BELLINGHAM – Greatness is already a tough thing to achieve. Greatness when it’s expected can be even tougher.
Coming into this season, the Lynden football team returned most of its starters from last year’s state championship team, and the Lions began the season as the consensus favorite to repeat in 2022. They have dealt with injuries, they have gotten everyone’s best shot, yet the undefeated Lions have continued to show greatness throughout, including Saturday night at Civic Stadium when they defeated previously unbeaten Enumclaw 41-14 in a 2A state semifinal game.
The Hornets were able to move the ball early, but fizzled inside the Lynden 5-yard line on their first two drives. Meanwhile, senior running back Lane Heeringa showed his power and burst scoring a pair of long touchdown runs on two of the first three Lynden possessions.
Enumclaw got on the board late in the first half after putting together a strong 11-play drive which covered 64 yards, including the final five on a quick play-action pass to tight end for a touchdown.
Lynden had one last possession until halftime, but only had 23 seconds to make something happen. But, these are the top-ranked Lions we’re talking about here. They drove 26 yards on three plays, and on the final play of the half Brant Heppner heaved a deep pass against the wind down the Lynden sideline which was snatched out of the air by senior Troy Petz who landed with his feet in bounds, then scooted away from the Hornet defenders for a 54-yard touchdown.
Lynden led 19-7 at the half.
The Lions started the third quarter by possessing the ball, and held onto for 10 minutes and 45 seconds as they methodically matriculated down the field before senior running back Campbell Nolte scored on a 5-yard touchdown run.
Nolte scored again early in the fourth quarter, this time on a highlight-reel run that saw him hurdle an arm tackle, stiff arm an opponent while landing the hurdle, and then dragging a would-be tackler into the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown.
The 200-pound back finished with a career-high 182 yards rushing on 14 carries. It was his third 100-yard performance of his career, and the first this season.
Senior quarterback Kaedan Hermanutz scored on a 2-yard run to cap the Lynden scoring. Enumclaw went to the air often late in the game and was picked off by junior cornerback Cooper Moore and senior safety Daniel Lopez. Heeringa led the defense once again with 9.5 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Also, during the first quarter, senior wide receiver Isaiah Stanley surpassed 100 career receptions, becoming just the 20th player in Whatcom County history to accomplish that feat.
The Lions (12-0) will face North Kitsap (12-1) for the 2A State Championship at 5:00 this Saturday night at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. Lynden defeated North Kitsap in the semifinals last season, 15-10.
Lynden 41 Enumclaw 14 ENM 0 7 0 7 - 14 LYN 7 12 8 14 - 41 LYN - Heeringa 17 run (Petz kick) LYN - Heeringa 22 run (kick failed) ENM - Paulson 5 pass from Trachte (kick good) LYN - Petz 54 pass from Heppner (kick failed) LYN - Nolte 5 run (Heeringa run) LYN - Nolte 37 run (Petz kick) ENM - Trachte 4 run (kick good) LYN - Hermanutz 2 run (Petz kick)
ENM LYN 32-119 Rush Att-Yards 50-347 14-29 Comp-Att-Int 4-7-0 164 Passing Yards 84 Individual Leaders RUSHING - ENM: N/A. LYN: Nolte 14-182, Heeringa 19-109, Heppner 5-25, Hermanutz 7-21, Ayres 4-13, Marti 1-(-3). PASSING - ENM: N/A. LYN: Heppner 4-7-0-84. RECEIVING - ENM: N/A. LYN: Stanley 2-16, Petz 1-54, Nolte 1-14.
