LYNDEN – It didn’t start well for the Pioneers, as the opening kickoff return was fumbled and recovered by David Bootsma of Lynden Christian. It also didn’t end well for Nooksack Valley as the Lyncs defeated the Pioneers 34-6 at Lynden Christian High School on Friday night.
Although the Lyncs had just six more yards of total offense than the Pioneers, it was strong special teams play and a few turnovers that resulted in short fields that gave LC the advantage.
Lynden Christian capitalized on the opening play fumble when 6-foot-4 senior kicker Eli DenBleyker nailed a 29-yard field goal. Senior quarterback Trajan Schouten also hooked up with fellow senior Jackson Corkill on a 13-yard touchdown pass to close out the first quarter.
A strong drive by the Lyncs in the second quarter got them inside the Pioneer 5-yard line. Schouten then found senior running back Levi Korthuis wide open out of the backfield for a four yard touchdown.
The punishing LC defense gave up a few big plays, but mostly played with a “bend but don’t break” mentality, and it worked to perfection. Senior inside linebacker Will Faber was in on 12 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback sack. Junior outside linebacker Logan Dykstra had a great game as well with five solo tackles, four assisted tackles and a pair of sacks.
Dykstra also got some time at quarterback in the third quarter, and tossed a pair of touchdown passes. The first on a 5-yard pass over the middle to senior tight end Zach Sipma, and the second was a 40-yard pass-and-run to Corkill down the LC sideline. DenBleyker also booted his second field goal of the game in the third quarter, and Lynden Christian led 34-0 going into the fourth.
Schouten hit Corkill on a quick seven-yard strike in the fourth quarter, and that reception was the 79th of Corkill’s career which makes him Lynden Christian’s career leader in receiving. Former Lync Rob Dykstra’s school record of 78 career receptions stood for 22 years. Corkill finished the game with five catches for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Pioneers fought hard in the fourth quarter and scored a touchdown when Weidkamp launched a pass into the end zone for 6-foot-3 senior tight end Ryan Veening on a 3rd-and-goal play from the 12-yard line.
The Lyncs (6-1) will close out conference play by hosting Meridian (2-6) on Thursday, and Nooksack Valley (2-6) will host Mount Baker (7-1) on Friday.
Nooksack Valley 6
Lynden Christian 34
NV 0 0 0 6 – 6
LC 10 7 17 0 – 34
LC – DenBleyker 29 FG
LC – Corkill 13 pass from Schouten (DenBleyker kick)
LC – Korthuis 4 pass from Schouten (DenBleyker kick)
LC – Sipma 5 pass from Dykstra (DenBelyker kick)
LC – DenBleyker 27 FG
LC – Corkill 40 pass from Dykstra (DenBleyker kick)
NV – Veening 12 pass from Weidkamp (kick failed)
NV LC
40-99 Rushing Att-Yards 30-99
14-22-0 Comp-Att-Int 10-16-0
138 Passing yards 144
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – NV: Winter 22-80, Eldridge 7-23, Whittern 3-14, Leyba 2-7, Weidkamp 6-(-25). LC: Dykstra 2-26, Korthuis 7-25, Schouten 10-18, Da. Bootsma 5-17, Stremler 4-10, Bajema 1-2, Corkill 1-1.
PASSING – NV: Weidkamp 13-20-0-95, Eldridge 1-2-0-43. LC: Schouten 7-13-0-80, Dykstra 3-3-0-64.
RECEIVING – NV: Veening 4-63, Eldridge 4-24, Whittern 3-52, Bauman 2-7, Steele 1-2. LC: Corkill 5-92, Sipma 3-36, Moorlag 1-12, Korthuis 1-4.
