NOOKSACK – A strong second half propelled the Lyncs to a 41-0 victory over Nooksack Valley at Sid Lambert Field on Saturday night.
It was a tale of two halves. At halftime, Lynden Christian was up 7-0, and had outgained the Pioneers just 170 yards to 141 yards. In the second half alone, LC scored 34 points and outgained Nooksack Valley 339 yards to 84 yards.
Lync senior quarterback Will Colwell hit senior tight end Caleb Ryan on a 38-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. The touchdown was set up by a short field moments after senior safety Jamison Hintz intercepted his second pass of the opening period.
The Lynden Christian machine got rolling in the second half, and it started on the second play from scrimmage when junior Tyler Sipma took a fly sweep, weaved in and out of the Pioneer defense, and sprinted 70 yards for a touchdown.
Colwell then called his own number on the following possession, and ran one in from 14 yards out. It was more bad luck for the Pioneers when then the ensuing kickoff went off a Nooksack player’s facemask, and was recovered by the Lyncs. A few plays later Colwell launched a deep 27-yard pass into the back right corner of the end zone and Sipma was able to come down with it.
Colwell then threw his third touchdown pass of the game, this one saw Hintz catch a short pass and then burst through the Pioneer defenders for a 49-yard score.
The Lyncs capped the scoring on the night when junior running back Kade Eldridge surged off right tackle and galloped 65 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Eldridge finished with a game-high 125 yards on 10 carries.
Ryan led Lynden Christian defensively with 12.5 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble, while sophomore defensive end Jeremiah Wright had the biggest game of his young varsity career with 6.5 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks a forced fumble and a pass deflection.
Pioneer freshman Colton Lentz, who was filling in for Jordan Silva, led his team in rushing with 84 yards on 27 carries. Nooksack Valley was also without starters Dawson Kimball and Ryan Hughes.
The Lyncs (3-2) will host Mount Baker (4-2) this Friday at 7:30, and the Pioneers (3-4) will travel to Civic Stadium to take on Squalicum (4-2) on Friday at 5:00.
Lynden Christian 41 Nooksack Valley 0 LC 7 0 27 7 - 41 NV 0 0 0 0 - 0 LC - Ryan 38 pass from Colwell (VanHofwegen kick) LC - Sipma 70 run (VanHofwegen kick) LC - Colwell 14 run (VanHofwegen kick) LC - Sipma 27 pass from Colwell (kick failed) LC - Hintz 49 pass from Colwell (VanHofwegen kick) LC - Eldridge 65 run (VanHofwegen kick) LC NV 27-277 Rush Att-Yards 42-117 13-25-0 Comp-Att-Int 10-23-3 232 Passing Yards 108 Individual Leaders RUSHING - LC: Eldridge 10-125, Sipma 5-97, Colwell 8-44, Dick 1-6, Paxton 1-4, Owen 1-1, Meyer 1-0. NV: Lentz 27-84, Brown 14-32, Olney 1-1. PASSING - LC: Colwell 12-24-0-210, Meyer 1-1-0-22. NV: Brown 10-23-3-108. RECEIVING - LC: Hintz 5-72, Ryan 3-63, Sipma 3-58, J. Bouma 1-22, Owen 1-17. NV: Olney 3-33, Bravo 2-30, Kingma 2-19, Silves 1-11, Cerda 1-9, Lentz 1-6.
