SHORELINE - If Lynden is to successfully defend its Class 2A state title, it'll have to do it with a loss on its record.

Game planning to face the No. 1-ranked Class 1A football team in the state of Washington on one day's notice is no easy task. The Lions found that out the hard way.

Lynden and King's exchanged offensive blows for four quarters, but quarterback Josh Kraght's desperation heave to the end zone as time expired fell to the turf, as the Knights pulled off a 42-39 non-conference win Friday, Aug. 31, at Woolsey Stadium in Shoreline.

Until Thursday morning, the reigning 2A state champs were scheduled to face British Columbia's Robert Bateman in Lynden, but when the B.C. team canceled, Lynden scrambled to set up a game with one of the historically toughest schools in 1A.

"It's no excuse," Lynden coach Curt Kramme was quick to point out. "(King's) had just as much time to prepare as we did. It doesn't make things easier, though, facing a future Division I quarterback."

Kramme was referring to King's' senior quarterback Billy Green, who is slated to play for BYU next fall.

Green burned the Lions' secondary for 213 yards and four touchdowns in the first half. He finished with 259 yards and five TDs.

Kraght ran for a pair of touchdowns in the first half, and Luke Christian added a score of his own, but the Lions found themselves trailing 28-24 at the break.

The Lions failed to convert a fourth-and-3 on the Knights' 21-yard line during Lynden's opening drive of the third quarter. King's capitalized with a fourth-down conversion of their own on the ensuing possession.

Green hit wideout Caleb Taylor for a 13-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-goal on the Lynden 13 to put King's up 35-24.

Lynden rallied to take a 39-35 lead with back-to-back fourth quarter scoring drives.

Kraght found receiver John Shine on a screen pass, and Shine maneuvered his way around a few Knight defenders for a 15-yard score. Following a defensive stop, Kraght threw a second TD pass to tight end Jaremy Martin, who snuck his way into some open space in the middle of King's defense for a 21-yard touchdown score.

The Lions' defense couldn't stop Green and the Knights, though.

King's marched 65 yards with 5 minutes, 40 seconds left in the fourth. Running back Trevor Hansen scored on a 9-yard run with 1:35 left to put the Knights up for good.

Once Kraght's hail mary went incomplete, King's charged the field, while Lynden stood in disbelief.

"This still doesn't change our end-goal for the season," Kramme said.

Kraght and Christianson both finished with 138 yards rushing.

Reach Andrew Lang at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call 360-756-2862.

Lynden 14 10 0 15- 39

Kings 14 14 7 7- 42

First quarter

LYN-Luke Christianson 2 run (Dak Shagren kick)

K-Alex Brouwer 5 pass from Billy Green (Lucas Swanson kick)

LYN-Josh Kraght 1 run (Shagren kick)

K-Brouwer 31 pass from Green (Swanson kick)

Second quarter

LYN-Kraght 4 run (Shagren kick)

K-Caleb Taylor 23 pass from Green (Swanson kick)

LYN-Shagren 26 field goal

K-Taylor 23 pass from Green (Swanson kick)

Third quarter

K-Taylor 13 pass from Green (Swanson kick)

Fourth quarter

LYN-John Shine 15 pass from Kraght (Kraght pass)

LYN-Jeremy Martin 21 pass from Kraght (Shagren kick)

K-Trevor Hansen 9 run (Swanson kick)

Lyn K

First downs 20 15

Rushing Att-Yards 48-276 26-139

Comp-Att-Int 18-30-0 20-29-1

Passing yards 159 259

Penalties-yards 2-11 4-30

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0

Individual leaders

RUSHING - Lynden: Josh Kraght 23-138, Luke Christianson 25-138. King's: Trevor Hansen 9-72, Chris Yand 6-41, Billy Green 8-14, Ben Welch 3-12.

PASSING - Team: Josh Kraght 18-30-0-159. Billy Green: 20-29-1-259.

RECEIVING - Lynden: Luke Christianson 5-30, Dak Shagren 4-50, Jalani Phelps 3-31, John Shine 3-27, Hudson Gratton 2-0, Jeremy Martin 1-21. King's: Caleb Taylor 11-146, Alex Brouwer 5-81, Ben Welch 3-26, Jordan Turner 1-6.

Reach ANDREW LANG at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.