FERNDALE – If you’ve been attending this rivalry game every season since 1993, then you’ve seen some amazing football between two storied programs. If it was your first time seeing these two teams battle it out, then I will let you in on a little secret….. Usually it’s Ferndale that runs the ball 83% of the time, picking up decent chunks of yards at a time, and controlling the clock, and it’s usually Lynden that breaks off multiple plays of 30 yards or more and air it out some. Those roles were completely reversed as Lion senior Brock Heppner kept the ball himself 30 times, and ran behind his huge offensive line for 147 yards to lead his team to a 33-21 victory over the Golden Eagles on Friday night.
The tone was set on Lynden’s drive to begin the second half. Starting from their own 28-yard line, the Lions methodically drove down the soggy field. It was a tiring 72-yard drive that spanned over 19 plays. Most notably, it was left tackle Harley Vandenberg, left guard Christian Bethea and center Marty Karb that were leading the way in the trenches. Only two passes were attempted on the drive and they were both incomplete, including a 3rd-and-goal pass from the 9-yard line that was intended for Eric Bode, but broken up by Jacob Broselle. Heppner would cap that drive with a touchdown run on 4th down, which extended the Lynden lead to 19-7.
The Golden Eagles stayed with the Lions in the first half, and a blocked extra point by Alvis Washington seemed like it would be crucial when Ferndale sustained a long drive as the first half was winding down. Trailing 13-7, the Golden Eagles were able to penetrate deep into Lynden territory, but it was Lion senior Elijah Lyons that ripped the ball free and fellow senior Jordan Elsner recovered at the 1-yard line just one play before half time.
That turning point, coupled with the long drive that Lynden put together to begin the second half, were huge moments for the Lions that needed to get a mark into the win column.
The Golden Eagles drove to the 50-yard line, following the long-scoring drive by Lynden, but an interception by senior safety Elijah Diacongiannis stopped the Ferndale momentum instantly. After a 6-yard Steven DiLorenzo run, junior quarterback Baylor Ayres carried the ball on three consecutive plays that totaled 44 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown run, which pushed the lead up to 26-7.
Rasmussen connected with sophomore fullback Ryan Pelton on a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, but it wouldn’t be enough as Heppner also scored his third touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter.
Broselle had multiple big plays for Ferndale, including a 62-yard run, a 51-yard kick return and a 37-yard pass receptions. He finished with a team-high 108 yards rushing on 10 carries.
The Lions (1-1) will host Steilacoom (1-1) on Friday, and the Golden Eagles (0-2) will begin conference play on Friday when they travel to Marysville-Getchell (1-1).
Lynden 33
Ferndale 21
LYN 7 6 6 14 – 33
FERN 0 7 0 14 – 21
LYN – Heppner 1 run (Samoukovic kick)
FERN – J. Broselle 3 run (Werth kick)
LYN – DiLorenzo 5 run (kick blocked)
LYN – Heppner 9 run (kick failed)
LYN – Ayres 10 run (Samoukovic kick)
FERN – Pelton 2 pass from Rasmussen (run failed)
LYN – Heppner 1 run (Samoukovic kick)
FERN – Pelton 15 pass from Rasmussen (Pelton run)
LYN FERN
54-272 Rushing Att-Yards 31-227
5-11-1 Comp-Att-Int 5-14-1
32 Passing yards 93
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – LYN: Heppner 30-147, DiLorenzo 17-82, Ayres 5-52, Slayton 2-(-9). FERN: J. Broselle 10-108, Pelton 15-98, Monks 4-14, Bernard 1-4, Werth 1-3.
PASSING – LYN: Ayres 2-5-1-23, Heppner 3-6-0-9. FERN: Rasmussen 5-14-1-93.
RECEIVING – LYN: Lyons 2-9, Heppner 1-12, DiLorenzo 1-11, E. Bode 1-0. FERN: Pelton 3-57, J. Broselle 1-37, Monks 1-(-1).
