![Game, set, and match. Corbin Atchley, sophomore, high fives Sanam Sidhu, freshman, after a rally with other club members. “I just joined [the club],” Sidhu said. “[I heard about it] on Instagram, they always post about it, I’ve been wanting to come. My parents used to play [net sports] too and they taught us, and then I learned from my brother.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MG_7715-2-1200x800.jpg)
![At the bottom of the third inning, the Lions are still scoreless. Rowe stands at home plate, preparing to bat, while Vandenbrink stands off to the side as the next batter up. Despite having the bases loaded, the team was unable to score any runs. “It’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just going to be playing out best by June, [and] that’s where champions are,” Rowe said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3077-1200x900.jpg)
![The teams prepare to start another play with just a few minutes left in the first half. The Lions were in the lead at halftime with a score of 27-0. At half time, the team went back to the locker rooms. “[We ate] orange slices,” Malos said. “[Then] our team came out and got the win.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_2385-1200x800.jpg)
West Linn (3-2, 1-0 Three Rivers League) battles all night and makes history by beating Lake Oswego (1-4, 0-1 TRL) 7-3.
For the past 14 years, the Lake Oswego Lakers have beaten West Linn in every annual matchup. This year though, things were different. The Lakers struggled against top competition, losing to Jesuit, Central Catholic, and Southridge. Lake Oswego barely squeaked by with a one-point win over Olympia High School in Wash.
In the previous two years, the Lions had been outscored 69-0 and hadn’t put up a single point since the first quarter of the 2010 matchup, which Lake Oswego won 7-6.
There was a certain feeling amongst students of West Linn, a feeling that this was our year.
“We knew going into the game we could win,” Braden Vogt, senior wide receiver/cornerback, said. “We had a great week of practice and were well prepared. We knew we just had to play our game and execute and we would have a good chance.”
“The mindset was to go out and compete and leave it all on the field, and we knew we could beat them,” Hayden Coppedge, senior quarterback, said.
The first score came on a 28 yard Lake Oswego field goal but it could have been a lot worse. The Lakers intercepted the ball and ran it all the way back to the end zone but were called for holding forcing them to work from about the 40 yard line. The Lions defense came through and forced them to kick a field goal.
West Linn finally scored on an epic 50 yard run from Louie Germain, senior, who added his 13th touchdown of the season.
It was then a defensive battle with both teams not willing to give an inch. Both offenses were not able to produce, and with just under 20 seconds remaining, Lake Oswego had the ball.
The Lakers had to move the ball downfield and quickly if they wanted a chance to win. On 4th down they launched a Hail Mary and the ball seemed to float in the air for what seemed to be an eternity. It dropped harmlessly out of bounds and West Linn regained possession. With the rain pouring down, the Lions ran the clock to triple zeroes and emerged victorious. They had finally beaten Lake Oswego.
“It felt amazing,” said Vogt. “All the hard work we have been putting in since February finally is paying off. It was a great way to end my last game against LO.”
“It felt great to beat LO especially being a senior and losing to them every year,” Coppedge said.
West Linn will take on number five ranked Clackamas (5-0, 1-0 TRL) this Friday at West Linn for their Homecoming game. In the mean time, the Lions will cherish this victory over Lake Oswego for years to come.
“We have a lot of young talent on our team so I think we can continue beating LO in years to come,” Vogt said.
