Champions! Lynden Lions cap undefeated season with clutch drive in state title game
What meant the most to senior wide receiver Isaiah Stanley and sophomore quarterback Brant Heppner was the trust their coaches put in them and their teammates during a truly remarkable 80-yard drive, resulting in Lynden’s second consecutive Class 2A state football championship and a state-best 24th win in a row.
“They earned that trust,” said Lions coach Blake VanDalen, who did not hesitate to let his team pass on three consecutive fourth-down plays, all with less than seven minutes to play, in a title game drenched with drama Saturday night at Sparks Stadium.
In turn, that trust earned the Lions (13-0) their never-to-be-forgotten 31-24 win over North Kitsap (12-2).
Whatcom County’s other state finalist, Mount Baker (8-5), came close to becoming only the second 11-man team with four losses in state history to claim a title, but defending IA champion Royal (12-1) dominated the fourth quarter with three touchdowns to win 35-20 after snapping a 14-all tie following three competitive quarters in Lakewood.
LYNDEN 31, NORTH KITSAP 24: “I knew Isaiah would do something,” running back Campbell Nolte said. “I told him at halftime, ‘We’re going to need you. You’re going to do something special.’ He puts in countless efforts and it’s so great to see him have that shine, that light. It’s just a special trust. Right person, right time.”
“Campbell did tell me I would be needed,” said Stanley. “It’s just all about family on our team.”
Lynden claimed its 10th state title overall is now 72-22 all-time in the post-season.
North Kitsap netted only 39 total yards in the first half as Lynden built a 17-3 lead mostly with its running game and special teams excellence. But the Vikings showed how they finished with 535 points for the season with second-half scoring drives of 80, 81 and 66 yards.
Meanwhile, North Kitsap’s defense demonstrated how they held their first 13 opponents to 70 points by limiting Lynden to seven offensive plays and one touchdown over that same span.
Then came The Drive for the Lions.
“Clutch, clutch, clutch, clutch. Isaiah is so good,” Heppner said of Stanley’s four catches for 58 yards on The Drive. Stanley had the chance for only one catch for no gain in the first half, but that didn’t shake his readiness
The drive began with an inspiring 13-yard catch by junior Cooper Moore on third-and-five from Lynden’s 23-yard line. The catch was made possible with an all-out horizontal leap by Moore, who began the season on the junior varsity.
Then came connections from Heppner to Stanley of 10 yards on fourth-and-four from Lynden’s 44-yard line; of 13 yards on fourth-and-11 from North Kitsap’s 46; and of 16 yards on fourth-and-five from North Kitsap’s 28.
After two running plays resulted in losses, Heppner looped a pass of 15 yards to Stanley on third-and-14 from the 16-yard line. The 6-foot-6 Heppner then ran untouched into the end zone for his third 1-yard score of the game with one minute to go. Troy Petz’s conversion kick, his 111th point of the season, made it 31-24.
On their first play after the kickoff, the Vikings fumbled and senior middle linebacker Chris Elenbaas — who finished with more than 80 tackles in his first season as starter — hustled in and pounced on the ball to clinch the win.
“What meant the most was how the coaches put their trust in us,” said Heppner, who completed 13 of 19 passes for 173 yards to finish with 966 yards for the season with no interceptions in 87 pass attempts. He finished with 20 touchdowns either running or passing.
“That trust from our coaches was honoring,” said Stanley, who finished with six catches for 68 yards. For the season on a team that relied primarily on the run, he caught almost everything thrown his way and finished with 49 catches for 661 yards and three touchdowns.
The Lions lost a fumble at their 11-yard-line on the opening kickoff but their defense allowed a net of minus-one yard on three runs after the Vikings reached the 1-yard line. They had to settle for a 19-yard field goal by Diego deLuna.
North Kitsap’s Logan Sloman quickly made an interception, but the Vikings again could net only one yard on three plays. Collin Anker burst in to block a field-goal attempt and Troy Petz returned the ball 63 yards to score. Trey Smiley stepped in for the exhausted Petz and came through with the conversion kick for a 7-3 lead.
“I saw how I could come around (a blocker) and time my leap to block it,” said Anker.
“The ball bounced perfectly to me,” said Petz.
Lynden soon made it 10-3 on a 24-yard field goal by Petz, his fifth this year and his 10th across the two title seasons. The field goal capped a 75-yard, 15-play drive featuring hard running by Lane Heeringa, who led the Lions with 51 yards on 18 carries, along with Heppner’s passes to Petz of 21 yards on third down and of 16 yards on fourth down.
The Lions scored on Heppner’s keeper on the play of the first half and Petz’s conversion for 17-3. The big plays on a 14-play, 89-yard drive were Petz’s 29-yard catch, Heppner’s 12-yard scramble and Moore’s 17-yard catch, all on third down.
In the second half, North Kitsap ended its three long drives with touchdown runs of 4 and 2 yards by Morgan Paul and elusive quarterback Cole Edwards’ five-yard pass to Paul. Edwards completed 14 of 21 passes for 144 yards and combined with Paul for 100 yards rushing as the Vikings’ amassed 251 yards compared to 259 by Lynden.
The Lions took a brief 24-10 lead even though a 15-yard penalty officially cost Petz a 100-yard kickoff return. Petz’s long return still caused the ball to be placed on the 17. Stanley gave a hint of what was to come with a 14-yard catch to the 1-yard-line and Heppner took it from there.
Lynden’s outburst was the first time North Kitsap gave up more than 22 points. When the Lions surpassed 30 points for the ninth time, they gave Whatcom County’s 11 teams a 52-25 record against out-of-county competition. In 93 games in all, county teams scored at least 30 points 53 times.
ROYAL 35, MOUNT BAKER 20: The theme for the Mountaineers was “We definitely proved we belong here,” as quarterback Landon Smith put it, talking of Baker‘s remarkable comeback from a start of four losses against only three wins.
It was the Mounties’ second title game. The first was in 2013 for Mount Baker, which appeared in the playoffs for the 10th consecutive time.
“I think we’ll be talking about this season forever,” Smith said, referring to how close the team became.
Even though the Mountaineers trailed 35-14, senior Marcquis George turned in an amazing 60-yard run with less than four minutes to play, setting up his 1-yard run for his 26th touchdown of the season. He finished with 221 yards on 27 carries and gained more than 2,100 yards.
“I wouldn’t want to be with any other team,” said George.
Royal was its sixth state title in the past seven opportunities and the Knights displayed their talents with a 10-play, 82-yard drive on which senior quarterback Dylan Allred threw a 6-yard scoring pass to Lance Allred for a 21-14 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Dylan Allred followed with a 4-yard scoring pass to Bennett Brown and Allred scored Royal’s final touchdown with a 5-yard run for a 35-14 advantage after Baker lost a fumble.
In all, Allred had 279 yards total offense and threw two scoring passes apiece to Edgar Delarosa and Lance Allred. Dylan Allred rushed for 84 yards on 11 carries and completed 15 of 24 passes for 195 yards, although Landon Smith intercepted two passes.
Smith completed 9 of 14 passes for 83 yards with two intercepted. Wilhem Maloley scored on an 8-yard run for a 7-0 lead after Smith’s first pass theft. In the third quarter, after Smith’s second pick, George burst for 22 yards and scored from the 11 for a 14-all tie.
“We had one heck of a ride,” said Maloley.
Baker coach Ron Lepper gained his 200th win in 27 seasons with the Mounties’ 14-13 win over Nooksack Valley in the semifinals. He expressed great pride in his team’s response to adversity.
“There’s no team I would rather coach,” Lepper said. “The last seven weeks have been ridiculous (in a remarkably successful way after the slow start). I am just so proud of all these guys.
“We earned the right to be here,” the coach said.
The only 11-man team ever to earn a title with four losses since the playoffs started was Othello in the 2004 2A tournament. Baker was only the seventh team in any division to make it to the finals with four losses, so that shows why this team means so much to Lepper.
“We definitely belonged here,” said offensive lineman Ethan Larson. “I think we have one of the best programs in the state.”
Baker showed how eager it was on its first series, with runs off 28 yards by George, 9 and 10 yards by Maloley and an 18-yard pass from Smith to tight end Dylan Moa before the drive fizzled against Royal’s defense, which gave up 79 points before the finals.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
4A — Lake Stevens 24, Kennedy Catholic 22
3A — Yelm 20, Eastside Catholic 13
2A — Lynden 31, North Kitsap 24
1A — Royal 35, Mount Baker 20
2B — Napavine 41, Okanogan 27
1B — Liberty Bell 50, Neah Bay 12
