LYNDEN – In a game that featured strong, physical line play, and two awesome defenses, it came down to which team was going to make more big plays. Mount Baker made one more than Lynden Christian as the Mountaineers upended the Lyncs 20-13 on Friday night.
The Mounties only had three separate plays go for over a dozen yards, and they scored on two of them in the first half. The first was a 34-yard pass that senior quarterback Kaleb Bass launched into the end zone and senior receiver Kobee Malone came out of nowhere to jump up and snatch it in the end zone. The second play was a razzle-dazzle Kentner brother special on 4th and seven. Bass threw a lateral to Michael Kentner to the left side of the field. Kentner then gathered himself and threw a strike over the middle to his younger brother Waylon who caught the pass and battled through a few Lync defenders on his way to a 29-yard touchdown, and Baker jumped out to an early 14-0 lead.
No lead, though, is comfortable in the 1A Northwest Conference.
Lynden Christian got its first big play of the game on a 43-yard touchdown pass that was beautifully thrown by junior quarterback Bryce Bouwman that ended up in the hands of junior wide receiver Jackson Corkill.
Bouwman then hooked up with junior wide receiver Tanner Feenstra on a 16-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, but the missed extra point still gave Baker a one-point advantage, 14-13.
Field position became key shortly after that, and a 50-yard punt by Michael Kentner put LC at its own 1-yard line. Bouwman did a great job of getting out of his own end zone with a quick strike to junior Zach Sipma, but the Lyncs ultimately had to punt it back.
Bass found Malone and Michael Kentner on short passes, and Baker was back into the red zone. Bass then called his own number, running between the tackles. He followed an awesome block thrown by senior right guard J.J. Kalsbeek, and a downfield block by junior tight end Waylon Kentner, the last few yards were just athletic ability by the three-year starting quarterback and Bass scored just before the end of the third quarter.
Both teams traded punts in the fourth quarter before Baker put a time-consuming drive together behind hard running by both Sam Barrett and Jason Lee. Bass also contributed with hard fought yards on quarterback sneaks, and the Mountaineers ultimately ran the clock out.
Waylon Kentner and Malone each had a pair of tackles for loss.
Mount Baker (5-2) will play host to Meridian (5-2) this Friday night at Bob Tisdale Field, where the winner will hold the sole lead of the 1A Northwest Conference. Lynden Christian (5-2) will travel to Nooksack Valley (3-4) to take on the Pioneers at Sid Lambert Field on Friday night.
Mount Baker 20
Lynden Christian 13
MB 7 7 6 0 – 20
LC 0 7 6 0 – 13
MB – Malone 34 pass from Bass (Lee kick)
MB – W. Kentner 29 pass from M. Kentner (Lee kick)
LC – Corkill 43 pass from Bouwman (DeRuyter kick)
LC – Feenstra 16 pass from Bouwman (kick failed)
MB – Bass 12 run (kick blocked)
MB LC
45-168 Rushing Att-Yards 22-54
7-12-0 Comp-Att-Int 12-22-0
99 Passing yards 145
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – MB: Barrett 16-63, Lee 14-56, Bass 11-43, Malone 4-6. LC: Korthuis 16-54, Corkill 2-12, Stremler 2-(-3), Bouwman 2-(-9).
PASSING – MB: Bass 6-11-0-70, M. Kentner 1-1-0-29. LC: Bouwman 12-22-0-145.
RECEIVING – MB: M. Kentner 3-21, Malone 2-49, W. Kentner 1-29. LC: Corkill 3-50, Feenstra 3-32, Sipma 3-24, Apol 2-39, Stremler 1-0.
