BY MAKAYLA SPARKS – For Whatcom Preps
LYNDEN – After their week one loss to Ferndale, Lynden’s “setback, comeback” mentality was on full display Friday night as the Lions ran away with a 48-6 victory over the W.F. West Bearcats at Rollie DeKoster Field.
The Lynden offense was the showstopper of the night as it put up a total of 410 yards.
The Lions received the opening kickoff and the momentum, converting an early fourth down. With just under four minutes off the clock, Lynden junior quarterback Brant Heppner found sophomore receiver Dani Bowler for a 23-yard touchdown pass. The two-point run attempt was unsuccessful as the Lions took a 6-0 lead.
Their next score was only twenty seconds later as Lynden senior Brady Elsner intercepted a W.F. West pass on the Bearcats’ first play from scrimmage, giving the ball back to the Lion offense. Heppner ran the ball into the end zone from two yards away. Freshman Malakai Koenen booted the extra point, and it was 13-0 Lynden at the 7:53 point of the first quarter.
Lynden wasn’t done scoring in the first quarter. After a W.F. West fake punt, a declined penalty, and another fourth down conversation by the Lions, Heppner gained his second rushing of the touchdown of the game. With a minute and twenty-four seconds left in the first, Heppner scored a seven yard touchdown and Lynden finished the quarter up 20-0.
The second quarter start off with yet another interception by Elsner. A 94 yard touchdown pass to Bowler from Heppner was called back on a penalty but the following six minute and thirteen second drive ended with a third rushing touchdown from the junior quarterback. Heppner ran the ball in from three yards out and the Lions were up 27-0 with 3:23 to go in the half.
Koenen followed up his extra point with an onside kick recovered by Bowler. The Lions were unable to make anything happen immediately following the recovered kick but with 1:25 left, the ball became theirs again. A 62-yard touchdown pass from Heppner to Bowler rounded out the first half as the Lions head into the locker room up 34-0.
W.F. West took possession of the ball to start the third quarter and just like the two prior quarters, Lynden got another quick interception. This time, it was senior defensive back, Cooper Moore, who grabbed the Bearcats pass.
Lynden’s offense continued on it’s hot trail as senior Charlie Ayres was inserted at quarterback and connected on his only pass attempt of the game, a 27-yarder to junior tight end Isaiah Oudman helped set up Ayres for a three yard touchdown run of his own. The rushing touchdown helped expand the lead to 41-0 and that’s how the third quarter would end.
Despite Lynden putting in their second and third string guys, the mighty Lion offense wasn’t done yet. Only a minute and thirty four seconds into the fourth quarter sophomore running back Maximus Assink ran into open space and into the end zone for Lynden’s longest rushing play of the game. The 43-yard run gave Lynden a 48-0 lead.
A little over six minute later, W.F. West would get its first and only score of the game, a 14-yard touchdown ran in by their quarterback, junior Gage Brumfield. The point after attempt was no good, bring the score to 48-6 in favor of the Lions. That’s how the score would stay as the Lions got off a few more running plays before waiting out the last seconds of the game.
Lynden was led in rushing by Assink, who had 61 yards on 5 carries, and Heppner, who had 49 yards on 9 carries. Heppner also went 13-of-19 for 195 yards and no interceptions through the air.
Bowler finished his career-night with five receptions for 116 yards.
In an offensive heavy effort, the Lynden defense was led by sophomore linebacker, Lofa Tigilau, who had 4.5 tackles, as well as Elsner’s two interceptions and Moore’s pick-off.
Lynden (1-1) will start in conference play next week, as they stay home to challenge the 2-0 Squalicum Storm on Friday, September 15 at 7 pm.
Lynden 48 W.F. West 6 WFW 0 0 0 6 - 6 LYN 20 14 7 7 - 48 LYN - Bowler 23 pass from Heppner (run failed) LYN - Heppner 2 run (Koenen kick) LYN - Heppner 7 run (Koenen kick) LYN - Heppner 3 run (Koenen kick) LYN - Bowler 62 pass from Heppner (Koenen kick) LYN - Ayres 3 run (Koenen kick) LYN - M. Assink 43 run (Koenen kick) WFW - Brumfield 13 run (kick failed) WFW LYN 14-68 Rush Att-Yards 36-188 9-20-3 Comp-Att-Int 14-20-0 119 Passing Yards 222 Individual Leaders RUSHING - WFW: N/A. LYN: M. Assink 5-61, Heppner 9-49, Ayres 7-39, Human 10-35, Marti 2-4, Grace 2-1, Koenen 1-(-1). PASSING - WFW: N/A. LYN: Heppner 13-19-0-195, Ayres 1-1-0-27. RECEIVING - WFW: N/A. LYN: Bowler 5-116, Moore 4-37, Oudman 2-46, Elsner 2-15, Human 1-8.
