BY MAKAYLA SPARKS – For Whatcom Preps
FERNDALE – The storm was coming Saturday night so the Lynden Lions didn’t waste any time. Four touchdowns in the first quarter gave the Lions the momentum they need to defeat the second half rain and the Renton Redhawks, 46-6 at Ferndale Memorial Stadium.
With the Redhawks driving into the gusty wind, Renton opted to run the ball on fourth down but was met by Lynden senior linebacker Adam Holman at their own 25 yard line. Lynden took advantage of the early short field and senior quarterback Gordy Bedlington found the end zone from 14 yards out. With less than three minutes off the game clock, the Lions held a 7-0 lead.
Five and half minutes later, the Lions struck again. Junior quarterback Austin Postma charged his way into the endzone from two yards away.
The wind knocked down a Renton punt which gave Lynden another short field, and a minute and fifteen seconds later, Bedlington connected with senior wide receiver Sam Arango for a 29 yard score.
With the wind in their favor and impending bad weather closing in, the Lion coaching staff appeared to have one goal at the end of the first quarter… get another score before the field flipped. And that they did.
With eight seconds on the clock, head coach Blake Vandalen called a timeout and on the next play, Postma found Arango in the corner of the endzone. Lynden would head into the second quarter with a 27-0 lead.
Despite the less than favorable wind conditions that the field flip brought Lynden, the Lions weren’t slowing down. Bedlington picked up his second rushing touchdown of the game, two and half minutes into the quarter.
Nine seconds later, Postma gave the ball right back to Lynden after intercepting a Redhawk pass attempt.
Senior running back Dawson VanDalen powered into the endzone for a one yard score, invoking a running clock as the score was pushed to 40-0.
Things took a turn at halftime when the sideways rain hit the stadium but that didn’t stop Lynden from putting together a special moment. On their first offensive play, Lynden sent 10 brothers onto the field, giving each of them a chance to be on the field with their brother, or brothers.
Even with the stormy conditions in full effect, the Lions had more left in the bag. Sophomore defensive back Austin Pease grabbed an interception on Renton’s eight yard line. Junior running back Jack Lovegren found his way into the end zone a minute and half later to give Lynden a 46-0 advantage.
The Redhawks would put points on the board late in the final quarter of play but the running clock would tick away before they could do anything more.
The number two seeded Lions will play the fifteenth seeded Fife Trojans in the opening round of the 2A state playoffs this weekend. Date, time and location are still yet to be determined.
Lynden 46
Renton 6
REN 0 0 0 6 - 6
LYN 27 13 6 0 - 46
LYN - Bedlington 14 run (Maggard kick)
LYN - Postma 2 run (Maggard kick)
LYN - Arango 29 pass from Bedlington (kick failed)
LYN - Arango 14 pass from Postma (Maggard kick)
LYN - Bedlington 1 run (kick failed)
LYN - VanDalen 1 run (Maggard kick)
LYN - Lovegren 18 run (run failed)
REN - 20 yard touchdown pass (pass failed)
REN LYN
32-72 Rush Att-Yards 31-276
6-13-3 Comp-Att-Int 2-3-0
45 Passing Yards 43
Individual Leaders
RUSHING - REN: N/A. LYN: VanDalen 13-134, Postma 4-40, Bedlington 4-35, Triplett 6-28, Lovegren 1-18, Rentas 2-13, Lopez 1-8.
PASSING - REN: N/A. LYN: Bedlington 1-1-0-29, Postma 1-1-0-14, Dodd 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING - REN: N/A. LYN: Arango 2-43.
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