Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Friday, Nov. 28, 2008

PREP FOOTBALL: Gaylord ready to lead Lions into semifinals

In past years as the Lynden football team advanced through the state playoffs, David Gaylord was usually content to sit and listen.

The upperclassmen were the leaders, and Gaylord was always happy to follow their example.

As a sophomore, he watched a strong group of seniors lead the Lions to a state championship. Last season, as a junior, he listened and learned from another strong core of seniors as Lynden made it back to the state semifinals.

This year, it's been a little bit different for Gaylord. As one of a handful of seniors on the Lions' rosters, he's now one of the players his younger teammates look up to.

When the Lions meet Archbishop Murphy on Saturday, Nov. 29, in the Class 2A state semifinals at the Tacoma Dome, Gaylord thinks it's time for him to speak up.

"It's nice to have that playoff experience, but every year it's different," Gaylord said. "Last year, I was just kind of sitting back and listening to those seniors like Brady (Bomber) and (Joshua) Duggan and all of those guys talk. This year, it's going to have be to us seniors stepping up."

That doesn't necessarily mean Gaylord will be giving a rah-rah speech in the locker room before Lynden's game against the Wildcats. What it does mean, though, is that the Lions' running back and outside linebacker will dial up the intensity another notch before meeting Archbishop Murphy.

"I'm just going to do what I've been doing the last three weeks and that's coming out with a lot of fire," Gaylord said. "I think that's something I was lacking during the regular season. I definitely want to come out with a lot of fire and hopefully we can keep our season going."

Getting past Archbishop Murphy (12-0) will certainly be a challenge for the Lions (10-2). Lynden opened the season with the Wildcats in a non-conference contest and lost on the road 26-15. The Lions fell behind 19-0 in that contest and had trouble getting their offense going in the first half.

"We made a lot of young mistakes that first time," Gaylord said. "Our team was young, but I can't say anything bad about Archbishop Murphy. You have to tip your hat to them. They're a good team. We're a more experienced team now and hopefully we can give them a better showing."

Getting Gaylord the ball and getting the Lions' ground game going could be a key to the Lions' success against the Wildcats. Gaylord has rushed for 765 yards this season, but 270 of those yards have come in the postseason. He ran for a season-high 157 yard last week in the state quarterfinals against Blaine.

If Lynden can win the battle along the line of scrimmage, there's a good chance it can win the game.

"We feel like we've grown in the last few weeks and come together as a team," Gaylord said. "We're not just playing for ourselves as individuals."

Stopping the Wildcats' potent Wing-T offense will be another challenge for the Lions. Archbishop Murphy has scored more than 500 points this season, and downed Centralia 40-13 last week in the quarterfinals.

"I think our defense sets the tone for our offense," Gaylord said. "If we can start out strong, that will get our offense fired up. But looking at it from an offensive standpoint I think it's important that (quarterback Jordan Hastings) gets comfortable right off the bat."

One way or another, Gaylord said he and his Lions teammates expect a tough game from Archbishop Murphy. Over the last few years they've learned not to expect anything less in the state semifinals.

"We're just going to find out who is tougher," Gaylord said. "That's what it's going to come down to."