Lynden’s offensive line focused on becoming No. 1 for the second consecutive season
Lynden’s unique offensive line does not think much about numbers like 21 and 5,000. They’re just all business and determined to become No. 1 for the second consecutive season.
“I think I’m the only head coach in the state to get a state championship and be lucky enough to have the entire offensive line return,” said Blake VanDalen.
Indeed he is.
VanDalen is also lucky enough to have a talented, experienced defensive lineman to take the place of an injured starter.
That, in short, sums up the situation this group of large, talented linemen for No. 1 seed Lynden (10-0) find themselves in heading into the quarterfinals of the Class 2A state playoffs. They’ll face No. 8 Highline (10-1) at Civic Stadium on Friday at 6 p.m.
The Lions have a state-leading 21-game winning streak and seem likely to surpass 5,000 yards rushing during that span.
“You know, this all started in the weight room … So can you guys guess how many yards you have blocked for?” VanDalen asked the linemen when they were being interviewed after their streak reached 20 wins with a 23-13 triumph over Anacortes in a showdown for the Northwest Conference championship.
All seven linemen — including injured star Dane Gatterman and third-year long snapper Campbell Nolte — took a guess. Jesus Ortiz came closest when he exclaimed “4,500!” with enthusiasm.
“That’s close,” VanDalen said. “I just figured out the exact number. It’s 4,554.”
Lynden rushed for 352 yards in the Lions’ 54-7 victory over Black Hills on Friday at Civic, so the linemen need fewer than 100 to surpass 5,000. And the starting line played only in the first half, along with the other first-stringers.
When the linemen were asked if they had any thoughts about winning 20 in a row — four days before they made it 21 — none of them knew the exact number.
“We just take it one game at a time,” several of them answered with the classic football cliché. They weren’t sure if longtime offensive line coach Ed Bomber might be in hearing range and they knew he would love to hear that.
Senior left tackle Josiah VanderHaak (275 pounds), senior left guard Ortiz (275), junior center Kuyper Assink (255), junior right guard Bennett Roorda (290) and senior right tackle Luke Winterberg (230) — plus Gatterman (285) and Nolte (a 200-pound running back) — all insisted that Bomber be credited with much of their success.
“He really cares for us,” said Gatterman, who has served as a mature student-coach since he sustained a season-ending broken collarbone in the sixth game. “Coach Bomber has taught us everything we know.”
“He’s a joy to be with,” said Ortiz of his line coach.
Bomber is nothing if not versatile. How many line coaches also serve successfully as their school’s girls’ softball coach?
Of course, the linemen made it known that all 12 members of the coaching staff deserve a ton of credit for helping to develop nearly a ton of affable young men into the unified unit they are.
“We have a great culture, great coaching and great teammates,” said Gatterman.
VanDalen said Winterberg, who loves playing defense, “is really doing us a favor.”
“At first I wasn’t too excited to play on offense,” Winterberg said. “I didn’t play any offense as a junior. But I felt a lot better in my second game on offense. Everyone helped me a lot. Actually, I‘ve always felt I was one of them.”
As a junior, Roorda took over in the third game at right guard when a teammate was injured. Nobody has ever been able to move the big guy.
VanderHaak, who shifted from right tackle to left tackle when Gatterman was injured, has started all 21 wins along with Ortiz and Assink.
“The linemen never seek the spotlight,” said long snapper Nolte, a standout ball-carrier and defensive end who has served with holder Isaiah Stanley (also a superb receiver) and kicker Troy Petz (also a fine receiver and defensive back).
Nolte expresses great respect for all the linemen.
“Jesus has a little fire,” Nolte said. “He just puts people on the ground. Luke does whatever it takes. Our coaches entrusted Kuyper with responsibility when he was a sophomore last season. We love the passion Dane has for the game. Joe always gets the job done. Bennett is selfless and coachable. We’re always on the same page.
“Our linemen are some of the most genuine, down-to-Earth guys you’d ever want to meet,” Nolte added.
Ortiz says he misses the “pancake counts” (players blocked to the ground) he used to do with Gatterman.
The linemen are especially proud to have helped create so many numbers for so many different players. They have blocked for more than a dozen statistical standouts, with quarterbacks Kaedan Hermanutz and Brant Hepper combining for more than 1,200 yards passing, Lane Heeringa and Nolte teaming for more than 1,000 yards rushing and Stanley with nearly 600 yards receiving. But isn’t this where we came in — with numbers that the linemen don’t really think about?
QUARTERFINALS
3A
No. 11 Stanwood vs. No. 3 O’Dea, 1 p.m. Saturday at Seattle Memorial Stadium.
No. 7 Ferndale vs. No. 2 Eastside Catholic, 4 p.m. Saturday at Seattle Memorial Stadium.
No. 5 Bellevue vs. No. 4 Lincoln-Tacoma, 2 p.m. Saturday at Lincoln Bowl.
No. 9 Kennewick 9 at No. 1 Yelm, 1 p.m. Saturday.
2A
No. 6 Anacortes at No. 3 North Kitsap, 6:30 p.m. Friday.
No. 10 Sedro-Woolley vs. No. 2 W.F. West, 1 p.m. Saturday at Centralia Tiger Stadium.
No. 5 Othello vs. No. 4 Enumclaw, 3 p.m. Saturday at Enumclaw Expo Center.
No. 8 Highline vs. No. 1 Lynden, 6 p.m. Friday at Civic Stadium.
1A
No. 11 Cashmere vs. No. 3 Nooksack Valley, 3 p.m. Saturday at Civic Stadium.
No. 10 Mount Baker vs. No. 2 Lakeside Nine Mile Falls, 4 p.m. Saturday at Spokane Union Stadium.
No. 12 Freeman vs. No. 4 Eatonville at Art Crate Field, 2 p.m. Saturday.
No. 8 Montesano at No. 1 Royal, 1 p.m. Saturday.
This story was originally published November 17, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
