BY JEFF WOOD – For Whatcom Preps
LYNDEN – On a rain-soaked natural grass field at Lynden Christian High School, the Lyncs used big plays in the passing game and an opportunistic defensive backfield to win a hard-fought non-conference game over the Sehome Mariners 17-6 on Friday night.
The Lyncs received the opening kickoff and commenced with a well executed 13-play drive that ended in a 17-yard touchdown reception by senior receiver Boyce Robertson. With 6:27 left in the opening quarter, it was a 7-0 lead for the home team.
Sehome moved the ball into Lync territory on their first possession but an incompletion on a 4th-and-13 gave the ball back to Lynden Christian.
The next drive on offense for LC began ominously as it almost ended in a turnover. A near interception by senior defensive lineman Cole Turell on a screen pass gave the Lyncs new life. Senior quarterback Eli Maberry then found Robertson, who was able to get behind the defense on a key 3rd down and 18 to keep their drive going. A 3-yard reception on a whip route by Robertson completed the touchdown drive and with 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter LC led 14-0.
The Sehome offense countered with a 16 play 70-yard drive behind the strength of their offensive line and the slashing rushes of senior running back Sawyer Woods. The Lync defense turned the Mariners away with no points however as they made 4 stops inside the five-yard line.
Lynden Christian moved the ball from the shadow of their end zone up to the 24 thanks to a pass interference call. However, a penalty of their own followed by a bad shotgun snap put them in a perilous spot on their own 1-yard line. A punt out of their end zone, nevertheless, had the Sehome offense starting its next drive with good field position at the Lync 27 yard-line.
It looked like the Mariners had something going after a senior quarterback Nolan Wright 10-yard scramble. But a Lynden Christian interception by senior linebacker Treyson Johnson ended the Mariner scoring opportunity.
Lynden Christian returned the favor two plays later though and Sehome regained possession on an interception by senior safety Hudson Neff. With only 16 seconds to play, the Mariners gained some yardage on a pass interference penalty and then attempted a 33-yard field goal. The kick by junior Bane Mitchell sailed wide left and the teams went into halftime with the score at 14-0 in advantage of Lynden Christian.
It was a scoreless third quarter as both defenses controlled the game. Sehome gained 102 yards in the quarter but were intercepted twice and were forced to punt as well. The Lyncs also lost a fumble and were stymied on the ground as the Sehome front seven made multiple tackles for loss and limited Lynden Christian to nine offensive plays in the quarter.
The Lyncs were able to find a bit of running room in the fourth quarter and also hit a key 17-yard screen pass to junior tight end Kaden Veldmam. They drove to the red zone in their first scoring opportunity of the second half. A 23-yard field goal by sophomore placekicker Jackson Yun extended the Lync lead to 17-0 with 5:18 to play in the game.
Sehome responded with a 75-yard drive with Wright finding four different receivers for completions. It ended with a four-yard touchdown pass that bounced off one Sehome player before being caught by senior Laki Fagaautau. After an incomplete pass on the 2-point try, due to a bad snap, the LC lead was 17-6 with 3:40 remaining in the game.
Sehome attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by the Lyncs. The Mariners used their timeouts and forced a punt, giving their offense another shot to score. After two quick completions, Sehome was in business and in Lync territory. Al Miller looked to catch the next pass, but it slipped out of his hands and was secured by Lync junior defensive back Dawson Hintz for an interception, ending the drive and securing the win for Lynden Christian.
After victory formation, the game ended with the Lyncs avenging last year’s loss to the Mariners, winning the game by a final score of 17-6.
Lynden Christian (6-0) will be back in conference play at 7:00 on Friday at Mount Baker (5-1). Sehome (3-3) will also be back in conference play on Friday against Bellingham (3-3) at 7:00.
Lynden Christian 17 Sehome 6 SEH 0 0 0 6 - 6 LC 14 0 0 3 - 17 LC - Robertson 17 pass from Maberry (Yun kick) LC - Robertson 3 pass from Maberry (Yun kick) LC - Yun 23 FG SEH - Fagaautau 4 pass from Wright (pass failed)
SEH LC
28-92 Rush Att-Yards 30-33
16-33-4 Comp-Att-Int 12-17-1
182 Passing Yards 155
Individual Leaders
RUSHING - SEH: Woods 20-70, Wright 3-13, Fagaautau 5-9. LC: Kooiman 21-40, Johnson 1-5, Kamphouse 1-4, Hintz 3-(-7), Maberry 4-(-9).
PASSING - SEH: Wright 16-33-4-182. LC: Maberry 12-17-1-155.
RECEIVING - SEH: Miller 4-69, Anderson 3-33, Neff 2-28, Lara 2-21, Goodman 2-13, Woods 1-12, Fagaautau 1-4, Duckworth 1-2. LC: Robertson 5-84, Kamphouse 3-31, Veldman 2-29, Kooiman 1-6, Huleatt 1-5.
