LYNDEN — For the first time in over a decade, Nooksack Valley football clinched the 1A Northwest Conference championship following a 32-7 road win over Lynden Christian on Friday, Nov. 1.
“It is unbelievable,” Nooksack Valley’s running back Colton Lentz said “We have been striving for this forever.”
Lentz played a massive role in Nooksack Valley’s victory against their league rivals, finishing with 229 yards and five touchdowns on 34 carries.
“I give all my glory to the offensive line,” Lentz said. “They were dogs tonight. They are the best linemen in the state and a blessing to run behind them.”
Gallery: Nooksack Valley football secures league title with win over Lynden Christian
Lentz’s offensive production was also supported by quarterback Evan Brown’s success in the aerial attack, where he finished 12 for 21 for 114 yards.
“We came into thinking it would be pouring but we know Evan can throw the ball,” Lentz said. “Him being able to do that takes guys out of the box and opens it up for me and the line.”
Lentz’s first touchdown came on Nooksack Valley’s opening drive, scoring on a 43-yard rushing touchdown. On the previous play, Brown connected with Cory Olney for 37 yards to set up the score.
Lynden Christian responded on the following drive. After converting a fourth down attempt at Nooksack Valley’s 7-yard line, the Lyncs found Trey Bosman for a 3-yard touchdown reception.
On the following drive, Nooksack Valley converted two fourth-down attempts. Lentz finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown carry. Lynden Christian tried to respond but turned the ball over on downs.
With 10 seconds remaining in the half, Lentz finished Nooksack Valley’s drive with his third touchdown from 1 yard out.
As the rain began to pour, both offenses started to stall. Nooksack Valley punted after three plays but the Lyncs’ returner fumbled the ball and NV’s Jaxon Hester recovered it. Nooksack Valley capitalized on the turnover when Lentz spun out of a tackle, stiff-armed another defender and ran in a 35-yard touchdown run.
“If we didn’t have the momentum already, it would have been a shift in the momentum swing,” Lentz said. “We didn’t hold our heads and didn’t bend or break.”
Lynden Christian’s final attempt came with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Lyncs marched down the field but stalled on fourth and goal and turned the ball over on downs. Nooksack Valley ran more than seven minutes off the clock and finished the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run from Lentz.
The Pioneers and Lyncs will both play either next Friday, Nov. 8 or Saturday, Nov. 9 in a Round of 32 elimination game.
“We need to go into every game thinking it’s just another team with another colored jersey and go and compete,” Lentz said.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
