BY MAKAYLA SPARKS – For Whatcom Preps
BLAINE – Normally, preventing a team from scoring for a single quarter isn’t something noteworthy. But when the Lynden Christian Lyncs turned a first half shootout into a third quarter shutdown, that was the difference on their route to a 56-35 1A state quarterfinal victory over the Montesano Bulldogs on Saturday evening at Blaine High School.
The Bulldogs started the game with the ball and the first touchdown. The Lyncs didn’t waste anytime responding, when senior quarterback Eli Maberry noticed one-on-one coverage and connected with senior receiver Boyce Robertson for a 65-yard touchdown.
LC continued to power forward with the momentum, turning away Montesano on three straight plays and forcing them to punt. Maberry connected with Robertson for a second touchdown minutes later, this time from 21 yards out, and the Lyncs took a 14-7 lead.
Shortly into the second quarter, the Bulldogs found the endzone again and tied the game at 14 each.
With less than five minutes to play in the first half, LC found itself staring at a third-and-29 situation after a penalty on a touchdown pass. Maberry then threw the ball up for junior wide receiver Dawson Hintz who came down with the catch in the endzone to take back the lead, 21-14.
The Lyncs’ line-drive kickoff enabled the football to bounce off of a Bulldog up-man, and it was recovered by sophomore Jackson Yun in just mere seconds after it left his foot. Maberry then grabbed his fourth touchdown of the first half when he found junior tight end Kaden Veldman for a six-yard score.
However, Montesano would get the last score of the first half when they returned the ensuing kickoff all the way for a touchdown, making the halftime score 28-21 in favor of the Lyncs.
Lynden Christian didn’t waste any time getting things going in the second half. Robertson caught a quick pass, made one move and raced into the endzone for his third with less than a minute off the clock. It was also his 20th receiving touchdown of the season, as he became just the third player in Whatcom County history to accomplish that feat.
After a defensive stop, senior running back Trey Johnson pushed his way into the endzone for a one-yard score.
Quickly after, Lyncs senior safety Gunner DeKoster was helping in a double coverage and watched the ball sail over the receiver’s hands and into his own, before turning around running the other direction with it. The interception set up another touchdown for LC as Maberry connected with senior receiver Jaxon Huleatt from 29 yards out.
With that, the Lyncs had blown the shootout wide open, now holding a four score lead, 49-21.
However, Montesano wasn’t going down with a fight and found the endzone twice more, closing the score gap to 49-35.
But it was all for not, when Maberry tied a bow on the game after galloping into the endzone from a yard out for the 56-35 lead. He finished the game with 340 yards passing, and completed 18-of-23 passes. His six touchdown passes broke the school record for a single game, and also tied the Whatcom County record.
The drive featured numerous carries by junior running back Chris Kooiman who ended the night with 170 yards on 30 carries. He now has 1294 yards rushing on the season, which is the most ever for a season in school history.
A stop on defense and one first down later, Maberry took a knee twice and the Lyncs booked their spot in the semifinals.
Lynden Christian (10-1) will travel to Royal (11-0) to take on the top-seeded Knights on Saturday at 3:00. Royal has won eight of the last nine state championships.
Lynden Christian 56 Montesano 35 MON 7 14 0 14 - 35 LC 14 14 21 7 - 56 MON - 5 yard touchdown run (kick good) LC - Robertson 65 pass from Maberry (Penner kick) LC - Robertson 21 pass from Maberry (Penner kick) MON - 16 yard touchdown pass (kick good) LC - Hintz 30 pass from Maberry (Penner kick) LC - Veldman 6 pass from Maberry (Penner kick) MON - 92 yard kickoff return for a touchdown (kick good) LC - Robertson 50 pass from Maberry (Penner kick) LC - Johnson 1 run (Penner kick) LC - Huleatt 29 pass from Maberry (Penner kick) MON - 21 yard touchdown pass (kick good) MON - 12 yard touchdown pass (kick good) LC - Maberry 1 run (Penner kick)
MON LC 22-80 Rush Att-Yards 43-204 16-26-1 Comp-Att-Int 18-23-0 202 Passing Yards 340 Individual Leaders RUSHING - MON: N/A. LC: Kooiman 30-170, Johnson 8-30, Maberry 5-4. PASSING - MON: N/A. LC: Maberry 18-23-0-340. RECEIVING - MON: N/A. LC: Robertson 7-182, Veldman 5-54, Kooiman 2-36, Kamphouse 2-9, Hintz 1-30, Huleatt 1-29.
