CHEHALIS – The Lions continued their dominance by winning their 13th straight game, this time on the road against W.F. West in a 33-7 contest on Friday night.
Lynden controlled the clock all game, pounding the ball over and over again behind its massive offensive line. The holes opened up by Dane Gatterman, Jesus Ortiz, Kuyper Assink, Bennett Roorda and Josiah Vanderhaak allowed Lion running backs and quarterbacks to move the chains all game at their own pace.
Senior quarterback Kaedan Hermanutz kicked off the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. That was followed by a 5-yard touchdown run by senior Lane Heeringa in the second quarter, which was set up by senior Troy Petz’s interception.
The Bearcats then put together a 7-play 65-yard drive that culminated in a 5-yard touchdown run with 40 seconds left in the half. Just enough time for Lynden’s dynamic special teams to put something together.
Senior Campbell Nolte returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards, and into W.F. West territory. Hermanutz hit senior Collin Anker for a 13-yard gain, and then the senior quarterback rumbled for six more yards, which set up Petz who converted on a 40-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
The Lynden defense really cranked it up in the second half, resulting in numerous stops behind the line of scrimmage. Heeringa racked up 2.5 quarterback sacks, and an additional tackle for loss. He was supported by senior defensive lineman Eli Migchelbrink, senior inside linebacker Chris Elenbaas and senior outside linebacker Trey Smiley each also had multiple stops in the W.F. West backfield.
6-foot-6 sophomore quarterback Brant Heppner scored his first varsity touchdown in the third quarter on a 3-yard run, and Heeringa scored his second touchdown of the game on the next play from scrimmage when the ball was snapped over the Bearcat quarterback’s head, and he recovered it in the end zone.
The final score came in the fourth quarter when the Lions got a safety after another high snap sailed over the punter’s head, who then scrambled to fall on the ball in the end zone.
Lynden (2-0) will begin conference play on Friday when travel to Civic Stadium to take on Squalicum (1-1) at 7:00.
Lynden 33 W.F. West 7 LYN 7 9 15 2 - 33 WFW 0 7 0 0 - 7 LYN - Hermanutz 7 run (Petz kick) LYN - Heeringa 5 run (kick failed) WFW - Fugate 5 run (kick good) LYN - Petz 40 FG LYN - Heppner 3 run (Hermanutz run) LYN - Heeringa recovers fumble in end zone (Petz kick) LYN - Safety, punter fell on ball in end zone LYN WFW 49-210 Rush Att-Yards 21-27 7-17-0 Comp-Att-Int 10-19-3 71 Passing Yards 133 Individual Leaders RUSHING - LYN: Heeringa 16-66, Nolte 8-52, Hermanutz 13-51, Heppner 7-30, Ayres 3-8, Human 2-3. WFW: N/A. PASSING - LYN: Hermanutz 4-11-0-32, Heppner 2-5-0-39, Ayres 1-1-0-0. WFW: N/A. RECEIVING - LYN: Stanley 2-29, Anker 2-22, Petz 1-11, Baar 1-9, Moore 1-0. WFW: N/A.
