BELLINGHAM – For those of you old enough to remember… in 1982, the Washington Redskins clinched the playoffs and powerful running back John Riggins led the team with 572 yards rushing. When the playoffs began, Riggins went to head coach Joe Gibbs and told him to feed him the ball over and over again, and he’ll get the team to a Super Bowl Championship.
Riggins ended up running for 610 yards in those playoffs alone, and won the Most Valuable Player Award for Super Bowl XVII.
I can only imagine that Lynden senior running back Lane Heeringa approached coach Blake Van Dalen at some point and said, “Hitch the wagon to me, Coach. I got this.”
The muscular 190-pound senior had season-highs with 20 carries for 141 yards rushing as the Lions defeated Highline 42-13 at Civic Stadium on Friday night to move into the semifinal round of the 2A state tournament.
The Pirates began the game with an impressive drive that showed the exploits of their speedy senior running back Rico Jerez-Sosa. The 5-foot-6 160-pounder had a 47-yard run that brought Highline inside Lynden’s 5-yard line. But, this has always been when the Lion defense steps up, and the Pirates turned the ball over after an incomplete pass in the end zone on fourth down.
That was when Lynden went to work.
On their first drive of the second quarter, Heeringa blasted runs between the tackles, and seemed to get more yardage after contact. Keep in mind, this is an offensive line that has had some shuffling to do with senior left tackle Dane Gatterman out because of a broken collarbone, and junior center Kuyper Assink had to miss the contest because of an illness.
The presence of senior Luke Winterberg at right tackle, the emergence of sophomore Blake Holman filling in at center, the versatility of senior Josiah Vanderhaak to move from right tackle to left tackle and the pure road-grating greatness of guards Jesus Ortiz and Bennett Roorda provided greatness on the field for everyone in attendance who was able to witness it first hand.
Heeringa scored touchdown runs on Lynden’s first two drives, and the Lions’ third touchdown of the game came when a Pirate pass was thrown about 40 yards downfield. Senior safety Kobe Baar picked it off, and began to weave in and out of Highline players. A key block was thrown by sophomore Isaiah Oudman, and Baar was able to reach the end zone after traveling 84 yards with the ball.
200-pound senior running back Campbell Nolte got into the action in the third quarter with a pair of powerful touchdown runs of his own, and senior quarterback Kaedan Hermanutz had a 62-yard touchdown run which was sprung by a fantastic block by junior wide receiver Cooper Moore.
In all, the Lions ran for 366 yards on 49 attempts, and only threw seven pass attempts in the game. All-State punter Troy Petz again did not have to attempt a punt, and has only punted once in the last six games.
Lynden (11-0) will host Enumclaw at Civic Stadium on Saturday. The time is yet to be determined.
Lynden 42 Highline 13 HLN 0 0 0 13 - 13 LYN 0 21 14 7 - 42 LYN - Heeringa 1 run (Petz kick) LYN - Heeringa 7 run (Petz kick) LYN - Baar 84 interception return (Petz kick) LYN - Nolte 15 run (Petz kick) LYN - Nolte 4 run (Petz kick) HLN - McCraney 2 run (Maginniss kick) LYN - Hermanutz 62 run (Smiley kick) HLN - Matthews 16 run (kick blocked)
HLN LYN 41-213 Rush Att-Yards 49-366 8-14-1 Comp-Att-Int 2-7-0 83 Passing Yards 41 Individual Leaders RUSHING - HLN: N/A. LYN: Heeringa 20-141, Hermanutz 10-121, Nolte 9-57, Heppner 3-26, Human 4-11, Ayres 3-10. PASSING - HLN: N/A. LYN: Hermanutz 1-6-0-9, Heppner 1-1-0-32. RECEIVING - HLN: N/A. LYN: Petz 1-32, Heeringa 1-9.
Like I said Earlier
Lane Heeringa is an Awesome Football Player and A good Sport. When he tackles he helps his opponent up. What a good Guy
Your passing and receiving stats are askew. Passing : 2/7 = 41
Receiving : 11 for 147