RECORD: 9-2 – COACH: Curt Kramme
LEAGUE: 5-1 (2nd Place in the NWL)
CLASSIFICATION: 3A – PLAYOFFS: Lost Play-in Game
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 23.7 – Allowed: 17.2 – Differential: +6.5
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Lynden 24, Sehome 14
Week 2: Lynden 19, Mountlake Terrace 7
Week 3: Lynden 9, Anacortes 6
Week 4: Lynden 19, Mount Vernon 7
Week 5: Lynden 25, Sedro Woolley 6
Week 6: Ferndale 28, Lynden 0
Week 7: Lynden 28, Bellingham 7
Week 8: Lynden 10, Kamiak 6
Week 9: Lynden 37, Burlington-Edison 14
Week 10: Lynden 56, Everett 34
State Play-in Game: Lakes 60, Lynden 34
The 1997 Lions were not short on talent, and their only two losses on the year were against the two teams that played for the 3A State Championship. The leadership and sheer size of this team were its strong points.
Senior quarterback Chris Price was one of the main leaders. The athletic lefty completed 107-of-248 passes for 1695 yards and nine touchdowns. He also ran for 54 yards and three touchdowns, and was named All-League 1st Team. Junior Lance Ellis led Lynden with 688 yards on the ground, as well as nine touchdowns. Senior transfer Tony Alexander gained 503 yards and three touchdowns, while bruising senior fullback Dante Alexander had four rushing touchdowns. All three backs were named All-League Honorable Mention.
The Lions found great success in the air, and their main target was a fleet-footed junior named Ryan Van Diest. He was named All-League 1st Team as a wide receiver, and became the first player in Lynden history to catch over 50 passes in a season. He caught 51 for 779 yards (15.3 average) and four touchdowns. Senior Dominic Alexander was one of the most prolific tight ends of the 1990’s in the entire county, and he was named All-League 2nd Team for the third consecutive season. He caught 21 passes for 311 yards (14.8). Senior Peter Costanti was a big-play threat, catching 16 passes for 305 yards (19.1) and a score.
The offensive line was led by 275-pound senior Jon Lange, who was named All-League 1st Team. Junior Sie Robinson (6-0 245) was also a force, and was named All-League 2nd Team, while senior Brandon DiLorenzo (6-3 275) provided muscle up front and was named All-League Honorable Mention. Lynden averaged 5.4 yards per carry, and scored 26 rushing touchdowns.
Defensively, the Alexander twins were all over the field. Both playing linebacker, Dominic (All-League 1st Team) and Dante (All-League 2nd Team) couldn’t be stopped. Senior Trevor Nipges (6-1 200) and junior Jered Schouten (5-7 180) were one of the best defensive line tandems in the league, and each were named All-League 1st Team. Juniors Casey Crnich and Ellis each stood out on the defensive line as well, being named All-League 2nd Team and All-League Honorable Mention respectively. Crnich returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown against Bellingham. Junior linebacker Zach Boyd teamed with the Alexanders to form an unstoppable linebacking corps, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention. Van Diest proved to be the best defensive back in the league, and was named All-League 1st Team for the second year in a row. Seniors Tony Alexander and Lucas DeBoer, along with sophomore Tyson Felix, were all named All-League Honorable Mention at defensive back.
Lange handled the kicking duties, and the straight ahead toe-puncher had a great season. He made 25 extra points, six field goals, and was named All-League 1st Team for the second year in a row. Senior Shawn Martin had one of the best legs in the county, and was named All-League 1st Team at punter.