LYNDEN – The Lions started strong, and finished stronger, on their way to a 42-19 win over Lakewood on Friday night at a packed Rollie DeKoster Field on homecoming night.
Lynden scored the first two touchdowns of the game during the first quarter, both on passes from Kaedan Hermanutz to Kaleo Jandoc, but the Cougars clawed back in the second quarter.
Lakewood then scored two touchdowns, but the extra point on the second TD was blocked by junior Collin Anker, and the Lions held on to a slim 14-13 lead at halftime.
The Cougars scored on their opening drive of the third quarter, but Lynden answered back and rattled off the final four touchdowns of the contest. Hermanutz and Jandoc connected on scoring plays twice more, junior Isaiah Stanley also caught a touchdown pass, and senior inside linebacker Taivin VanDalen scored on a 58-yard interception return.
Jandoc’s four touchdown receptions in a game tied a school record that was set by Chas Kok in 2006, and it just the eighth time in Whatcom County history that it has been accomplished.
The return of senior outside linebacker Joel Bode helped spark the Lynden defense. He was able to total 5.5 tackles, with a tackle for loss and a sack, and emerging junior outside linebacker Trey Smiley had a pair of sacks on his own.
Junior Lane Heeringa led his team on the ground with 56 yards on 16 carries, and he also 6.5 tackles and an interception from his linebacker spot.
Hermanutz enjoyed his best varsity start, completing 10-of-15 passes for 208 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing for 46 yards on nine carries.
The Lions (5-1) will travel to Civic Stadium on Friday to take on Sehome (1-4) at 7:00.
Lakewood 19 Lynden 42 LAK 0 13 6 0 - 19 LYN 14 0 15 13 - 42 LYN - Jandoc 38 pass from Hermanutz (Petz kick) LYN - Jandoc 67 pass from Hermanutz (Petz kick) LAK - 6 yard touchdown pass (kick good) LAK - 22 yard touchdown pass (kick blocked) LAK - 8 yard touchdown run (kick blocked) LYN - Jandoc 17 pass from Hermanutz (Stanley pass from Hermanutz) LYN - Stanley 19 pass from Hermanutz (Petz kick) LYN - VanDalen 58 interception return (kick failed) LYN - Jandoc 31 pass from Hermanutz (Petz kick) LAK LYN 32-173 Rush Att-Yards 37-164 16-29-2 Comp-Att-Int 10-15-0 183 Passing Yards 208 Individual Leaders RUSHING - LAK: N/A. LYN: Heeringa 16-56, Hermanutz 9-46, Human 7-33, Slayton 5-29. PASSING - LAK: N/A. LYN: Hermanutz 10-15-0-208. RECEIVING - LAK: N/A. LYN: Jandoc 5-168, Stanley 3-30, Anker 1-9, Heeringa 1-1.
