LYNDON - The Lyndon High School Tigers’ first loss of the football season Nov. 22 also marked the season end for the team. But the loss against Centralia, 69-21, was still cause for celebration of the Tigers’ victorious season and record-breaking career of nine Lyndon seniors.
Going into the home game played in wind-chilled freezing temperatures, the 11-0 Tigers came up against 11-0 Centralia, ranked No. 1 in 2A, whose offense dominated the first half.
“We knew it would take our best game to have a chance and clearly we didn’t play our best game tonight,” said Lyndon Head Coach Rod Stallbaumer. “Centralia is a very good football team and they were able to dominate us up front all night.”
At the half, with Lyndon having 0 on the scoreboard and Centralia 54, four shutouts the Tigers delivered to opponents (Mission Valley, Osage City, Jayhawk-Linn, Northern Heights) earlier this season haunted the locker room.
Centralia again came out quick after the half with a score, but the Tigers dominated the quarter with two touchdowns; a third Lyndon TD in the fourth quarter was answered by the Panthers, but the first half lead was too much for the Tigers to battle back. (Lyndon TDs: Joe Walsh, Josh Owens, Gaige Brecheisen; and three perfect kicks by Thore Pieper.)
“I thought our kids battled, we just were not used to the speed at which Centralia executes both offensively and defensively,” the coach said.
Stallbaumer noted that though senior leadership of this year’s team will be missed next season, the game was served as valuable experience for the team.
“Hopefully this game serves as a learning experience for us, what it takes to get to the next level, we have to keep working,” the coach said.
There was plenty of reason to celebrate the career-end achievements of seniors Cameron Woodruff, Dylan Dow, Joe Walsh, Gaige Brecheisen, Josh Owens, Jonathan Frye, Phillip Wendling, Garrett Fitch, and James Burkett, the coach said.
“This year’s senior class had a very good career and finished as the winning-est class in Lyndon history with a 4-year mark of 37-6,” Stallbaumer said. “They have been instrumental in setting the bar at Lyndon. They have proven to be great football players, but even better young men and are going to be missed.”
In addition to the seniors’ 37-6 4-year record, the coach listed the team’s achievements during the seniors’ career: 2 sectional championships, 2 regional championships, 2 district championships, and 4 Flint Hills League championships.
Also noted was that Josh Owens became the first player in Lyndon history to rush for over 2,000 yards, finishing with 2,020 yards on the season with 176 carries and 26 touchdowns.
Looking back on the season, the coach said, “I’m very proud of this football team, they worked hard all season, battled through adversity, did everything that was asked of them and had a great year.”
Game Scores
1st Quarter
- Centralia: Sam Steinlage, 49-yard punt return; PAT – J.T. Rosine kick.
- Centralia: Trevor Mars, 36-yard run; PAT – J.T. Rosine kick.
- Centralia: J.T. Rosine, 81-yard run; PAT – Run failed.
- Centralia: J.T. Rosine, 3-yard run; PAT – J.T. Rosine kick.
2nd Quarter
- Centralia: Sam Steinlage, 9-yard run; PAT – J.T. Rosine kick.
- Centralia: J.T. Rosine, 61-yard run; PAT – J.T. Rosine kick.
- Centralia: Darrion Turner, 26-yard run; PAT – Kick failed.
- Centralia: Trevor Mars, 1-yard run; PAT – J.T. Rosine kick.
3rd Quarter
- Centralia: Wyatt VanDorn, 15-yard run; PAT – J.T. Rosine kick.
- Lyndon: Joe Walsh, 2-yard run; PAT – Thore Pieper kick.
- Lyndon: Josh Owens, 7-yard run; PAT – Thore Pieper kick.
4th Quarter
- Lyndon: Gaige Brecheisen; PAT – Thore Pieper kick.
- Centralia: Chad Ballenger, 49-yard run; PAT – Bryson Johnson run.
Record book
Photo thanks to Bill Patterson.
