After catching his coach’s eye 6 years ago, he’s now catching everything else for LC

For Jackson Corkill, the path to a significant role in the town of Lynden’s current Golden Age of Football — and to the career receiving record at Lynden Christian — began when he first caught passes from Lyncs coach Dan Kaemingk.

That’s because also he caught Kaemingk’s eye.

Both remember that summer day, during a neighborhood gathering at Kaemingk’s home, when Corkill was 11 years old and coming off his first experience in tackle football in the fifth grade.

“I remember Jackson wanted me to throw passes to him and I told myself, ‘That kid can really catch the ball,’ ’’ said Kaemingk, who played quarterback for Lynden Christian (Class of 1981) and Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.

“What I remember is that my mom (Jayleen Corkill) wanted Coach Kaemingk to throw to me, so she asked him to,” Jackson said. “I thought that was pretty cool for Mom to do.”

His father, Mark Corkill, and his mother have raised a pretty cool kid, indeed — an athlete who has caught 86 passes in two seasons as a starter — but one who admittedly isn’t the nervous type.

Having started every game as a slot receiver for two years and having contributed much to three postseason victories this season, Corkill and the seventh-seeded Lyncs (10-1) will face their biggest challenge in the semifinals of the Class 1A State Playoffs against sixth-seeded Deer Park (10-0) Saturday at Everett Memorial Stadium at 1 p.m.

About 60 miles south, third-seeded Lynden (9-2) will face second-seeded Steilacoom (10-2) in the Class 2A semifinals Saturday at 3 p.m. at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.

“It’s pretty cool for both schools to be in the semifinals again,” said Corkill, well aware that Lynden is the only small town in the state with two teams in the semifinals for the second consecutive year. “I think it speaks really well for the work ethic, ability, toughness and community support.”

Korkill, who stands 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, acknowledges he “isn’t a stats guy” — in no small part because Kaemingk isn’t a stats coach — but he has 43 catches for 699 yards and 11 touchdowns this season (plus two scores as a runner). Last year he caught 43 for 574 yards and seven scores, plus two catches as a sophomore, for a career record of 88 catches and 20 touchdowns.

After helping Lynden Christian to a tie with Mount Baker for the Northwest Conference 1A title, Corkill has contributed four touchdowns in the postseason.

The Lyncs advanced to Saturday’s game with a 56-7 district win over Cedar Park Christian, a 42-12 state-opening victory over 10th-seeded Cascade Christian and a 31-7 comeback win over second-seeded LaSalle.

“I’ve really benefited from having so many talented teammates,” said Corkill, who has seldom faced double coverage because at least seven other skill-position players have made major contributions. “I feel so blessed to be playing with all our guys and with (second-year quarterback standout) Trajan Schouten. Trajan really throws a good ball. And we lost three starters on our line (from last year), but we‘ve really had guys step up on the line.”

Corkill says he plans to attend college and will consider options in football and track. He finished fourth at state 1A track last year with a career-best 50.9 seconds in the 400 meters.

“Jackson’s improvement really started in our weight room,” Kaemingk said. “Last year, I told him he needed to work on his lower body strength and he worked very hard.”

Saturday’s state semifinals

Class 1A

▪ Lynden Christian vs. Deer Park (at Everett Memorial Stadium), 1 p.m.

▪ Connell vs. Royal (at Lions Field, Moses Lake), 3 p.m.

Class 2A

▪ Lynden vs. Steilacoom (at Mount Tahoma High School), 3 p.m.

▪ Hockinson at Tumwater, 4 p.m.