. LYN: Stanley 4-51, Nolte 1-14, Jacob 1-6, Wheeler 1-(-1).
Great write up Tyler! love the history! +++
Now that’s an awesome write up on an awesome game! WTG Tyler!