Monthly Archives: May 2015

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #143 – 2007 Bellingham Red Raiders

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RECORD: 7-5  –  COACH: Doug Trainor

 LEAGUE: 3-3 (3rd Place in the 2A NWC)
 CLASSIFICATION: 2A – PLAYOFFS: State Quarterfinalist
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 17.8 – Allowed: 19.3 – Differential: -1.5

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Bellingham 34, Sedro Woolley 6

Week 2: Bellingham 33, Mount Baker 19

Week 3: Blaine 24, Bellingham 13

Week 4: Lynden 7, Bellingham 0

Week 5: Bellingham 20, Squalicum 13

Week 6: Ferndale 24, Bellingham 14

Week 7: Bellingham 33, Sehome 26

Week 8: Burlington-Edison 28, Bellingham 14

Week 9: Bellingham 18, Anacortes 8

State Play-in Game: Archbishop Murphy 28, Bellingham 6 (Bellingham ruled the winner because of rules violation)

State Playoffs Round One: Bellingham 23, Mark Morris 13

State Quarterfinals: Prosser 35, Bellingham 6

 

 

The 2007 Red Raiders were an interesting team. They advanced to the state playoffs because of a rules violation, they gave up more points than they scored, yet it was the first time reaching the playoffs in 20 years, and they haven’t since.

Bellingham senior class
Bellingham senior class

Senior quarterback Zack Halverson was a big (6-2 210), strong gun-slinger. He completed 103-of-239 passes for 1173 yards and eight touchdowns. He also ran for six scores, and was named All-League Honorable Mention.

Jeremy Rick
Jeremy Rick

Junior running back Jeremy Rick became the only the second underclassmen in school history to run for over 1000 yards in a season (Chance McClellan ran for 1111 yards as a junior). Rick finished with 1136 yards on 191 carries (6.0 average) and eight touchdowns. He also caught four passes and was named All-League 1st Team. Senior Taylor Perry ran for 720 yards on 131 carries (5.5) and three scores, and was named All-League Honorable Mention. Junior Michael Gonzalez chipped in with 158 yards on the ground and a touchdown.

Kyle Stewart
Kyle Stewart

Senior wide receiver J.T. Fitzgerald had an abundance of athletic ability, and he caught 28 passes for 412 yards (14.7) and four touchdowns. Another senior, Pete Carlson, also had a great season at wide receiver with 29 catches for 327 yards (11.3) and two scores. Fitzgerald was named All-League 2nd Team while Carlson was an Honorable Mention. Senior receiver Michael Takemura hauled in 16 passes for 152 yards (9.5) and a touchdown, while junior tight end Max Nelson (6-2 210) also caught 16 passes for 176 yards (11.0) and a score, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention.

Bellingham kickoff
Bellingham kickoff

Senior Holman Faatili (6-1 230) led the force of offensive linemen, and was named All-League 2nd Team. Junior Kyle Stewart (6-3 225) and sophomore Chase Neilan (6-1 200) also stood out, and they were both named All-League Honorable Mention. Bellingham amassed over 2000 yards on the ground, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and 18 touchdowns.

Faatili was all over the field from his linebacker position, and was named All League 1st Team. Fitzgerald and Perry were an amazing duo in the defensive backfield, and were each named All-League 2nd Team. Perry returned two interceptions for touchdowns. Rick was also a standout in the secondary, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention. Sophomores Walter Hathaway, and Neilan, were each named All-League Honorable Mention. Hathaway as a defensive lineman and Neilan as a linebacker.

Junior Jack Morgan handled the kicking duties, connecting on 11 extra points. Rick demonstrated his amazing skills as a kick returner, and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown against Ferndale.

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #145 – 1994 Sehome Mariners

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RECORD: 6-3  –  COACH: Birger Solberg

 LEAGUE: 5-3 (3rd in the NWL)
 CLASSIFICATION: AA – PLAYOFFS: None
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 24.9 – Allowed: 14.1 – Differential: +10.8

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Sehome 34, Anacortes 27

Week 2: Ferndale 17, Sehome 14 

Week 3: Stanwood 26, Sehome 18

Week 4: Sehome 21, Mount Vernon 0

Week 5: Sehome 23, Bellingham 7

Week 6: Sehome 21, Sedro Woolley 7

Week 7: Lynden 19, Sehome 18

Week 8: Sehome 41, Burlington-Edison 12

Week 9: Sehome 34, Meadowdale 12

 

The 1994 Mariners were coming off the most successful team in school history, and their confidence was riding high. Replacing players like Josh Smith and Evan Ayers on the line would be tough, but they were returning a lot of skilled players.

Senior quarterback Ryan Binning was as skilled a passer as their was in Whatcom County. He connected on 61-of-129 passes for 752 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior running back Alex Brown was a scoring machine, carrying the ball 108 times for 784 yards (7.3 average) and 15 touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Fellow seniors Todd Zuehlke and Aber Whitcomb each scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground, and had 404 yards and 319 yards respectively.

Ryan Binning and Alex Brown
Ryan Binning and Alex Brown

Senior wide receiver Bob Van Kolken led Sehome in receiving with 26 catches for 352 yards (13.5) and four touchdowns. Senior tight end Andy Hale combined great size (6’4″ 205) and ability to catch 19 passes for 249 yards (13.1), and he was named All-League 1st Team. Junior Sean Ryan also caught two touchdown passes.

Seniors Dominic Papetti and Sean Stimac led the Mariners up front on the offensive line. Papetti was named All-League 2nd Team and Sehome averaged 6.3 yards per rush while scoring 24 rushing touchdowns.

Hale led the defensive push from his defensive line position, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Senior Tory Pazaski and sophomore Lee Eckl were all over the field at linebacker, and Pazaski was named All-League 2nd Team. Juniors Kenny Dorr and Paul Lockhart excelled in the secondary, and Dorr was named All-League 2nd Team.

Senior Alex Brown handled the kicking duties. He connected on 13 extra points and one field goal. He was also named All-League 2nd Team at punter.

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #146 – 1988 Bellingham Red Raiders

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RECORD: 7-2  –  COACH: John Craig

 LEAGUE: 6-2 (3rd in the NWL)
 CLASSIFICATION: AA – PLAYOFFS: None
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 21.7 – Allowed: 12.1 – Differential: +9.6

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Bellingham 14, Oak Harbor 9

Week 2: Ferndale 24, Bellingham 7 

Week 3: Burlington-Edison 31, Bellingham 14

Week 4: Bellingham 16, Arlington 0

Week 5: Bellingham 35, Mount Vernon 0

Week 6: Bellingham 13, Sehome 0

Week 7: Bellingham 35, Stanwood 6

Week 8: Bellingham 34, Anacortes 27

Week 9: Bellingham 27, Sedro Woolley 12

 

Although the 1988 Red Raiders weren’t the playoff juggernaut team from the previous season, they were still very good. Gone were the likes of Jeff Smits, Kevin Engman, Matt Zandstra, Brian Talley, Greg Enell and Terry Birdsell, but they still had a good core of players returning.

Sean Linville
Sean Linville

Senior quarterback Sean Linville was named as the All-State 1st Team quarterback for the second season in a row. He completed 92-of-177 passes for 1163 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also ran for 193 yards and six scores, finishing his stellar career as the first player in Whatcom County history to pass for over 4000 yards. Junior Justin LeMoine showed what he could do in his first year as a starting running back, gaining 680 yards on 103 carries (6.6 average) and five touchdowns on his way to being named All-League 2nd Team. Fellow junior Eric Smith carried the ball 64 times for 341 yards (5.3) and two scores.

Justin LeMoine
Justin LeMoine

Senior wide receiver Eric Swanson and senior tight end Jason Staeber dominated their respective positions, each earning All-League 1st Team honors. Swanson caught 28 passes for 424 yards (15.1) and five touchdowns. Staeber had 25 receptions for 378 yards (15.1) and five scores. Smith caught 17 passes for 182 yards (10.7) while sophomore Ty Elmendorf and senior Todd Bring each caught eight passes.

Pete Kaligis
Pete Kaligis

The offensive line was led by All-League 1st Teamer and All-State 1st Team selection, senior Pete Kaligis. Senior Randy Carr was also named All-League 1st Team, and junior center Travis Otter was named All-League 2nd Team. Bellingham averaged 5.5 yards per carry as a team, and had 13 rushing touchdowns.

Travis Otter
Travis Otter

Highlighting the season for the Red Raiders, defensively, were the three consecutive shout outs in the middle of the year. Up front, Carr and Otter were amazing, and both players were named All-League 1st Team. Senior Todd Heinrich (6-1 220) was a force up front, and was named All-League 2nd Team. The linebacking corps was led by Kaligis, who was named All-League 2nd Team. The secondary was headed up by Linville (All-League 1st Team) and Swanson (All-League 2nd Team)

Senior Brian Prouty handled the kicking duties. He connected on 20 extra points.

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #147 – 1976 Nooksack Valley Pioneers

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RECORD: 8-3  –  COACH: Hal Haddock

 LEAGUE: 8-2 (1st in the WCL)
 CLASSIFICATION: A – PLAYOFFS: Quarterfinalist
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 12.6 – Allowed: 8.1 – Differential: +4.5

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Nooksack Valley 14, Mount Baker 6

Week 2: Nooksack Valley 33, Lynden Christian 6 

Week 3: Lynden 12, Nooksack Valley 0

Week 4: Meridian 33, Nooksack Valley 0

Week 5: Nooksack Valley 6, Blaine 0

Week 6: Nooksack Valley 12, Mount Baker 6

Week 7: Nooksack Valley 7, Lynden Christian 0

Week 8: Nooksack Valley 18, Lynden 6

Week 9: Nooksack Valley 12, Meridian 7

Week 10: Nooksack Valley 30, Blaine 0

State Quarterfinals: Castle Rock 13, Nooksack Valley 7  

The 1976 Pioneers returned some key members from last season’s state semi-finalist team. As most teams did back then, they were a run first, power kind of team.

Doug Groves
Doug Groves

Junior quarterback Dan Groves wasn’t asked to throw very much, and he completed 14-of-56 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 27 yards and a score. The backfield was loaded with 185-pound senior Phil Assink leading the way. He carried the ball 121 times for 619 yards (5.1 average) and four touchdowns. He was also the only senior to be named All-League 1st Team at running back. He was joined by senior Doug Groves who had 93 attempts for 383 yards (4.1) and two touchdowns, sophomore Bill Van Diest who rushed for 183 yards on 40 carries (4.6) and three touchdowns and junior Pat Sturgeon who added 155 yards on 37 carries (4.1) and two scores.

Lance Massey
Lance Massey

Senior Scott Waddell led the team in receiving with four catches for 74 yards. Sturgeon and fellow junior Glenn Williams each had three catches, while Assink and Doug Groves each hauled in a pair of passes.

Rich Stacey
Rich Stacey

The line was incredible for Nooksack Valley. Senior Lance Massey (6’3″ 227) was a man among boys, and fellow seniors Marty Binchus (6’1″ 180) and Rich Stacey (5’9″ 197) were all named All-League 1st Team. Defensively, the Pioneers were led by Massey. His dominant play on the defensive line not only garnered and All-League 1st Team selection, but he was also named as the Whatcom County League’s Most Valuable Player as well as being named All-State 1st Team for the second year in a row. Doug Groves was named All-League 1st Team at linebacker, while senior Lyle Martin was named All-League 1st Team as a defensive back.

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #148 – 1993 Bellingham Red Raiders

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RECORD: 6-3  –  COACH: John Craig

 LEAGUE: 5-3 (4th in the NWL)
 CLASSIFICATION: AA – PLAYOFFS: None
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 21.0 – Allowed: 12.8 – Differential: +8.2

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Bellingham 36, Monroe 0

Week 2: Bellingham 10, Sedro Woolley 0

Week 3: Bellingham 14, Lynden 7

Week 4: Burlington-Edison 27, Bellingham 21

Week 5: Sehome 20, Bellingham 0

Week 6: Bellingham 42, Anacortes 11

Week 7: Bellingham 42, Ferndale 7

Week 8: Bellingham 17, Stanwood 9

Week 9: Mount Vernon 34, Bellingham 7

 

The 1993 Red Raiders were the result of a good senior class that had gone through some losing seasons, and it was their turn to show some people what they can do. Even though they came up short on making the playoffs, it was the best Bellingham football team in the decade of the 1990’s.

Jensen & Clark
Caleb Jensen hands off to Dave Clark

Senior Caleb Jensen and junior Ryan J. Smith split time at quarterback during the season. Jensen completed 36-of-72 passes for 424 yards and one touchdown, while Smith completed 13-of-31 passes for 207 yards and five touchdowns. Even though Smith played less, he was named All-League Honorable Mention. Seniors Travis Edwards and Dave Clark was the best running back tandem in the league. Edwards ran 146 times for 923 yards (6.3 average) and 11 touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 53 yards and was named All-League 1st Team. Clark carried the ball 105 times for 675 yards (6.4) and five touchdowns, and he was named All-League 2nd Team. Junior Austin Williams proved to be a valuable backup, with 35 attempts for 255 yards (7.3) and a score.

 

Travis Edwards
Travis Edwards

Senior Ryan L. Smith led the Red Raiders in receiving with 21 catches for 305 yards (14.5) and four touchdowns. Senior Chris Lipton may have been on the smaller side (5’6″ 145), but he was a valuable receiver and kick returner. He finished with 12 receptions for 201 yards (16.8) and two touchdowns. Junior tight end Shane Kibler contributed with six catches for 83 yards (13.8).

Offensive Line
Offensive Line

The offensive line was featured in the Bellingham Herald a few weeks into the season, and they were a major force. From tackle to tackle, Bryce Allen, Hank Hoskins, Jared Aasheim, James Glunt and Tony Swope paved the way for the two star running backs. Allen, a senior, was the highest rated in the county, and was named All-League 2nd Team. Aasheim, a junior, was named All-League Honorable Mention.

Defense was a huge key to Bellingham’s success in 1993. They started out the season with two shutouts, and held three other opponents to just one touchdown each. It was a well-rounded defense that featured Swope on the defensive line, Edwards and linebacker and Jensen at safety. All three senior were named All-League 1st Team. Williams was named All-League 2nd Team on the defensive line and was incredibly stout up front. Clark joined his backfield teammate, Edwards, at linebacker and was named All-League Honorable Mention. Sophomore Ryan Bungard was a playmaker at defensive end, scoring a touchdown on a 40-yard fumble return against Anacortes, as well as intercepting a pass against Ferndale and returning it for a 28-yard touchdown, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention. The defensive backfield also included both Ryan Smith’s, and Lipton. All three were named All-League Honorable Mention.

Senior Ryan Johnson handled the kicking duties. He connected on 18 extra points and three field goals, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention.

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #149 – 2005 Mount Baker Mountaineers

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RECORD: 9-3  –  COACH: Ron Lepper

 LEAGUE: 6-2 (T-1st in the WCL)
 CLASSIFICATION: 2A – PLAYOFFS: Lost in 1st Round
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 30.3 – Allowed: 15.3 – Differential: +15.0

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Meridian 28, Mount Baker 20.

Week 2: Mount Baker 29, Nooksack Valley 0.

Week 3: Mount Baker 36, Sehome 13.

Week 4: Mount Baker 29, Lynden Christian 6.

Week 5: Blaine 21, Mount Baker 20.

Week 6: Mount Baker 28, Meridian 19.

Week 7: Mount Baker 35, Nooksack Valley 6.  

Week 8: Mount Baker 56, Cedarcrest 14.

Week 9: Mount Baker 21, Lynden Christian 19.

Week 10: Mount Baker 28, Blaine 12.

Crossover Play-In Game: Mount Baker 40, Sultan 0.

State Playoffs, Round 1: Connell 46, Mount Baker 21.

The 2005 Mountaineers was a team that had balanced talent, and was looking to break into that elusive quarter-final round of the state playoffs. They seemed to have the makings of a great shot at it with top senior running back Spencer Flannery returning, junior Pete Galbraith (who switched from tight end to fullback) and senior quarterback D.J. Williamson who gained valuable experience in last season’s playoff run when quarterback Tyler Murray went down with an injury.

Spencer Flannery
Spencer Flannery

Williamson completed 37-of-83 passes for 557 yards and nine touchdowns. He also ran for 137 yards and two scores. His trio of running backs gave the Mounties all the dimensions that a running game could ask for. Galbraith was a beast of a fullback, usually plowing through the line, and he ran for a Whatcom County-high 1487 yards on 209 carries (7.1 average) and 13 touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Junior Michael Millson was pure speed from the wing-back position, and he gained 735 yards on 64 carries (11.5) and seven touchdowns. Flannery was a mix of size, strength and speed. At 6-foot-2 and 196 pounds, he could run over most high school defenders, but he also had the speed and elusiveness to run around most defenders. He rushed for 1282 yards and 17 touchdowns on 230 carries (5.6), and he was named All-League 2nd Team.

Pete Galbraith
Pete Galbraith

As usual, Baker didn’t throw the ball too much, especially with two running backs each getting over 200 carries. Junior Brandon Welch caught 15 passes for 256 yards (17.1) and seven touchdowns. Flannery hauled in 10 passes for 157 yards (15.7), and junior Trevor Herring had six catches for 44 yards (7.3).

The offensive line was a major strength for the Mounties, and it was led by the senior All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team center, Robbie Welch. Senior Alex Sigmon was also selected All-League 1st Team as Mount Baker averaged 6.6 yards per carry and scored 39 rushing touchdowns.

Robbie Welch
Robbie Welch

The defense was led by Welch, who was named as the League’s Defensive Player of the Year, and All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team at outside linebacker. He was in on 161 tackles (30 solo), eight quarterback hurries, seven tackles for loss, three passes broken up, two interceptions, two blocked kicks and two fumble recoveries. Galbraith was a rock in the middle of the field, and he was named All-League 1st Team at linebacker adding 138 tackles (27 solo), five passes broken up, 4.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, three quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Flannery rounded out one of the best linebacking corps’ in school history, and was named All-League 2nd Team with 97 tackles (22 solo), nine tackles for loss, seven passes broken up, three quarterback hurries, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Sigmon was an All-League 1st Team selection on the defensive line with 79 tackles (10 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, 2.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Williamson led the secondary, and was named All-League 2nd team at defensive back with 41 tackles (17 solo), 19 passes broken up, two interceptions and one forced fumble. Sophomore Jon Raney had three interceptions.

Michael Millson
Michael Millson

Millson did it all on special teams. He kicked 33 extra points, two field goals and he was named All-League 1st Team at kicker. He also averaged 31.6 yards per punt, and returned eight kickoffs for 298 yards (37.3) and two touchdowns. Flannery was the punt returner, and averaged 10.5 yards per return.

 

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #150 – 1998 Blaine Borderites

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RECORD: 8-2  –  COACH: Jim Rasar

 LEAGUE: 7-1 (2nd Place in the NCC)
 CLASSIFICATION: 2A – PLAYOFFS: Lost in 1st Round
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 22.9 – Allowed: 10.1 – Differential: +12.8

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Mount Baker 28, Blaine 7.

Week 2: Blaine 41, Sultan 7.

Week 3: Blaine 31, Nooksack Valley 0.

Week 4: Blaine 28, Lakewood 14.

Week 5: Blaine 21, Meridian 14.

Week 6: Blaine 35, Granite Falls 12.

Week 7: Blaine 40, John Barsby (BC) 6.  

Week 8: Blaine 16, Lynden Christian 6.

Week 9: Blaine 3, King’s 0.

State Playoffs, Round 1: Rochester 14, Blaine 7.

The ’98 Borderites went back to the ground game that led them to the WCL Championship in 1995. With the graduation of quarterback Caleb Luehmann and wide receiver Greg Wright, they were almost forced to.

Jesse Newell
Jesse Newell

Senior Jesse Newell switched from receiver to quarterback and completed 54-of-121 passes for 625 yards and four touchdowns to only two interceptions. He also ran for 21 yards and a score, and was named All-League 2nd Team. He was joined in the backfield by junior Brad Scheib and senior Tyler Fitzgerald. Scheib had a breakout season, as he rushed for 1171 yards on 147 carries (8.0 average) and 10 touchdowns on his way to being named All-League 1st Team. Fitzgerald gained 607 yards on the ground on 116 carries (5.2) for nine scores, and was named All-League Honorable Mention. Super sophomore Josh McDonald chipped in 247 yards on the ground on 56 carries (4.4) and two touchdowns.

Brad Scheib
Brad Scheib

With Newell switching to quarterback, and Wright graduating, Blaine was left with senior tight end Tony Nymeyer as the only returning receiver with valuable varsity experience. He caught 17 passes for 181 yards (10.7), three touchdowns and was named All-League 2nd Team. Junior Austin Broyan led the team in receiving with 18 receptions for 233 yards (12.9) and was named All-League 1st Team. McDonald’s athleticism allowed him to play both running back and wide receiver, and he had eight catches for 122 yards (15.3) and a score. Scheib also hauled in eight passes from his running back position for 36 yards (4.5).

Tony Nymeyer
Tony Nymeyer

The offensive line wasn’t only greatly skilled, but also possessed great size. Junior Brad Beard led the battle up front and was named All-League 1st Team. At 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, junior Jesse Riddle was hard to miss, and was named All-League 2nd Team. Seniors Casey Walser (6-5 250) and Lane Renskers (6-3 190) each stood out on the line, and were both named All-League Honorable Mention. The Borderites averaged 5.7 yards per carry and scored 22 rushing touchdowns.

Each level of the defense had a junior that was named All-League 1st Team. Riddle on the defensive line, Scheib at linebacker and Broyan at defensive back. Walser was named All-League 2nd Team at defensive line as was Newell at defensive back. Rounding out the award winning defensive players were Beard at defensive line, Nymeyer at defensive back and sophomore Jon Allen at linebacker, each of whom were named All-League Honorable Mention.

Newell was a one-man wrecking crew in the kicking game as he was named All-League 2nd Team at punter as well as All-League Honorable Mention at kicker (13 extra points) and kick-returner (1 punt returned for a touchdown). Senior Patrick Hooper took over the kicking duties halfway through the season and he booted seven extra points and two field goals.