LAUREL - The Meridian Trojans scored 28 unanswered points in their 28-7 home win over Lynden Christian in a 1A Northwest Conference game on Friday, Oct. 19.
Lynden Christian scored on its opening drive when Isaac Reimer ran for 1 yard touchdown, but were unable to score again.
Meridian answered three plays later when Max McGuinn ran for a 54-yard touchdown.
The teams went in to halftime tied 7-7.
"The first half we played great," Lynden Christian coach Galen Kaemingk said. "We gave up that big run but were able to get some turnovers. It's frustrating when you're so close. We finally got the ball moving again in the second but then it gets tipped. We just need to learn how to finish games."
Meridian scored its second touchdown when McGuinn threw for 24 yards to Relijah McMillen.
"(McGuinn) was very erratic tonight," Meridian coach Bob Ames said. "He played a lot better in the second half but his first halves need to get better than it was tonight."
McGuinn then threw for another touchdown 3 minutes later to Sam Chambers for 15 yards.
"We settled down a lot more in the second half," Ames said. "We began to execute better. It was a good physical game. Lynden Christian played through a lot of adversity tonight; they had their quarterback get hurt and had a lot of sophomores in the game."
McGuinn threw 7 for 21 for two touchdowns and 84 yards.
"Those picks were on me," McGuinn said. "I need to hit the targets better. We are a good second half team and our guys never give up. We need to build off this and take it into our game next week against Baker."
The Trojans' final touchdown came in the fourth quarter when McMillen intercepted the ball and ran it back 50 yards.
Meridian improved to 5-3, 3-1 NWC and will play Mount Baker next week. With a win the Trojans will win the 1A league title.
Lynden Christian fell to 3-5, 0-4 and will play Friday Harbor on Friday, Oct. 26.
Lynden Christian 7 0 0 0- 7
Meridian 7 0 14 7- 28
First quarter
LC - Isaac Reimer 1 run (Trevor Kamena PAT good)
MER - Max McGuinn 54 run (Casey Bromet PAT good)
Second quarter
Third quarter
MER - Relijah McMillen 24 pass from Max McGuinn (Casey Bromet PAT good)
MER - Sam Chambers 15 pass from Max McGuinn (Casey Bromet PAT good)
Fourth quarter
MER - Relijah McMillen 50 yard interception (Casey Bromet PAT good)
LC Mer
First downs 8 15
Rushing Att-Yards 21-24 46-201
Comp-Att-Int 8-24-2 7-23-2
Passing yards 103 84
Penalties-yards 2-30 12-98
Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1
Individual leaders
RUSHING - Lynden Christian: Jordan Jansen 3-24, Josh Friberg 5-14, Isaac Reimer 3-(-4), Daulton Hommes 2-(-11), Dalton Biehle 3-(-2), Jake Van Berkum 2-2, Blake Mellema 3-1. Meridian: Max McGuinn 9-54, Evan Childs 16-63, Junior Castro 19-79, Cody Bachman 1-4, Isaiah Thompson 1-1.
PASSING - Lynden Christian: Isaac Reimer 3-9-1-63, Daulton Hommes 5-15-1-40. Meridian: Max McGuinn 7-21-2-84, Tanner Tutterrow 0-2-0-0.
RECEIVING - Lynden Christian: Truman Van Dalen 3-23, Josh Hornstra 3-57, Levi Vander Yacht 2-23. Meridian: Relijah McMillen 3-35, Junior Castro 2-29, Chad Richter 1-5, Sam Chambers 1-15.
