It was all about offense when rivals Renton High and Lindbergh clashed for an early season Seamount game Friday night. Lindbergh was able to capitalize on a glut of Renton penalties and score a late touchdown to earn the 30-26 win at Renton Stadium.

Fans were loud for both teams, but when time ran out, it was Lindbergh’s fans rejoicing, with chants of “Eagle power” as the Eagles (3-0 overall, 3-0 Seamount) beat Renton (1-2, 1-1).

Lindbergh’s high-flying spread attack hit some turbulence early when Renton’s Mar’que Fluker intercepted Lindbergh quarterback Jake Allie’s first pass of the game. The ball went in and out of an Eagle receiver’s hands and Fluker grabbed the deflection. Fluker returned the interception 17 yards and Lindbergh added a personal foul penalty, giving the Indians excellent field position, starting at Lindbergh’s 13-yard line.

Renton’s Darien Irby then ran the ball to the right for a 13-yard touchdown on the Indians’ first offensive play.

The Eagles got their passing game going right away, scoring a touchdown on the next drive. On fourth down with nine yards to go, the Eagles lined up in shotgun with three receivers to the left and Allie found sophomore Diondre Toms for the 21-yard touchdown.

Fluker played a big role for the Indians, especially in the first half. He intercepted a second pass on Lindbergh’s third drive. Fluker scored on a rushing touchdown as the Indians lined up in I-formation and Fluker ran to the left, got an excellent block by Armin Basic and scored from seven yards out, to give Renton a 12-6 lead.

The Eagles responded with a 53-yard drive, where Allie completed five passes including a touchdown to senior Willie Creear from Renton’s eight-yard line.

In the second quarter, Renton’s Jaron Dickson ran to the left and kept his legs churning, spinning and pulling defenders until he found the end zone on a 10-yard touchdown run, putting the Indians up again 20-12 after the two-point conversion.

Lindbergh answered again, covering 80 yards in just three plays. Running back David Valentine was met in the backfield, spun away and sprinted down the sideline for 45 yards before he was caught from behind on the drive’s first play. After a Renton facemask penalty moved the ball to the Indians’ 20-yard line, Allie found Toms again, who made a catch over his shoulder, toeing the line at the back of the end zone.

Renton got the ball back and advanced to Lindbergh’s 29-yard line before mistakes and penalties pushed them back into fourth down with 35 yards to go from their own 46-yard line. The Indians punted the ball and Creear caught it at his own 20-yard line, ran right, cut back left and sprinted down the sideline for an 80-yard touchdown, giving Lindbergh a 24-20 lead at half time.

The Indians came out in the second half and engineered a bruising, eight-minute drive that included 10 rushing plays (16 plays overall) and ended when junior Travino Buckley scored on a six-yard touchdown rush. The score gave Renton a 26-24 lead.

Lindbergh got the ball back, lost 23 yards on a fumble, three more yards on a sack, and were forced to punt with a fourth down and 36 yards to go.

Renton then held the ball for another seven-minute drive that ended with 10 yards short on a fourth and goal. It was a strange drive as the Indians got within Lindbergh’s 20-yard line four times (including a second and goal from Lindbergh’s one-yard line) but committed eight penalties that continued to push them farther and farther away from the end zone.

Yarrington said his team didn’t play up to its ability on defense and credited the team’s veteran mentality in staying with the game despite Renton’s two long drives in the second half.

“In the past being out there that long would have demoralized us,” said Lindbergh coach Dominic Yarrington. “It was an ugly, back-and-fourth game. We need to play better on defense.”

After the Lindbergh defense stopped Renton, the Eagles got the ball with just over five minutes left, down by two points and 90 yards away from a touchdown, though Yarrington never had any doubt that his senior quarterback could drive his team to a win.

“I have the utmost confidence in him,” he said. “Every play I call, I know he can make it.”

The Eagles drove the ball fairly well, but their chances nearly came to an end when they were faced with a fourth and 13. Lined up in shotgun, Allie rolled right, pump faked to buy time and found Toms on a 26-yard pass that went through a Renton defender’s hands.

“I saw my receiver over there and at that point, I just do what I need to do and make the play,” Allie said.

Allie connected with Derek Herley for a six-yard score on the next play that put the Eagles up 30-26.

Renton got the ball back with two minutes and 21 seconds left on its own 37-yard line. Irby rushed twice, for 17 yards and three yards, but was injured on the second rush and had to leave the game. Dickson came in at quarterback and attempted one pass that Lindbergh’s Frank Cange intercepted. Lindbergh then ran out the clock to end the game.

Both team’s featured excellent offensive attacks, but Renton’s penalties were the difference in the game. Referees penalized the Indians 20 times.

Allie finished the game with over 250 passing yards and four touchdowns. Toms (2), Creear and Herley all caught touchdowns. Creear returned a punt for a touchdown.

Renton’s rushing attack moved the ball very well, with Irby, Fluker, Dickson and Buckley scoring on the ground.

With the win, Lindbergh keeps pace with Hazen (3-0, 3-0) in a tie for first place in the Seamount.