LYNDEN – It’s always the biggest rivalry game in Whatcom County each year, and even though they play in different leagues, both coaches will tell you that it’s still important. Ferndale wasn’t able to sustain a long drive until the fourth quarter, and Lynden was efficient from the get-go, as the Lions beat the Golden Eagles 30-6 at Rollie DeKoster Field on Friday night.
Lynden was able to get on the board early due to an errant punt, which gave them terrific field position. Senior quarterback James Marsh came into the game as Whatcom County’s leading scorer with 20 points, and he scored on a fourth-and-goal play from the 1-yard line.
Left-footed junior Marko Samoukovic added a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter, and when Marsh found Brock Heppner down the left sideline for a 21-yard touchdown pass before halftime, the lead for the Lions looked pretty good at 17-0. But, everyone in green and gold remembered last year’s game when Ferndale came from behind in the fourth quarter from a similar deficit.
This time, Lynden’s grasp on the lead remained firm throughout.
Junior running back Steven DiLorenzo darted into the end zone from 26 yards out in the third quarter for Lynden, and he finished the game with an even 100 yards rushing.
The Golden Eagles had trouble moving the ball against the Lion defense, but they could count on 220-pound fullback Gader Fox to gain a big chunk of yards on his FB counter runs. Fox finished with a team-high 84 yards on the ground, and junior running back Jacob Broselle scored a six-yard sweep around left end.
Lynden sophomore reserve quarterback Baylor Ayres found 6-foot-5 senior wide receiver Dakota Baar on a late touchdown on a 4th down play from the Ferndale 49-yard line.
Marsh finished the game 11-of 21 passing for 108 yards and wide receiver Grant VanderYacht led the Lions in receiving with four receptions for 55 yards.
Lynden (2-0) will host Lord Tweedsmuir this Friday night. The Canadian team blanked Burlington-Edison 14-0 on Friday. Ferndale (0-2) will host Marysville-Getchell (1-1) this Friday night at 7PM, and you’ll be able to listen to it on The Doug Lange Network.
Ferndale 6
Lynden 30
Fern. 0 0 0 6 – 6
Lyn. 7 10 7 6 – 30
LYN – Marsh 1 run (Samoukovich kick)
LYN – Samoukovic 26 FG
LYN – Heppner 21 pass from Marsh (Samoukovich kick)
LYN – DiLorenzo 26 run (Samoukovich kick)
FERN – Broselle 6 run (pass failed)
LYN – Baar 49 pass from Ayres (kick blocked)
FERN LYN
35-139 Rushing Att-Yards 34-156
1-5-0 Comp-Att-Int 13-24-0
3 Passing yards 163
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – Fern: Fox 14-84, Broselle 8-39, Ebe 7-14, Brown 1-3, Schwartz 1-0, Rasmussen 1-(-3), Julius 3-(-10). Lyn: DiLorenzo 14-100, Melendez 8-32, Marsh 9-24, Heppner 1-1, Wheeler 2-(-1).
PASSING – Fern: Julius 1-5-0-3. Lyn: Marsh 11-21-0-108, Ayres 2-2-0-55, Heppner 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING – Fern: Leighton 1-3. Lyn: VanderYacht 4-55, Heppner 3-34, C. Bode 2-5, Baar 1-49, Elsner 1-11, E. Bode 1-6, DiLorenzo 1-3.
