RECORD: 5-4 – COACH: John Rozeboom
LEAGUE: 5-4 (3rd Place in the WCL)
CLASSIFICATION: A – PLAYOFFS: None
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 17.8 – Allowed: 10.4 – Differential: +7.4
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Lynden Christian 35, Nooksack Valley 0
Week 2: Lynden Christian 25, Blaine 6
Week 3: Meridian 18, Lynden Christian 0
Week 4: Mount Baker 15, Lynden Christian 13
Week 5: Lynden Christian 27, Lynden 9
Week 6: Lynden Christian 34, Nooksack Valley 0
Week 7: Lynden Christian 14, Blaine 6
Week 8: Meridian 27, Lynden Christian 6
Week 9: Mount Baker 13, Lynden Christian 6
The 1983 Lyncs started the season with great expectations, but with one big injury, their season didn’t go exactly as planned. They had a strong senior class, and well-balanced offense.
Senior quarterback Jordan Jansen began the season as the starting quarterback. After two games he was 2-0, passing for 354 yards and three touchdowns. He looked every bit like the All-League 1st Team quarterback that he was as a junior. He suffered an unfortunate injury in the third game of the season, and down went the playoff hopes for LC. Junior receiver Kevin Kaemingk (who caught six passes for 77 yards in game two) took over under center, completing 50-of-104 passes for 683 yards and three scores.
Senior running back Tim Vander Veen had an unbelievable season for Lynden Christian. He became the first player in school history to rush for over 1000 yards in a season, with 1097 yards and 13 touchdowns. It would be another 14 years until the Lyncs would have another 1000-yard rusher. He was named All-League 1st Team, and was also named as the League’s Offensive Player of the Year. He also graduated as the school’s all-time leading rusher, until Lance Bosman passed him in 1995.
Senior receiver Tim Zylstra had a tremendous season, catching 33 passes for 506 yards (15.3 average) and two touchdowns. He was named All-League 1st Team and his 33 receptions broke a school record. Fellow seniors Mike Van Weerdhuizen and Bill Dykstra each caught 13 passes. Van Weerdhuizen totaled 293 yards receiving, while Dykstra had 101.
Junior Tim Van Lohuizen anchored the offensive line from his guard position and was named All-League 1st Team. The Lyncs ran for 1375 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season.
On defense, senior Glen Matter’s size (6-3 210) and strength allowed him to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines. He was named All-League 1st Team. Vander Veen and Van Lohuizen manned the linebacking positions. Vander Veen was named All-League 1st Team, while Van Lohuizen was All-League 2nd Team. Zylstra was the leader of the secondary and was named All-League 1st Team. Tom Bajema returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown against Lynden.
Jansen started the season as the kicker, connecting on six extra points. Zylstra also hit a pair of PAT’s.