BLAINE - Blaine running back Mario Gobbato stepped on Blaine's football field Friday, Sept. 28, 28 yards behind former Ferndale running back Robert Davis for the all-time Whatcom County rushing record. When Gobbato stepped off, he had eclipsed Davis by 290 yards.
"I don't think we have anyone who can compete with our line," Gobbato said. "They keep working hard and getting better every week - it's pretty exciting to watch."
Gobbato rushed for 318 yards on 20 carries with three touchdowns behind his massive offensive line as the Borderites defeated Lynden Christian 30-0 in Northwest Conference 1A action. He broke the record on an 82-yard run down the middle of the field in the first quarter, giving Blaine a 14-0 lead with four minutes left in the first.
Blaine head coach Jay Dodd was proud of his senior tailback's record accomplishment.
"I didn't do much," Dodd said. "He's a heck of a player, and we call basic running plays and good things are happening because we have a good team."
Gobbato had touchdown runs of 82, 76 and 43 yards in the game.
Friday's game was the first time Lynden Christian and Blaine had played since 2005.
The elements played a factor in this game, as the rain began early in the first, and progressively got harder as the game continued until it let up mid-way through the fourth.
The passing attacks for both Blaine and Lynden Christian had difficulty getting anything going. Blaine quarterback Nate Kramme threw for 110 yards and a touchdown, while Lynden Christian's quarterback Isaac Reimer completed just nine of his 23 attempts for 74 yards and one interception.
Blaine was able to strike once in the air, as the opening play for Blaine's offense was a 71-yard touchdown pass from Kramme to Brett Allen.
"Our kids were excited about doing something we worked on all week and we just wanted to do it in the first game in the first play," Dodd said. "It was a great throw and a great catch."
Both teams struggled moving the ball after halftime, and when the teams did elect to throw the ball downfield, interceptions and incompletions often occurred.
Lynden Christian's Truman Van Dalen was able to intercept two Kramme passes in the second half - both jump balls and difficult catches.
Blaine travels to Friday Harbor next Friday.
Lynden Chr. 0 0 0 0- 0
Blaine 14 8 8 0- 30
First quarter
Blaine - Allen 71 pass from Kramme (Gobbato run)
Blaine - Gobbato 82 run (Run failed)
Second quarter
Blaine - Gobbato 76 run (Gobbato run)
Third quarter
Blaine - Gobbato 43 run (Gobbato run)
LC Blaine
First Downs 11 8
Rushing Att-Yards 38-85 27-338
Comp-Att-Int 9-23-1 4-10-2
Passing Yards 74 110
Penalties 3-25 6-65
Fumbles-Lost 3-1 1-0
Individual leaders
Rushing - Lynden Christian: Josh Friberg 14-52, Jordan Jansen 10-14, Will Scholten 5-4, Isaac Reimer 3-3, Josh Hornstra 2-5, Blake Mellema 2-7, Dalton Biehle 2-0. Blaine: Mario Gobbato 20-318, Cole Muder 5-17, Isaiah Jackson 1-1, Tyler Kelly 1-2.
Passing - Lynden Christian: Isaac Reimer 9-23-1-74. Blaine: Kramme 4-10-2-110.
Receiving - Lynden Christian: Josh Hornstra 3-15, Truman Van Dalen 2-38, Levi Vander Yacht 2-13, Daulton Hommes 1-8, Will Scholten 1-0. Blaine: Brett Allen 2-80, Isaiah Jackson 2-30.
