LYNDEN – Coming into the 2019 season, the storyline for Mount Baker was this: How quickly can five new offensive linemen come together? For Lynden Christian, it was this: Perhaps no other 1A team in the state returns as many quality players. The Mountaineers proved how well the offensive line has come together so far this season, as they ran behind it 44 times in a 24-8 victory over the Lyncs on Friday night.
Baker got on the board quickly when junior kicker Miguel Zavala nailed a 30-yard field goal on its opening drive. Junior cornerback Mason Jacoby caused an LC fumble on the following drive, and he recovered it himself to give his Mounties a short field to work with. Running back Toby Jefferson scored from two yards out just moments later, and Mount Baker was out to a quick 10-0 lead.
Senior linebacker Waylon Kentner led an awesome defensive attack with 11 tackles, including two stop behind the line of scrimmage. Senior safety Jason Lee intercepted his second pass of the season, and returned it 33 yards to help on the back end.
Jefferson scored his second touchdown of the game in the second quarter, this time on a 16-yard carry in which his determination allowed him to dive into to corner of the end zone. The junior fullback led his team with 115 yards rushing on 26 carries.
Jacoby had another strong night from the pocket, completing 9-of-15 passes for 118 yards. His play-action touchdown pass to Lee from 24 yards away in the third quarter was perfectly placed, and just like that the Mountaineers had a 24-0 lead going into the final period. Jacoby forced another fumble in the second half, in which he recovered himself for a second time.
Lync quarterback Trajan Schouten was very accurate on his passes, and his 21 completions is the third highest in school history for a single game. Senior slot receiver Jackson Corkill was the main recipient, catching nine passes for 71 yards. Senior Tanner Feenstra caught five passes for 57 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
Senior running back Easton Stremler paced LC on the ground with 78 yards rushing on 14 carries.
Senior Lynden Christian linebacker Will Faber was all over the field on defense, collecting eight solo tackles and assisting on eight more.
Mount Baker (4-0) will begin a string of three straight home games this Friday against Meridian (1-3), and the Lyncs (2-1) will start a three-game road trip this Friday at Nooksack Valley (2-2)
Mount Baker 24
Lynden Christian 8
MB 10 7 7 0 – 24
LC 0 0 0 8 – 8
MB – Zavala 30 FG
MB – Jefferson 2 run (Zavala kick)
MB – Jefferson 16 run (Zavala kick)
MB – Lee 24 pass from Jacoby (Zavala kick)
LC – Feenstra 23 pass from Schouten (Corkill pass from Schouten)
MB LC
44-177 Rushing Att-Yards 24-89
9-15-0 Comp-Att-Int 21-35-1
118 Passing yards 188
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – MB: Jefferson 26-115, Lee 13-31, Rodriguez 1-18, Jacoby 3-11, Tikhonov 1-2. LC: Stremler 14-78, Corkill 2-7, Schouten 7-4, Korthuis 1-0.
PASSING – MB: Jacoby 9-15-0-118. LC: Schouten 21-35-1-188.
RECEIVING – MB: Rodriguez 3-53, Smith 3-31, Lee 2-28, Kentner 1-6 LC: Corkill 9-71, Feenstra 5-57, Bouwman 3-44, Stremler 3-17, Korthuis 1-(-1).
