BY MAKAYLA SPARKS – For Whatcom Preps
FERNDALE – After a regular season filled with quite a few close games, the Lynden Lions were ready to create some damage in the Round of 32. The Lions defeated the Nathan Hale Raiders 66-7 on Friday night on at Ferndale High School.
The Lions kicked off the game, forced a punt, and found the end zone in the first three and half minutes of the game. Senior tight end Isaiah Oudman checked in as a wildcat quarterback and powered one yard over the goal line for the first score of the game.
Nathan Hale’s next drive would come to an abrupt end when Lynden junior safety Brody Price picked off a pass in Lion territory. Another quick drive from Lynden was capped off by a rushing touchdown from sophomore running back Malachi Koenen. He charged seven yards through the pack and into the end zone for the second touchdown of the game.
Three minutes later, senior quarterback Brant Heppner collected his only touchdown pass of the game. Heppner connected with sophomore receiver Sam Arango on a 29 yard strike and Lions were out in front 21-0.
As the second quarter began, Price decided his first interception wasn’t good enough for him. The junior grabbed his second interception of the game and took off down the field. He evaded a handful of defenders before running the ball 74 yards to the house.
Just under three minutes remained in the first half when Koenen attempted a 24-yard field goal. The successful kick put the Lions up 31-0 at halftime.
Lynden wasn’t slowing down in the second half. With a mere 18 seconds off the clock, junior running back Max Assink collected a handoff on the second play of the half and rushed 30 yards to the end zone. It was his final carry of the game, and he finished with a team-high 128 yards on just nine attempts.
Three and half minutes later, Lynden sophomore quarterback Lukas Lalji aired a ball out for junior tight end Malachi Bowman. The 16 yard touchdown pass put the Lions up 45-0 and triggered the running clock.
Lynden was still going pedal to the medal. With a minute to go in the third quarter, Lalji raced into the end zone for a seven yard touchdown and 52-0 lead.
Lynden freshman kicker Markus Koenen split the uprights on the ensuing kickoff for the touchback, pinning the Raiders in Lion territory. Nathan Hale, looking to get points on the board, threw a deep pass down field but came up empty as Lynden junior defensive back Ty Jorgenson grabbed the ball for the Lions third interception.
A little over two minutes later, Lalji found junior receiver Sully Petz on a 10-yard pass. Petz charged into the north end zone for the touchdown and the Lions’ large lead expanded again.
Nathan Hale’s best play of the game came at the 4:39 mark of the fourth quarter when they took a pass 72 yards to the house for their only score of the game. Lynden didn’t let it go unanswered, though. With just thirty-four seconds left in the game, freshman quarterback Austin Postma took the ball out of the back field and outraced the defenders 26 yards to the end zone for the 66-7 lead and final touchdown of the game.
Lynden (9-1) will host Fife (7-3) this weekend. The date, location and time are yet to be determined.
Lynden 66 Nathan Hale 7 NH 0 0 0 7 - 7 LYN 21 10 21 14 - 66 LYN - Oudman 1 run (Mal. Koenen kick) LYN - Mal. Koenen 7 run (Mal. Koenen kick) LYN - Arango 29 pass from Heppner (Mal. Koenen kick) LYN - Price 74 interception return (Mal. Koenen kick) LYN - Mal. Koenen 24 FG LYN - Assink 30 run (Mar. Koenen kick) LYN - Bowman 15 pass from Lalji (Mar. Koenen kick) LYN - Lalji 7 run (Mar. Koenen kick) LYN - Petz 10 pass from Lalji (Mar. Koenen kick) NH - 72 yard touchdown pass (kick good) LYN - Postma 26 run (Mar. Koenen kick) NH LYN 22-61 Rush Att-Yards 26-285 9-25-3 Comp-Att-Int 12-13-0 141 Passing Yards 168 Individual Leaders RUSHING - NH: N/A. LYN: Assink 9-128, Lalji 6-83, Postma 3-40, D. VanDalen 1-10, Mendoza-Batey 1-8, Mal. Koenen 1-7, Lopez 1-5, Honcoop 1-2, Oudman 1-1, Heppner 1-1, Tolsma 1-0. PASSING - NH: N/A. LYN: Heppner 8-8-0-135, Lalji 3-4-0-28, Postma 1-1-0-5. RECEIVING - NH: N/A. LYN: Arango 4-88, Oudman 4-47, Bowman 1-15, Petz 1-10, Russell 1-5, G. VanDalen 1-3.
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