BY JEFF WOOD – For Whatcom Preps
BELLINGHAM – Another week, another Lynden comeback victory against a Bellingham team. This time it was Squalicum on the short end of the scoreboard leaving the homecoming crowd despondent after the Storm had come so close to taking down the Lions.
Senior quarterback Brant Heppner passed the Lions to a game tying fourth quarter touchdown, then ran Lynden to a 36-30 victory in overtime at Civic Stadium.
Starting out hot on offense, it looked like Lynden might have a more comfortable victory this week as the Lions scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions to take a 21-7 lead.
These drives showcased a balanced attack of Heppner passing to his bevy of receivers, combined with a steady diet of junior Max Assink rushes. Assink scored on a 12-yard red zone burst to put Lynden up 7-0 in the first quarter.
Squalicum looked to answer but a fumble gave the Lions back the ball at in Storm territory. Heppner took advantage quickly and hit senior Isaiah Oudman on a 41-yard fade pass that extended the early Lion advantage to 14-0 less than 6 minutes into the first quarter.
Squalicum did not panic.
The Storm answered with a methodical 11-play run heavy drive that took over six minutes off the clock. Senior Marcus Nixon capped it with a 4-yard touchdown carry which cut the lead in half, Lynden on top 14-7.
The Lions, executing efficiently, drove 80 yards in seven plays to take their largest lead of the night 21-7 at the beginning of the second quarter. Oudman was on the business end of another Heppner precision pass, this time a 7-yard scoring strike.
Starting at the 20-yard line after a Malachi Koenen touchback, the Storm commenced one of their longest and best drives of their season.
Senior Kai Smith split the carries with Nixon and junior QB Cole Burke went 3-of-3 passing to get the Storm in striking distance. On a second-and-4 from the 22-yard line, former quarterback Nixon lined up in the shotgun as has been a usual running key for the Storm offense. A play action fake gave enough room for junior tight end Laki Fagaautau to get open behind the secondary and he secured the touchdown catch. The 12-play, 7:56 minute drive brought the score to Lynden 21, Squalicum 14.
Lynden drove down quickly at attempted to score before halftime but a Heppner pass was intercepted by junior defensive back Ansen Asbjornsen. The Lynden lead remained at seven as the Homecoming halftime festivities took place on the track at Civic Stadium.
The Storm were stymied by the hard hitting Lynden defense on their first drive of the third quarter but a Fagaautau punt pinned the Lions deep on their own 5-yard line. The first Lion offensive drive of the half stalled at midfield and a short punt with a 15-yard return by senior Joaquin Ortiz set the Storm up at their own 35.
The Storm front then began to open some bigger holes for Nixon. A 15-yard penalty on Lynden also aided in Squalicum moving the ball down to the 10-yard line. With the Lion defense compressed in the red zone, Cole Burke found his athletic tight end Fagaautau on a leaping touchdown reception. The extra point was good, tying the game at 21.
Lynden was put behind the chains after committing a hold on the first play of the ensuing drive. The Storm defense forced a punt, stopping the Lions after one set of downs.
Tied at 21, each team got the ball twice in the fourth quarter. Squalicum continued to pound the ball with Nixon, keeping the ball in his hands 9-of-10 plays, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown plunge on 3rd and goal. Lynden senior Parker Williams got through and blocked the Squalicum PAT, and with 6 minutes left, the Storm led 27-21. Nixon finished the game with 216 yards on 29 carries.
Heppner and the Lions quickly answered going 73 yards in 6 plays with a 5-yard touchdown run by Assink tying the score at 27. Fagaautau blocked the Koenen PAT and the score remained tied with 3:48 to play.
Not worried about the clock, Squalicum only attempted one pass on the next drive, moving down to field goal range.
A 33-yard Slade Kaiser field goal put the Storm up 30-27 and sending the large Squalicum crowd into a frenzy as 1:05 remained on the clock.
The Lions have been in that situation before, many times. And most recently, last week against Sehome. The 6-foot-6 Heppner was well protected and calmly hit 6-of-7 passes moving the Lions down to the 9-yard line. The big play of the drive was a 30-yard strike to sophomore receiver Sam Arrango.
Koenen hit a 26-yard field goal from the right hash, which knotted the score at 30 after regulation.
Lynden won the coin toss as the game headed to overtime.
Squalicum began on offense starting from the 25-yard line and faced a 2nd-and-9 when disaster struck. Burke was pressured by junior defensive end Dane Marti, who caused a fumble which was recovered by Lynden.
The Lions took advantage and kept the ball in the sure hands of Assink and Heppner. The senior quarterback called his own number barreling 4 yards up the middle for the game deciding score. You could hear a pin drop on the Squalicum sideline as the visiting Lion fans joyfully celebrated their 36-30 victory.
Another epic in the strongest 2A conference in the state. A well-played and coached game by both teams, a contest neither side will forget.
The Lions (5-1) will host Archbishop Murphy (6-0) on Friday at 7:00, and the Storm (3-3) will play a non-conference game at Port Angeles (0-6) on Friday at 6:30.
Lynden 36 Squalicum 30 (OT) LYN 14 7 0 9 6 - 36 SQU 7 7 7 9 0 - 30 LYN - Assink 12 run (Mal. Koenen kick) LYN - Oudman 41 pass from Heppner (Mal. Koenen kick) SQU - Nixon 4 run (Kaiser kick) LYN - Oudman 7 pass from Heppner (Mal. Koenen kick) SQU - Fagaautau 22 pass from Nixon (Kaiser kick) SQU - Fagaautau 10 pass from Burke (Kaiser kick) SQU - Nixon 1 run (kick blocked) LYN - Assink 5 run (kick blocked) SQU - Kaiser 33 FG LYN - Mal. Koenen 26 FG LYN - Heppner 4 run (no conversion attempted) LYN SQU 24-157 Rush Att-Yards 40-264 24-34-1 Comp-Att-Int 11-14-0 309 Passing Yards 119 Individual Leaders RUSHING - LYN: Assink 15-101, Heppner 9-56. SQU: Nixon 29-216, Smith 6-24, Ortiz 3-18, Burke 2-6. PASSING - LYN: Heppner 24-34-1-309. SQU: Burke 10-13-0-97, Nixon 1-1-0-22. RECEIVING - LYN: Oudman 9-120, Arango 5-81, Bowler 4-42, Assink 3-21, Mal. Koenen 1-24, Price 1-20, Tigilau 1-1. SQU: Nixon 2-40, Fagaautau 2-32, Asbjornsen 2-18, Clark 2-10, Ortiz 1-10, Knowlton 1-9.
great article Tyler!