BY MAKAYLA SPARKS – For Whatcom Preps
LYNDEN – It’s been 26 years since these two teams played each other, and the Lynden Lions greeted the Mariner Marauders with a dominant defense that didn’t allow a point. On the other side, the Lion offense started hot to claim the 56-0 victory at Rollie DeKoster Field on Friday night.
The Marauders received the ball to open the game but the Lynden defense wasted no time forcing a three-and-out. The Lions took possession of the ball and powered down the field to score their first touchdown, a 10-yard run from junior running back Max Assink.
After another three-and-out from Mariner, senior quarterback Brant Heppner found sophomore Sam Arango on the first play of the drive. Arango rumbled 62 yards down the near sideline and to the house for Lynden’s second touchdown of the game. Six minutes into the game, the Lions were out in front 14-0.
It was another round of rinse-and-repeat for the Marauders from there as they were punting after just three downs yet again. A handful of plays later, Assink plunged into the end zone from five yards out and Lynden grabbed a 21-0 lead. That was what the scoreboard read as the first quarter expired.
At the beginning of the second quarter the Marauders had something good going as the were finally able to drive down the field.
The Lion defense forced the Mariners to settle for field goal attempt, but something good for Mariner turned into something bad quickly. The snap sailed over their kicker’s head and when he got to the ball, he was met by Lynden senior defensive back, Jaydin Oaks.
Oaks hit the kicker, popping the ball out and into the hands of Assink. Assink raced down the field for a 60 yard fumble return. What would end up being the Marauders closest chance at scoring, turned into seven points in favor of the Lions.
Up 28-0, the Lynden defense still wasn’t done making plays. Mariner attempted to sneak into the red zone again but Lion junior defensive back Dani Bowler intercepted a pass putting an end to the Marauders’ strongest showing of the night.
Bowler then wowed the capacity crowd with a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown, which gave Lynden a 35-0 lead.
Just over two minutes later, Heppner connected with senior tight end Isaiah Oudman on a six-yard route. Oudman landed in the end zone and the Lions took a 42-0 lead. The first half ended with that score.
The second half started with the Lions receiving the ball but four minutes into the half, sophomore running back Gordy Bedlington broke through the line after receiving a mini-pass from sophomore quarterback Lukas Lalji, and he went seven yards for his first varsity touchdown.
With one quarter to go, the Lynden headsets were being transferred from the coaches to their senior players. That, however, didn’t keep the offense from scoring one last time. Junior tight Jax Baar lined up at running back and dove into the end zone from a yard out with 5:56 left in the game to cap off the scoring.
The Lions (2-0) will begin conference play on Thursday when the host Marysville-Pilchuck (0-2) at 7:00.
Lynden 56 Mariner 0 MAR 0 0 0 0 - 0 LYN 21 21 7 7 - 56 LYN - Assink 10 run (Mal. Koenen kick) LYN - Arango 62 pass from Heppner (Mal. Koenen kick) LYN - Assink 5 run (Mar. Koenen kick) LYN - Assink 60 fumble return (Mar. Koenen kick) LYN - Bowler 64 punt return (Mar. Koenen kick) LYN - Oudman 6 pass from Heppner (Mar. Koenen kick) LYN - Bedlington 7 pass from Lalji (Mar. Koenen kick) LYN - Baar 1 run (Mar. Koenen kick) MAR LYN 26-98 Rush Att-Yards 27-217 6-21-1 Comp-Att-Int 10-12-0 59 Passing Yards 160 Individual Leaders RUSHING - MAR: N/A. LYN: Assink 8-87, Lalji 7-65, Mendoza-Batey 5-32, D. VanDalen 2-17, Lopez 3-12, Baar 2-4. PASSING - MAR: N/A. LYN: Heppner 6-7-0-123, Lalji 4-5-0-37. RECEIVING - MAR: N/A. LYN: Bowler 4-52, Oudman 2-22, Arango 1-62, Jorgenson 1-12, Bedlington 1-7, G. VanDalen 1-5.
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