OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN

Two-time Northwest Conference MVP Josh Kraght is the catalyst for the Lions, and he has been hot the past two weeks, passing for 560 yards and six touchdowns and rushing for 128 yards and five more scores. Focus too much on Kraght, and backfield mate Luke Christianson is equally adept to burn you. All he has done in the Lions' four playoff games is rush for 538 yards and score 13 touchdowns. Kraght has a quartet of big, athletic receivers in all-state returner Zach Vis, Jalani Phelps, Dak Shagren and John Shine, and Christianson also is a threat out of the backfield. But none of Lynden's talented skill players would mean much without the likes of Bret DeGraaff, Marcus Fakkema, Casey Halbert, Matt Meyer and Caleb Newman up front. Lynden likes to start fast, as its scored 421 first-half points and has outscored opponents 151-0 in the first half of its four postseason games this season.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN

Often overshadowed by its high scoring offense the Lions wouldn't have been able to start the running clock in 10 of their 12 victories this season without a stingy defense. The first-team has allowed only 77 points this season, and 42 of them came in the season opener against King's. Lynden, as usual, is relatively small on the defensive line, with hard slanting Gabe Kaemingk, Trent Postma and Bret DeGraaff. Their job is to funnel everything to linebackers Jaremy Martin and Jose Martinez, who each have more than 125 tackles this season. Big, athletic defensive ends Matt Meyer and Caleb Newman are experts at disrupting offenses, while corners Luke Christianson and Josh Kraght and safeties Zach Vis and John Shine are outstanding in the secondary.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

JOSH KRAGHT

Senior, QB/DB

Kraght has been nearly unstoppable the past two weeks, whether it's through the air - as it was when he passed for 290 yards and four touchdowns in a quarterfinal win over Sumner - or on the ground - as it was when he rushed for 103 yards and four first-half touchdowns in a semifinal win over Capital - or both.

ZACH VIS

Senior, WR/DB

After missing the first five weeks with a broken collarbone, Vis seems to be rounding into perfect shape in time for the biggest games of the season. The past three weeks he's caught 22 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns. And don't forget about his impact on defense as a big-hitting safety.

LUKE CHRISTIANSON

Senior, RB/DB

Christianson is capable of going all the way each and every time he touches the ball, and he's already done that 13 times during the Lions' four postseason games. He's got breakaway speed and the innate ability to stop and change direction in any hole his big, athletic offensive line opens up.

KEYS TO VICTORY

1. Brown out

Tumwater's Andrew Brown leads the team with 14 rushing touchdowns and four through the air, but he's most dangerous in the open field during a return. Lynden can't give him chances.

2. No razzle dazzle

Legendary coach Sid Otton is known to go to his bag of tricks once or twice at key points in the game. Lynden must stay on its toes.

3. Let the big boys eat

Lynden has a big, physical, athletic, experienced offensive line that should be capable of winning the battle up front.

LYNDEN ROSTER

No Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.

1 Jalani Phelps WR/DB 6-3 175 Jr.

2 Luke Christianson RB/DB 6-0 185 Sr.

3 Josh Kraght QB/DB 5-11 180 Sr.

4 Lucas Peterson WR/DE 6-1 160 So.

5 Dak Shagren WR/DB 6-3 175 Sr.

6 Kaydn Williams RB/LB 5-8 155 Jr.

7 Parker Harrison WR/DB 6-2 170 Jr.

8 Rudy Mendoza WR/DB 5-8 140 Jr.

9 Sterling Somers QB/DB 6-3 175 Fr.

10 Cameron Wainwright QB/DB 6-0 155 Jr.

11 Zach Vis WR/DB 6-3 195 Sr.

12 Ryan Mouat RB/DL 5-8 170 Sr.

13 Daniel Doering OL/DL 5-9 135 Fr.

14 Jordan Sterk DB 6-3 175 Sr.

15 Jacob Boland WR/DB 5-11 160 Jr.

17 Gabe Kaemingk WR/DL 5-10 165 Sr.

20 John Shine WR/DB 6-2 170 Sr.

21 Kollin George WR/DB 5-8 135 So.

22 Trey Shagren WR/DB 6-1 155 So.

24 David Gallegoes WR/DB 6-0 155 Sr.

27 Ryan Ericksen WR/DB 5-11 140 Jr.

29 Jared Swarthout RB/DL 5-9 170 So.

30 Ben Colwell WR/DB 6-1 170 Fr.

33 Alex Otano-Guenther RB/LB 5-9 155 Jr.

34 Clay Tevelde OL/DL 6-3 230 Sr.

35 Colby Spady RB/DB 5-9 145 Jr.

36 Dimitriy Telega RB/DB 5-11 170 So.

37 Trent Postma RB/DL 6-0 180 So.

38 Jesse Fremolara RB/LB 5-9 165 Jr.

39 Kody Ames WR/DE 6-4 190 Jr.

40 Timmy Lucern RB/LB 5-7 165 Jr.

41 Jaremy Martin TE/LB 6-2 240 Jr.

42 Jordan Wittenberg WR/DB 5-9 165 Fr.

43 Jagjiwan Brar OL/LB 5-10 180 So.

44 Matt Higman WR/DE 6-2 170 So.

45 Vincent Audier LB 5-10 200 Jr.

46 Noah King WR/DB 5-7 140 Fr.

50 Derron Dunnigan OL/DL 5-7 200 So.

51 Jose Martinez RB/LB 5-9 170 Sr.

52 Marcus Fakkema OL/DE 6-3 240 Sr.

53 Jensen Mayberry OL/DL 5-8 190 Fr.

53 Jensen Mayberry OL/DL 5-8 190 Fr.

54 Alex Pickel OL/DL 6-0 270 Jr.

55 Harmin Mattu OL/DL 6-0 210 Sr.

56 James Cuny OL/DL 5-10 160 So.

57 Casey Halbert OL/DL 5-9 215 Sr.

58 Oscar Diaz OL/DL 6-3 290 So.

59 Simba Aulakh OL/DL 6-2 245 Sr.

60 Cole Hayes OL/DL 6-3 210 Fr.

61 Matt Vrieling OL/DL 5-8 195 So.

62 Tristan Campbell OL/DL 6-0 185 Jr.

63 Roman Castillo OL/DL 5-11 250 Sr.

66 Bret DeGraaff OL/DL 6-1 235 Sr.

67 Jon Rouse OL/DL 6-0 260 Jr.

68 Layn Debruin OL/DL 6-3 275 Sr.

69 Brian Gorrebeeck OL/DL 6-3 240 Jr.

70 Russel Moretto OL/DL 5-11 230 Sr.

72 Chad DeBoer OL/DL 5-9 210 So.

73 Trevor Lange OL/DL 6-0 340 Jr.

74 Ryan Priestman OL/DL 6-3 220 Sr.

75 Alex Kildall OL/DL 6-2 190 Jr.

76 Hunter Harrison OL/DL 5-11 24 So.

77 Caleb Newman OL/DE 6-3 220 Sr.

78 Matt Meyer OL/DL 6-5 280 Sr.

79 Marcus Mckee OL/DL 6-0 210 So.

82 Tristan Moffat WR/DB 5-8 150 Fr.

83 Dalton Oligschlager WR/DB 5-9 160 Fr.

85 Colin Bovenkamp WR/DB 5-10 145 So.

86 Marcus Landeros WR/DB 5-8 150 Fr.

88 Scooter Hastings WR/DB 6-6 190 So.

89 Jared Moffat WR/DE 6-3 170 So.

90 Kordel Clarks WR/DE 6-2 180 So.

94 Carson Smith OL/DL 5-7 195 Fr.

98 Caden Lair OL/DE 6-1 195 Fr.

99 Bryce Sterk TE/DE 6-3 190 So.

NA Calvin Griffin OL/DL 5-11 315 Sr.

LYNDEN RESULTS

Aug. 31 at King's L 42-39

Sept. 7 at Anacortes* W 42-0

Sept. 14 Mount Baker W 55-14

Sept. 21 Sedro-Woolley* W 42-12

Sept. 28 at Sehome (at Civic Stadium)* W 41-0

Oct. 5 Bellingham* W 43-13

Oct. 12 at Burlington-Edison* W 34-7

Oct. 19 Ferndale* W 49-14

Oct. 25 at Squalicum (at Civic Stadium)* W 49-7

CLASS 2A NORTHWEST DISTRICT PLAYOFFS

Nov. 2 Sultan W 47-28

CLASS 2A STATE PLAYOFFS

Nov. 10 Mark Morris (at Civic Stadium) W 42-14

Nov. 17 at Sumner W 42-7

Nov. 23 Capital (at Tacoma) W 48-21

LYNDEN STAT LEADERS

RUSHING

Player Att. Yards Avg. TD

Luke Christianson 174 1477 8.5 22

Josh Kraght 113 839 7.4 15

Trent Postma 34 257 7.6 5

Cameron Wainwright 38 108 2.8 3

Jaremy Martin 10 57 5.7 2

PASSING

Player Cmp. Att. Yards TD Int.

Josh Kraght 162 242 2,364 28 8

Cameron Wainwright 23 39 280 1 2

RECEIVING

Player Rec. Yards Avg. TD

Zach Vis 43 658 15.3 7

Jalani Phelps 30 569 19.0 7

Dak Shagren 30 425 14.2 5

Luke Christianson 37 419 11.3 6

Scott Hastings 7 125 17.9 1

TACKLES

Player Solo. Ast. Total

Jose Martinez 68 63 131

Jaremy Martin 61 68 129

Gabe Kaemingk 31 48 79

Caleb Newman 26 43 69

John Shine 26 39 65

SACKS

Player No.

Gabe Kaemingk 6

Caleb Newman 4

Jose Martinez 2

Matt Meyer 2

TACKLES FOR LOSS

Player No.

Caleb Newman 7

Casey Halbert 5

Trent Postma 4

Zach Vis 4

INTERCEPTIONS

Player No.

Dak Shagren 2

John Shine 2

8 tied with 1

FORCED FUMBLES

Player No.

Caleb Newman 5

Jose Martinez 3

FUMBLE RECOVERIES

Player No.

Matt Meyer 3

Jalani Phelps 2

Bret DeGraaff 2

Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.