It’s all Murphy this time around in win over Lynden

SEATTLE — All summer, Alex Martinez had a recurring dream he couldn’t shake. It seemed so real.

Martinez imagined getting revenge against the team that ended his season last year. On Saturday, the dream finally became reality.

Stepping up in a highly anticipated season-opening clash, Martinez scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) to help lead the Archbishop Murphy High School football team to a convincing 34-20 triumph over the top-ranked Lynden Lions at Qwest Field.

Quarterback Austin VanderWel also had a big game for Archbishop Murphy, which lost against Lynden in the 2008 Class 2A state semifinals. A week later, Lynden won the 2A championship.

“I’ve been dreaming about it nearly every night,” Martinez, a senior running back/safety, said after he rushed for a game-high 133 yards on 18 carries. “It was a bummer (last year) because (Lynden) just destroyed us in that game. We knew they were going to be a tough team so we were trying to come back and show them that we could compete.”

Murphy definitely did that. The Wildcats built a 20-7 lead by halftime and went on top 34-7 early in the fourth quarter when Martinez caught a 24-yard TD pass from VanderWel (three total TDs). Murphy made a big statement on a grand stage — the Seahawks’ home — in the first game of the 2009 Emerald City Kickoff Classic.

“We played at a higher level than I expected for the first game against a very talented (Lynden) team,” Archbishop Murphy coach Dave Ward said. “They have a lot of speed and our kids had to execute their assignments. It was a challenge, but I’m really proud of the way they came out … with confidence and played together. They were ready.”

According to the Tacoma News Tribune 2A preseason rankings, defending champ Lynden is No. 1 and Murphy is No. 3. But the Wildcats used versatile weapons like Martinez and VanderWel, who took turns running the offense, and thoroughly controlled the line of scrimmage. Linemen created huge openings for Martinez and VanderWel (nine carries for 69 yards and two TDs).

“That was the key,” Ward said. “We could move the ball and we could move the clock and keep it out of (Lynden’s) hands.”

On defense, Murphy did a good job containing dangerous Lynden receiver Blair Bomber, a speedy Washington State University recruit. Bomber had two catches. Both of them were TDs, but the last one came in the final minute after Murphy had essentially clinched it.

In the first half, Murphy dominated the defending state champs with an effective, clock-eating running attack and nifty shovel passes. VanderWel (eight rushes for 51 yards) scored twice and Martinez (12 rushes, 71 yards) had one TD.

Martinez’s 5-yard blast gave Murphy a 20-7 lead 25 seconds before halftime. VanderWel scored from 17 yards and 4 yards earlier in the half.

Not limited to using his feet, VanderWel completed his final three passes of the half for 32 yards, including two smooth shovels to Martinez. VanderWel also completed a picturesque pass to Matt Huggins in the left corner for a two-point conversion.

An early Lynden turnover pointed Murphy in the right direction. Aidan Huggins recovered a fumble by Lynden’s Jake Christianson near midfield on the Lions’ first drive. Seven plays later, Murphy went up 6-0 on VanderWel’s 17-yard TD burst on the sideline.

“It was a good game-changer to get us some momentum going,” said VanderWel, “and build on top of that for the rest of the game.”

At Qwest Field

Archbishop Murphy61468 — 34

Lynden07013 — 20

Archbishop Murphy—VanderWel 17 run (Stampher kick failed)

Archbishop Murphy—VanderWel 4 run (VanderWel run failed)

Lynden—Bomber 39 pass from Hastings (Lopez kick)

Archbishop Murphy—Martinez 5 run (M. Huggins pass from VanderWel)

Archbishop Murphy—Martinez 7 run (Stampher kick failed)

Archbishop Murphy—Martinez 24 pass from VanderWel (Clark pass from VanderWel)

Lynden—Christianson 1 run (two-point attempt failed)

Lynden—Bomber 21 pass from Hastings (Lopez kick)