‘It’s all our O-line’ — great wall of Lynden bulldozes the Lions to a thrilling comeback
Not one high school offensive line in 1,000 is likely to experience a situation like top-ranked Lynden’s wall of big boys enjoyed Friday in their home opener.
That’s no exaggeration.
The Lions, playing with the same interior five up front that won the Class 2A state title last year, came through in remarkable style, even for them, in Lynden’s 24-21 comeback win over Sedro-Woolley. It was a grinding Northwest Conference 2A battle between high-caliber teams that may well claim the league’s two state playoff spots.
On Saturday, the Lions (4-0, 2-2) learned they will have to share headlines with both Lynden Christian and Ferndale. LC (4-0) upended top-ranked Royal 21-14 to end a state-leading 36-game win streak in a 1A non-league thriller in Royal City, and Ferndale (2-2, 2-0) rallied from 12 points down in the fourth quarter to beat previously undefeated Arlington 27-24. The two wins gave Whatcom County a 24-12 record against out-of-county teams in this banner local season.
Lynden’s obvious heroes — alternating quarterbacks Kaedan Hermanutz and Brant Heppner, running backs Lane Heeringa and Campbell Nolte, and kicker Troy Petz — couldn’t stop praising their line.
The lineman not only went without any penalties, but also made possible the winning drive in the final five minutes — a 13-play, 65-yard thrust that was all runs — and extended their two-season winning streak to 15 games.
Heppner, a rugged 6-foot-6 sophomore, ran seven times for 29 yards and four first downs on the dramatic drive, capped by a 1-yard dive with 54 seconds to play. It was the sixth touchdown the rookie has produced in a three-game span.
“It’s all our O line,” Heppner said of center Kuyper Assink, guards Jesus Ortiz and Bennett Roorda, and tackles Dane Gatterman and Josiah VanderHaak, who combined weigh 1,380 pounds, if not more. “I wouldn’t trade those guys for anyone.”
“They are great dudes and great players,” said Nolte, who seemed to carry nearly the entire Cubs defense on the longest play of the memorable drive — a 13-yard rumble to the Woolley 21-yard line that had the packed house going nuts.
“I couldn’t have asked for more from our line,” said two-year, two-way star Heeringa, who won the MVP award the two Marines on hand gave him for his play in a designated Great American Rivalry Series game.
“That means a lot because my dad (Reese) was a Marine before he became a Navy SEAL,” Heeringa said.
Petz was also an obvious standout, kicking a 40-yard field goal, five touchbacks on as many kickoffs and three vital extra points. He also earned an interception off a deflected pass by fellow senior defensive back Cody Postma to end the game.
“I just laid out for the ball,” said Postma, who was a special teams player last year and just plain special in this huge win for the Lions (4-0 overall, 2-0 NWC). “There’s nothing like this feeling.”
Lynden coach Blake VanDalen said Postma epitomized the spirit of Lynden’s 31 seniors.
“He’s our nickel (fifth) back in our defensive backfield,” the coach said. “When he came off the field after that play, his eyes were just dancing in such a cool moment. He’ll remember that play forever.”
All four of Lynden’s scoring drives and all three of Woolley’s payoff pushes were at least 65 yards.
Lynden opened the game with a 13-play, 77-yard drive ended by Heeringa’s 1-yard touchdown. The Lions took a 14-0 advantage with 4:04 left in the first half as Heppner scored from the 3 after completing three of four passes, with two to Isaiah Stanley for 28 yards and one to Heeringa for 9.
The Cubs (3-1, 1-1) responded with a 9-play, 80-yard drive capped by junior quarterback Carsten Reynolds’ 16-yard pass to Jaydn Lee. Woolley tied it a 14-all by thrusting 80 yards on 17 plays in the third quarter, with Reynolds executing a nifty fake and scoring from the 7.
The Lions answered with a 13-play, 66-yard drive capped by a 43-yard field goal by Petz, his third of the season and all at least 40 yards. But Woolley took a 21-17 lead with 5:21 to play on a 12-play, 80-yard drive as Reynolds broke several tackles to score from the 4. Freshman kicker Aiden Zavala booted his third conversion, leaving the Lions knowing they had to have a touchdown drive to win.
Hermanutz also played well at quarterback, rushing nine times for 46 yards and completing five of seven passes for 57 yards with one interception on a hail Mary throw near the end of the first half.
Heeringa rushed 15 times for 59 yards and Heppner ran 11 times for 57 yards in a promising performance.
Reynolds ran 13 times for 85 yards and completed six of 10 passes for 86 yards as the Cubs posted a 308-to-275 yards total offense edge. Chance Supler had 66 yards on 13 rushes.
“This was one of the greatest high school games anyone would want to see,” VanDalen said. “We have so much respect for coach (Dave) Ward and his team. I feel for the rest of the league that still has to play Sedro-Woolley.”
SATURDAY’S GAMES
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN 21, ROYAL 14: Junior quarterback Jeremiah Wright scored all three touchdowns, including a 2-yard run with 20 seconds left, capping a 61-yard drive, to hand perennial 1A state champion Royal only its third loss since 2014. Connell beat the Knights in 2014 and 2018.
Tyson Bajema recovered a fumble at the LC 39 with 3:55 left. Runs of 11, 9 and 8 yards by Kade Eldridge and a 15-yard penalty were the key plays in the drive. Braden Kuik kicked his third extra point.
Royal came in having allowed six points in its three wins, but Wright’s 3-yard run in the first quarter matched that total.
Royal’s Ethan Ellis responded with a 95-yard kickoff return, but the Lyncs (4-0) took a 14-7 halftime advantage when Wright, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound all-around athlete, scored from the 5 with two minutes remaining. Tyler Sipma’s interception set up the drive and Eldridge rumbled 28 yards to the 19, followed by Wright’s 11-yard pass to Bajema.
Royal tied it 14-all late in the third quarter, but Lane Dykstra’s second interception of the game and Bajema’s fumble recovery fended off the Knights. Dykstra also forced two fumbles.
“This was emotionally exhausting,” said first-year head coach Greg Terpstra. “It was Royal’s first home loss in 11 years. Our kids saw that they matched up well with Royal and were convinced we could win.
“I have to give credit to our defensive coordinator, Kent Bouma, for a great job. Our kids like Jacob Tolsma, Tommy Meyer and Jackson VanderVeen really dug deep. And Kade Eldridge (who has committed to the University of Southern California) was just a hammer.”
Terpstra, noting he is blessed with “overwhelming height,” said basketball coach Tim Zylstra’s support for football has played a key role in the talent Terpstra inherited.
FERNDALE 27, ARLINGTON 24: Isaiah Carlson rushed 22 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns as the Golden Eagles (2-2, 2-0) remained tied at the top of the Wesco 3A race with a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback from a 24-12 deficit.
Ferndale cut Arlington’s lead to 24-19, scoring on a nine-play, 60-yard drive capped by Bishop Ootsey’s 6-yard run, preceded by Ootsey’s 15-yard pass to Damien Toney and sophomore Zach Nielsen’s 20-yard dash.
The front four of Jake Mason, Landen Hatchett, Trevor Fetty and Camden Raymond allowed zero yards on Arlington’s ensuing possession and Ferndale took over with seven minutes left.
The Golden Eagles drove 58 yards, with Carlson gaining 43 on five carries, and Ootsie scored from the 1 with 2:59 left, followed by Nielsen’s 2-point conversion scamper around left end.
Arlington quarterback Leyton Martin, a talented sophomore, found Neil Carroll for 25 yards to the Ferndale 26 with a minute remaining. But Ferndale covered everyone so well that all four of Martin’s passes fell incomplete and he finished 32 for 52 for 348 yards and one interception, which resulted in a leg injury to Talan Bungard, who became the fourth regular to become unavailable because of an injury.
Carlson’s runs of 4 and 23 yards in the first half kept Ferndale in the game. Arlington (3-1, 2-1) outgained the Golden Eagles 416 to 296 but that was deceiving because Ferndale gave up big plays of 20, 42, 30, 27, 36 and 35 yards but otherwise was usually solid defensively.
“This had to be our most complete game,” said Ferndale coach Jamie Plenkovich. “We showed real character in the second half.”
FRIDAY’S GAMES
SEHOME 31, BURLINGTON-EDISON 7: Senior co-captain Tommy Funk gained more than 175 yards and ran for three touchdowns from the 15-yard line and shorter to lead the Mariners (3-1, 1-1) to a much-needed NWC win at Civic Stadium after Sehome’s forfeit to Sedro-Woolley.
Sophomore receiver Andre Watson caught a touchdown pass of about 30 yards from freshman Nolan Wright for Sehome’s third score, giving the Mariners a 20-7 halftime lead.
Sophomore Grady Evans capped 31 consecutive points with a 25-yard field goal.
Running back Carson Neff, Wright and Watson combined for more than 150 yards.
When coach Kevin Beason was asked if this wasn’t Funk’s career best game, he replied, “I’d say that’s a fair statement.”
Beason was also enthusiastic over his defense.
“This was our most complete game on both offense and defense,” Beason said. “We made four stops on fourth down. Our linebackers, Max Malo and Funk on the outside and Lucas Ortega and Kai Swanson on the inside, were all outstanding. So were Habib Bello and Nate Eisses up front and sophomore cornerback Coleby Chambers. Neff had an interception in the second half.”
Funk’s third TD was set up by a fumble recovery from safety Jackson Dew.
NOOKSACK VALLEY 62, HOQUIAM 20: Junior quarterback Joey Brown, a third-year regular, ran for scores of 18 and 34 yards and passed for touchdowns of 44 and 57 yards to sophomore Cory Olney. Sophomore running back Colton Lentz ran for scores of 6, 22 and 57 yards and junior Jackson Bennett returned a punt 60 yards to score to help give the Pioneers (4-0) a wild non-league 1A win over the Grizzlies (2-2) at Olympic Stadium.
Lentz gained 138 yards on only six carries, while Brown completed eight of 12 passes for 148 yards and ran four times for 84 yards. Olney caught five passes for 132 yards to help the Pioneers build a 55-0 halftime lead.
Jorgan Vigre made good on all eight of his conversion kicks and Matthew Blake ran 26 yards for the final Nooksack touchdown, giving non-seniors all 62 points.
The much-improved Pioneers, who were among the NWC’s youngest teams last year, have already matched last season’s victory total. They’ll begin NWC 1A play at home Friday, Sept. 30, against Meridian (3-1).
This was Nooksack’s first offensive explosion for coach Craig Bartl. They totaled 61 points in their first three games.
SQUALICUM 35, ARCHBISHOP MURPHY 3: Sophomore running back Marcus Nixon returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for the Storm (2-2, 1-1) in an NWC 2A win in Everett.
Jacob Sorenson caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Josh Leonard and Nixon scored on a 2-yard run, putting the Storm up 21-3 at the half. Leonard and Nixon combined for more than 250 yards passing and running.
Deandre Dunmore scored on an 11-yard run and Joaquin Ortiz made a one-handed catch in the end zone for Leonard’s eighth scoring toss of the season. Kai Sonnon kicked all five conversions.
“I think Ortiz made the best catch I’ve seen in my nine seasons as coach,” said Nick Lucey. “It was really an amazing play when he reached behind the defender.”
Lucey lauded his defense, saying that “we really played lights out after they got an early field goal.” He praised defensive backs Sorenson, Jacob Donnelly and Nick Watt and linebacker Dunmore for exceptional efforts.
MERIDIAN 41, FRIDAY HARBOR 0: The Trojans (3-1) extended their scoreless streak to six quarters with a non-league win at home.
Sophomore quarterback Jaeger Fyfe completed 17 of 25 passes for more than 230 yards, moving him close to 700 for the season, including two scores to Hunter Jones and one to Landen Downey, while Josh Elmer ran for three touchdowns, including two from 40 or more yards, and increased his total to more than 250 yards over a two-game span.
Elmer has nine touchdowns in all.
Jaxson Hurlbut had at least a dozen tackles and coach Patrick Ames also noted that Jones made his fourth interception of the season and ninth of his career.
Alex Castaneda and Downey combined for more than 120 yards rushing and receiving combined. Eli Jensen kicked five of six extra points.
KING’S 52, BLAINE 6: The Borderites (0-4) had a few high spots in the non-league home loss to King’s (3-1).
Junior tight end Conner Dalry caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Kael Evinger. Riley Ihde was a standout at safety and wide receiver, as was Hunter Vanzetti at linebacker and receiver.
“Our (young) defense continues to improve every game,” coach Jay Dodd said. “The players are getting better at reading keys and reacting the right way.”
SOUTH WHIDBEY 53, BELLINGHAM 9: The Bayhawks (2-2) suffered their second straight loss as South Whidbey (4-0) continued to show why it may challenge King’s (3-1) for a conference title.
Bellingham went up 9-8 thanks to a 30-yard field goal by Liam Poulton-Claypool and an 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by fast-improving sophomore Tyler Frost. But South Whidbey erupted over the final three quarters.
Promising sophomore quarterback Gabriel Van Hofwegen “managed the game well in his first start,” said Bayhawks coach Adam Leonard, who saw rushing leader Logan Steeves gain nearly 100 yards.
Bellingham will face the state’s top-ranked 2B team, Napavine from Lewis County, on Saturday, Oct. 1, at Civic Stadium.
MOUNT BAKER 2, CEDAR PARK CHRISTIAN 0: The Mountaineers (2-2) learned Thursday they had a non-league forfeit.
“We’re treating it like a bye,” said coach Ron Lepper, whose team opens the four-game NWC 1A season at Blaine on Friday, Sept. 30.
WEEK 5
Friday, Sept. 30
Meridian at Nooksack Valley, 7 p.m.
Mount Baker at Blaine, 7 p.m.
Lynden vs. Sehome at Civic Stadium, 7 p.m.
Squalicum at Burlington-Edison, 7 p.m.
Ferndale at Marysville Pilchuck, 7 p.m.
Darrington at Lummi, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 1
Bellingham vs. Napavine at Civic Stadium, 1 p.m.
Lynden Christian vs. Renton at Renton Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
This story was originally published September 26, 2022 at 5:30 AM.
