By Jeff Wood – For Whatcom Preps
LYNDEN – On yet another beautiful fall Friday night for football, a second consecutive defending state champion team came into Whatcom County and knocked off the host school.
This time it was the 2B Okanogan Bulldogs who bulldozed their way to a 38-22 victory over the Lynden Christian Lyncs.
The double wing ground attack quarterbacked by Boise State commit Carter Kuchenbuch rushed the ball 54 times for 340 yards proving a bit too much for the smaller, but tough, LC defense.
The game started promisingly for the Lyncs as they forced a punt after a 3-and-out from the Bulldogs. Junior Quarterback Eli Maberry wasted no time and on the first play hit his cousin, junior wide receiver Boyce Robertson, in stride for a 90-yard touchdown on a post pattern.
A Bulldog fumble on the next drive was recovered by senior linebacker Hollis Owen and the Lyncs were in business again at the Okanogan 30-yard line. However, a negative play and holding call prevented them from adding to their 7-0 lead.
The Bulldogs methodically marched 76 yards on a drive that consisted of 12 running plays that continued into the second quarter. A 5-yard dive by fullback David Huffstetler capped the touchdown drive. Kuchenbuch called his own number running in the 2-point conversion which put Okanogan up 8-7 with 11:28 in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs quickly scored again to the chagrin of the full contingent of Lync fans.
A defensive back stepped in front of a Maberry pass and returned it most of the 20 yards to the end zone. He fumbled it on the goal line, but an opportunistic teammate recovered it for a Bulldog touchdown. The 2-point play was denied by the Lyncs, putting the lead for Okanagan at 14-7.
It was now the Lyncs’ turn to drive the field, and they did so in balanced fashion. Behind the LC offensive line, Hollis Owen rushed 6 times for 21 yards. Maberry continued to show his accuracy in coach Greg Terpstra’s spread passing attack as well. Seven of eight throws were caught by Lyncs receivers on the drive for 59 yards.
LC ultimately put the ball in the end zone on a fourth-and-four from the 14-yard line. The touchdown reception was caught by junior Jaxon Huleatt after being tipped by his teammate senior Trey Bosman. The PAT was good which tied the game at 14 apiece.
Just under five minutes remained before halftime for a drive that looked to be in doubt for Okanogan when it was faced with a 3rd and long near midfield. However, wing back Tanner Grooms took an inside handoff on a counter play for a 23-yard first down burst. Two plays later, the same counter play went to Wesley Allen for a 26-yard touchdown run with only 24 seconds left in the second quarter. The 2-point play was successful giving the Bulldogs a 22-14 advantage at the half.
In the third quarter Lynden Christian made a huge defensive play when sophomore outside linebacker Kaden Veldman hit Kuchenbuch’s arm as he was reaching back attempting a pass. Junior Cole Larson picked up the fumble and rumbled 51 yards for a Lyncs touchdown. With 3:43 left in the third quarter the game was again tied at 22.
The Bulldogs answered on their next drive, again running the ball on each of their eight plays. The 6-foot-5 240-pound Kuchenbuch found the end zone from nine yards out on the second play of the fourth quarter. The Bulldog PAT try from 33 yards out was no good after a penalty leaving the lead at 28-22 Okanagan.
Unfortunately, the Lyncs fumbled the ensuing kickoff which gave the ball to the Bulldogs in the red zone. Lynden Christian’s defense made a heroic stop on the Bulldogs drive tackling Kuchenbuch just short of the goal line on a fourth and goal from the one.
With an opportunity to tie or take the lead, the LC offense couldn’t capitalize.
This time it was the Okanogan defenses turn to step up. Playing five defensive backs, the throwing lanes were clogged and the Lyncs were forced to punt.
The Bulldog running attack put a final drive together going 49 yards to ice the win. There was no doubt who was going to keep the ball on the 1-yard touchdown as Kuchenbuch bullied his way into the end zone for a 36-22 victory for the Bulldogs.
Okanagan’s division one QB/DE and the big guys on the offensive line made the difference in this battle of teams perennially at the top of their respective divisions.
The Lyncs (1-2) will host Lakeside Nine-Mile Falls (1-2) on Saturday at 3:00.
Okanogan 36 Lynden Christian 22 OK 0 22 0 14 - 36 LC 7 7 8 0 - 22 LC - Robertson 90 pass from Maberry (Penner kick) OK - 5 yard touchdown run (2pt run good) OK - Recovered fumble in end zone (2pt run failed) LC - Jax. Huleatt 13 pass from Maberry (Penner kick) OK - 26 yard touchdown run (2pt run good) LC - Larson 51 fumble return (Bosman pass from Maberry) OK - 9 yard touchdown run (kick failed) OK - 1 yard touchdown run (2pt run good) OK LC 54-340 Rush Att-Yards 18-45 1-4-0 Comp-Att-Int 15-25-1 32 Passing Yards 215 Individual Leaders RUSHING - OK: N/A. LC: H. Owen 10-36, M. Owen 6-18, Hintz 1-(-1), Maberry 1-(-8). PASSING - OK: N/A. LC: Maberry 15-25-1-215. RECEIVING - OK: N/A. LC: Hintz 5-20, Robertson 4-153, Jax. Huleatt 2-25, Bosman 2-16, M. Owen 2-1.
