I really thought that in my second year of doing this, that it would have become much easier. Ha! I was wrong… Although, it remains as fun as ever! The first Friday night of Whatcom County high school football is my Christmas. And these past few weeks of driving to each school, and interviewing each coach has been fantastic. I said it last year, and I’ll say it again… High school football is special, it’s unique. There’s nothing really quite like it. It’s the highest level of football that retains its organic surroundings. You get to compete for a league championship, or even a state championship, with kids that you went to Kindergarten with. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life, but also one of the most memorable. If it was easy, more kids would play. It takes a certain kind of discipline, and a coachable kid becomes an employable kid.
Thank you everyone for supporting me, maybe some day this will become my full time occupation? I’m optimistic about the growth of this page, and how it will be able to affect the rest of the county.
Predictions are hard to make in any season, but this season seems to be a little harder. Every team has talent, every team has size and every team is coached by it’s school’s all-time winningest coach. So, let’s break this down…
Vote here for which team you think will win the conference championship!
Lynden Christian: The Lyncs have one of the best pure teachers of the game in head coach Dan Kaemingk. He always puts his kids in the best situations to win, and his defensive schemes are highly regarded throughout the rest of the conference. Although LC is the only team in the league that doesn’t return its starting quarterback, Ty Van Dyken has gotten reps the past two years and should do just fine. They also return their leading rusher (Jordan Riddle), their top lineman (George DeJong) and two skill starters on both sides of the ball (Michael Lancaster and Kalai Jandoc).
Meridian: You just can’t count out a Bob Ames-coached team. The tradition is there, the mystique is there and the fu-manchu is there. The Trojans return several key players from last year’s squad that beat King’s and Cascade Christian in the post-season. Most of the talk is about quarterback “Slingin'” Simon Burkett, but Meridian also returns Manny Sabalza, Tony Schleimer and T.J. Dykstra. Like most 1A schools, there isn’t a ton of depth. So, if the front-line players can stay healthy, and if they have some pleasant surprises on the offensive line, you can looks for the “Trohahns” to be back in the state playoffs.
Mount Baker: The Mountaineers return Kaleb Bass at quarterback. They return Carson Engholm and his 1350 yards and 19 touchdowns at running back. They also return Thomas Barbo at wide receiver, who just happens to be the school’s all-time leading receiver. So, why are they being overlooked? They did lose some impressive guys from last season. But, you can’t count out a team that has won five straight conference championships. All of the linebackers return as well, and the offensive line might not be as big as it’s been in the past, but it will be extremely athletic.
Nooksack Valley: Everyone seems to be pointing to the Pioneers this season. Most of the seniors collectively took their lumps as sophomores, and they enjoyed some success last year. They are big and they are strong, but can they get over the hump? Casey Bauman gets a lot of pub, and rightly so, but Kyle Veldman is a straight up beast at middle linebacker, and is the most underrated wide receiver in the conference. Kirk Veldman and Luke Winter are each benching well over 300 pounds, and Tre Silva is one of the quickest players around.
CLASSIFICATION: “A” – Playoffs: State Semifinalist
POINTS PER GAME: 29.4 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 7.8
POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +21.6
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Lynden 34, Mount Baker 7
Week 2: Meridian 38, Lynden 33
Week 3: Lynden 28, Nooksack Valley 0
Week 4: Lynden 41, Blaine 0
Week 5: Lynden 19, Lynden Christian 6
Week 6: Lynden 27, Mount Baker 0
Week 7: Lynden 35, Meridian 8
Week 8: Lynden 47, Nooksack Valley 7
Week 9: Lynden 14, Blaine 6
State Playoffs: 1st Round: Lynden 54, Chimacum 0
State Quarterfinals: Lynden 7, Meridian 0
State Semifinals: Castle Rock 21, Lynden 14
Coming off of an appearance in the state championship game, Lynden was close to making it happen again. In Rollie DeKoster’s final season as head coach, the Lions narrowly lost to Castle Rock in the semifinals, which made the Lions lose to the eventual state champions for the second year in a row.
Tim Goering
Senior quarterback Tim Goering had one of the best passing seasons that Whatcom County saw in the decade of the 1980’s. He completed 87 passes for 1336 yards. He also became the first player in Whatcom County history to throw over 20 touchdown passes in a season, as he finished with 22. He also ran for four touchdowns, and was named both All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team.
Rene Silva
Senior running back Rene Silva had that special combination of speed and toughness. He totaled 847 yards on the ground (5.5 average) and eight touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Joining Silva in the backfield was 6-foot-3 210-pound senior fullback Mike Cowin, and he was one bad dude. He ran for 763 yards (4.8) and seven touchdowns, and was named All-League 2nd Team. Senior Dan Parcher’s speed made a huge impact, averaging 10.5 yards per carry, totaling 220 yards and three touchdowns.
Mike Cowin
Junior wide receiver Aaron Crabtree was a big-play threat every time he caught the ball, and he was named All-League 1st Team. He finished with 25 receptions for 483 yards (19.3) and a team-high 11 touchdowns. Parcher caught 17 passes for 223 yards (13.1) and three touchdowns, while Silva had 14 receptions for 217 yards (15.5) and three scores. Seniors Craig Van Zanten and Ryan Hope each had a big role in the passing game as well, catching 14 and 10 passes, respectively.
Torrey Lautenbach
The Lynden offensive line was senior-driven, and in the driver seat was 6-foot-4 210-pound tackle, Torrey Lautenbach. His size and strength allowed him to be named All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team. Kendall Burnett was a load at center, and the 6-foot-1 215-pounder was also named All-League 1st Team. Doug Clark (175 pounds) and Eddy Martin (195 pounds) were dominant at the guard position, with Clark being named All-League 1st Team and Martin All-League 2nd Team. They collectively blocked their way for over 3700 yards of offense and 48 touchdowns.
Kendall Burnett
Lautenbach and Burnett let the defensive line. Lautenbach was named both All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team, and Burnett was named All-League 2nd Team. Cowin was possibly the most feared hitter in the Whatcom County League, and was named All-League 1st Team at linebacker for the second consecutive season. He was joined at linebacker by junior Troy Dykstra, who was named All-League 2nd Team. Parcher and Van Zanten led the secondary, with Parcher being named All-League 1st Team and Van Zanten was an All-League 2nd Team pick. The defense also scored four touchdowns, with Clark scoring a pair and Cowin and Burnett each scoring a defensive TD.
Goering booted 37 extra points, and he was named All-League 2nd Team as a kicker. Burnett had a booming leg, and he was named All-League 2nd Team at punter.
CLASSIFICATION: 1A – State Playoffs: State Champion
POINTS PER GAME: 32.9 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 15.1
POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +17.8
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Lynden Christian 40, Sultan 0
Week 2: Lynden Christian 20, Lakewood 12
Week 3: Mount Baker 28, Lynden Christian 15
Week 4: Meridian 10, Lynden Christian 0
Week 5: Lynden Christian 51, King’s 7
Week 6: Lynden Christian 37, Nooksack Valley 0
Week 7: Lynden Christian 49, Granite Falls 28
Week 8: Lynden Christian 48, Blaine 14
Week 9: Cleveland 57, Lynden Christian 55
State Play-In Game: Lynden Christian 26, Friday Harbor 0
State Playoffs: 1st Round: Lynden Christian 28, Toledo 9
State Quarterfinals: Lynden Christian 48, Tacoma Baptist 13
State Semifinals: Lynden Christian 21, Concrete 14
State Championship: Lynden Christian 22, Colfax 20
The Whatcom County League was transformed into the North Cascades Conference in 1997, and a lot of changes came with it. Sultan, Lakewood and Granite Falls entered the league. Gone were Friday Harbor and Concrete. All of the schools were bumped up to 2A, but Lynden Christian remained at 1A. LC played all the 2A schools in the new conference, losing to strong Mount Baker and Meridian teams. However, the Lyncs found a way to stay strong in the playoffs and win the state championship!
Greg Dykstra
Leading the way was senior Greg Dykstra. His leadership, along with his passing ability and running ability, made him one of the best players in school history. The left-handed quarterback was named All-League 1st Team, completing 120 passes for 1596 yards and 16 touchdowns to only four interceptions. He also ran for 889 yards (5.2 average) and a team-high 23 touchdowns.
Erik Vanderpol
The Lyncs had a trio of running backs that Dykstra could lean upon when he wasn’t running the ball. Senior Erik Vanderpol led the way with 1119 yards rushing (6.2) and 12 touchdowns, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention. Tough running fullback Chad Bajema was also named All-League Honorable Mention, and the senior rushed for 645 yards (5.6) and eight scores. Speedy senior Joey Mellema battled injuries during the season, and still ran for 607 yards (6.1) and five touchdowns.
Rob Dykstra
Senior wide receiver Rob Dykstra was a major mis-match for most of the corner backs trying to cover him. At 6-foot-4 he produced a large catch radius for “The Greg”, so much so that he caught a school-record 59 passes for 733 yards (12.4) and eight touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Senior tight end Ben Blankers filled in for the injured Josh Parsons for the majority of the season, and he had 17 receptions for 287 yards (16.9) and three touchdowns on his way to being named All-League Honorable Mention. Senior Kevin Roosma caught 11 passes for 112 yards (10.2).
Josh Parsons
Parsons’ story is an incredible one. After two stellar seasons, he was poised to have a huge year as a tight end and inside linebacker. Unfortunately, a broken foot between week two and three kept him off of the field for the remainder of the regular season. But, the Lyncs kept winning as Parsons kept healing, and he was able to play a huge role in the state championship game. Bajema also proved to be a receiving threat out of the backfield, catching 19 passes for 268 yards (14.1) and five touchdowns.
Nick Scholten
The offensive line was loaded with talented, including one of the most talented lineman that Whatcom County has ever produced. At 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, junior guard Nick Scholten was an incredible force. The All-League 1st Teamer and All-State 1st Team selection had tremendous athleticism to go along with his immense size. Chris Bouma also stood out from the other guard position, and the 6-2 215-pound senior was named All-League 1st Team. Seniors Mark DeJong (6-3 240) and Trevor Lankhaar (5-10 190) were both named All-League Honroable Mention. The offense put up over 5000 yards and scores 65 touchdowns!
Chris Bouma
Scholten also led the way on the defensive line, and was named All-League 1st Team. He was joined by Lankhaar who was named All-League Honorable Mention. Bouma was a main-stay in the middle of the field, and was named All-League 2nd Team at inside linebacker. Bajema secured the edge, and he was named All-League 2nd Team at outside linebacker. Greg Dykstra was named All-League 1st Team at defensive back, and he intercepted four passes for 83 yards. Rob Dykstra was also intercepted four passes, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention. Roosma intercepted a pair of passes, while juniors Seth Leavitt and Caleb Wagenaar each picked off a pass.
Chad Bajema
Rob Dykstra was named All-League Honorable Mention at kicker with 41 extra points and one field goal. That field goal being the game winner as time expired for the state championship! Bouma was named All-League 2nd Team at punter, averaging 35.3 yards per punt. Mellema and Wagenaar handled the kickoff returns, and Greg Dykstra was named All-League 1st Team at returner. He averaged 12.8 yards per punt return, and he returned a punt for a touchdown against Cleveland.
POINTS PER GAME: 35.4 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 11.1
POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +24.4
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Meridian 49, Lakeside-Seattle 0
Week 2: Meridian 61, Monte Vista (CA) 6
Week 3: Meridian 56, Sedro Woolley 0
Week 4: Meridian 26, Lynden Christian 6
Week 5: Meridian 35, Friday Harbor 14
Week 6: Meridian 14, Nooskack Valley 13
Week 7: Meridian 42, Lynden Christian 0
Week 8: Meridian 62, Sehome 52
Week 9: Meridian 42, Nooksack Valley 7
State Play-In Game: Meridian 27, Lynden Christian 6
State Playoffs: 1st Round: Meridian 21, LaCenter 8
State Quarterfinals: Meridian 21, Kalama 14
State Semifinals: Meridian 13, Royal 7
State Championship: Meridian 27, Connell 22
I know, I know…. this team won the State Championship, and went undefeated. A few games were pretty close, against sub-.500 teams, and this was the first year that Meridian was sent back down to the 1A ranks. They still took care of business, winning every game in 2006.
Tyler Slesk
Senior quarterback Tyler Slesk won basically every award he could have. He was named All-League 1st Team, the League’s Offensive Player of the Year, All-State 1st Team and was the Class 1A State Player of the Year! He had one of the best seasons in Whatcom County history, completing 205 passes for 3048 yards, 40 touchdowns to only eight interceptions. He also ran for 419 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Sean Hurlbut
Senior Connor Herman ran for a team-high 935 yards (5.9 average) and six touchdowns while being named All-League 2nd Team. He shared the backfield with junior Sean Hurlbut who ran for 838 yards (5.6) and 11 touchdowns, caught 35 passes for 541 yards (15.5) and five touchdowns, and he was also named All-League 2nd Team.
Andrei Lintz
Senior wide receiver Brett Himes led the Trojans with 57 receptions for 833 yards (14.6) and eight touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team and All-State 2nd Team. Junior tight end Andrei Lintz was also named All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team. He caught 49 passes for 718 yards (14.7), and his 16 touchdown receptions still stands as the Whatcom County record for a tight end. Senior Jack Chambers caught 10 passes for 158 yards (15.8) and one score, and he was named All-League 2nd Team.
Brian Vander Yacht
The offensive line was a force, and it was led my seniors Brian Vander Yacht and Joey Bezona. Both players were named All-League 1st Team, with Vander Yacht named All-State 1st Team and Bezona All-State 2nd Team. They were joined by fellow seniors Chris Appel and Steven Gunderson, who were each named All-League 2nd Team. The offense exploded for over 5400 yards, averaging 390 yards per game.
Joey Bezona
Lintz led the attack from his defensive line position, and he was named All-League 1st Team and All-State 2nd Team. Vander Yacht and Appel also starred on the defensive line, and were each named All-League 2nd Team. Bezona starred in the middle of the defense, and he was named All-League 1st Team, the League’s Defensive Player of the Year as well as All-State 1st Team. He was joined at linebacker by Herman and hard-hitting junior Cody Sorensen, both of whom were named All-League 2nd Team.
Chris Appel
The secondary had a huge season, intercepting 22 passes. Hurlbut led the way with eight interceptions, and he was named All-League 1st Team and All-State 2nd Team. 6-foot-4 senior safety Caleb Hazel racked up five picks, and he was named All-League 2nd Team. Sophomore kicker Ryder Chance hit on 30 extra points and Lintz booted 19 extra points. Lintz also averaged 31.6 yards per punt. Hurlbut totaled 209 kickoff return yards and 197 punt return yards.
CLASSIFICATION: “A” – State Playoffs: State Finalist
POINTS PER GAME: 27.8 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 10.9
POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +16.9
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Lynden Christian 28, Steilacoom 19
Week 2: Lynden Christian 28, Lakewood 0
Week 3: Lynden Christian 37, Mount Baker 18
Week 4: Lynden Christian 14, Nooksack Valley 7
Week 5: Lynden Christian 38, Blaine 0
Week 6: Lynden Christian 48, Friday Harbor 8
Week 7: Lynden Christian 28, Meridian 7
Week 8: Lynden Christian 33, Concrete 7
Week 9: Lynden Christian 31, Lakeside-Seattle 6
State Playoffs: 1st Round: Lynden Christian 29, Eatonville 18
State Quarterfinals: Lynden Christian 10, Castle Rock 7
State Semifinals: Lynden Christian 24, Montesano 21
State Championship: Riverside-Chattaroy 17, Lynden Christian 14
The 1993 Lyncs were three points away from becoming the first ever undefeated state champions in Whatcom County history. It was a team littered with talented seniors, and after a dominating regular season, and close games in the post season, LC did not have a fairy tail ending.
Grant Terpstra
Senior southpaw quarterback Grant Terpstra led the way, completing 110 passes for 1733 yards and 18 touchdowns. He threw for more yards than anyone in Whatcom County that season, and no Lynden Christian player has accomplished that feat ever since. The future Navy Seal also ran for 378 yards (3.6 average) and five touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team.
Mike Apol
Senior Mike Apol was a powerful fullback, especially near the goal line. He ran for 511 yards (3.9) and a team-high nine touchdowns, and he was named All-League 2nd Team. Speedy sophomore Lance Bosman led the team in rushing with 719 yards (4.4) and eight touchdowns, and he also caught 14 passes for 224 yards (16.0) and a touchdown. Senior Monte Bode finished with 326 yards on the ground (5.4), 238 yards through the air (18.3) and six total scores, while junior Ron Honcoop contributed with 256 yards (5.6) and a pair of TD’s.
Monty Bosman
Terpstra had a vast number of individuals to throw the ball to. His main target was senior wide receiver, Monty Bosman. He caught 29 passes for 459 yards (15.8) and five touchdowns, and he was named All-League 2nd Team. Junior wide receiver Kevin Bratt ran immaculate routes, and caught 19 passes for 291 yards (15.3) and three scores. Senior wide receiver Mitch Faber hauled in 18 passes for 231 yards (12.8) and two TD’s. Both Bratt and Faber were each named All-League Honorable Mention. Senior tight end Ryan Diephuis made huge plays in the passing game, catching 13 passes for 280 yards (21.5) and three touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team.
Brian Matheis
The Lyncs offense totaled over 4000 yards for the first time in school history, and it was mostly because of the offensive line. Senior tackle Brian Matheis was a beast at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, and he was named All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team. He was joined on the line by fellow senior Henri Vander Hage, who was also named All-League 1st Team. Seniors Wade Haveman and Dean Lenssen pushed their weight around, and were each named All-League 2nd Team.
Ryan Diephuis
The defensive line was led by Matheis, who was named the League’s Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named both All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team. 280-pound junior Jason Meenderinck was difficult to run around, and was also named All-League 1st Team. Diephuis was a tackling machine at inside linebacker, and he was named both All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team. Monty Bosman held down the edge at outside linebacker, and he was also named All-League 1st Team, with Apol on the other side being named All-League 2nd Team.
Jason Meenderinck
The LC defense intercepted 17 passes on the season, with Faber totaling a team-high five of them on his way to being named All-League 1st Team at corner back. Terpstra picked off four passes from his safety position, and was also named All-League 1st Team. Senior Justin Meenderinck intercepted three passes, was a feared hitter, and he was named All-League 2nd Team. Bode returned an interception for a touchdown against Blaine, and senior Kevin Berendsen recovered a fumble for a touchdown against Mount Baker.
Lance Bosman
Senior Travis Korthuis had a huge leg, booting 22 extra points and a league-high six field goals on his way to being named All-League 1st Team. Lance Bosman also kicked 16 extra points. Bosman was also named All-League Honorable Mention at punter, averaging 33.6 yards per punt. Bosman also led the team with 161 kickoff return yards, while Terpstra returned 26 punts for 229 yards.
POINTS PER GAME: 34.5 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 16.7
POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +17.8
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Lynden 37, Centennial 18
Week 2: Lynden 41, Bellingham 13
Week 3: Lynden 42, Blaine 21
Week 4: Lynden 42, Sehome 21
Week 5: Lynden 35, Ferndale 21
Week 6: Lynden 42, Squalicum 14
Week 7: Lynden 35, Mount Baker 21
Week 8: Lynden 21, Burlington-Edison 20
Week 9: Lynden 27, Anacortes 14
Week 10: Lynden 48, Bellingham 0
State Playoffs: 1st Round: Tumwater 21, Lynden 10
After winning the state championship in 2009, the 2010 version of the Lions looked very different. They were still very effective, but they were also very young. It was easy to see that the future was extremely bright.
Josh Kraght
Josh Kraght had what could be the best season a sophomore quarterback has ever had in Whatcom County history. His completion percentage of 68.5% still ranks as the highest for a season in Whatcom County history. He completed 113 passes for 1467 yards and 19 touchdowns, to only three interceptions. He also ran for a team-high 885 yards (6.8 average) and a team-high 14 touchdowns on his way to being named All-League 1st Team, and All-State 2nd Team.
Roman Reyna
Seniors Joey Garcia and Roman Reyna held down the running game when Kraght wasn’t carrying the ball. Garcia ran for 573 yards (5.5) and five touchdowns, and was named All-League 2nd Team. Reyna finished with 269 yards (5.3) and five touchdowns, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention. Garcia also caught eight passes for 95 yards (11.9) and a pair of scores.
Zach Vis
The Lions really spread the wealth through the air in 2010, with five different receivers going over 200 yards receiving. Senior Jake Jones led the team with 37 receptions for 479 yards (12.9) and two touchdowns, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention. Sophomore Zach Vis was an All-League 2nd Team pick, with 26 catches for 405 yards (15.6) and four TD’s. Junior Nate Wielenga caught 25 passes for 357 yards (14.3) and six touchdowns, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention pick. Sophomores Luke Christianson and Dak Shagren finished with 22 and 18 receptions, respectively, and they each caught three touchdown passes.
Taylor Witman
The offensive line was led by 300-pound junior, Taylor Witman, who was named All-League 1st Team and All-State 2nd Team. 6-foot-4 240-pound senior Joshua Tippins was named All-League 2nd Team, and the future looked bright as 6-foot-3 250-pound sophomore Matt Meyer was named All-League Honorable Mention. Lynden was incredibly balanced, rushing for over 2000 yards, and passing for over 1800 yards.
Joshua Tippins
The defensive line was led by Tippins, who was named All-League 1st Team. He finished with 43 total tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks. He was joined by senior Jake Kraght, junior Jeremy Korthuis and sophomore Caleb Newman, of which all were named All-League Honorable Mention. Kraght had 76 total tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks. Korthuis totaled 84 tackles, five tackles for loss and two forced fumbles, and Newman finished with 60 total tackles, four tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
Blake Korthuis
Reyna set the tone for the entire defense at linebacker. He was named both All-League 1st Team and All-State 2nd Team, with 109 total tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception. Junior Blake Korthuis was an All-League 2nd Team pick at linebacker, and he finished with 91 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one interception. Senior Conner Anderson was an All-League Honorable Mention as an outside linebacker, and he totaled 54 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.
Santiago Lopez
Josh Kraght starred in the secondary, and was named All-League 1st Team and All-State 2nd Team. He had 50 total tackles, nine passes broken up, four interceptions, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks. Vis was amazing at safety, and was named All-League 2nd Team. He totaled 85 tackles, eight passes broken up, one interception, one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery. Jones and Garcia were also named All-League Honorable Mention. Jones had 34 total tackles, five passes broken up, two forced fumbles and an interception, while Garcia finished with 50 total tackles, three passes broken up, two tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. Junior Santiago Lopez was named All-League 2nd Team. He kicked 49 extra points and one field goal, and also booted numerous kickoffs through the end zone.
POINTS PER GAME: 33.4 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 9.5
POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +23.9
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Ferndale 9, Arlington 0
Week 2: Ferndale 58, Lake Stevens 3
Week 3: Ferndale 43, Sedro Woolley 10
Week 4: Ferndale 45, Marysville-Pilchuck 7
Week 5: Ferndale 34, Squalicum 0
Week 6: Ferndale 28, Lynden 13
Week 7: Ferndale 21, Burlington-Edison 0
Week 8: Ferndale 30, Anacortes 14
Week 9: Ferndale 56, Mount Vernon 14
State Play-In Game: Ferndale 28, Arlington 14
State Playoffs: 1st Round: Renton 29, Ferndale 15
Coming off the first trip to the state championship game in school history, the 1998 Golden Eagles reloaded and went through the rest of the Northwest League like a hot knife through butter.
Kyler Randall
Junior Kyler Randall returned at quarterback. He didn’t have to throw many times, but when he did, he made it count. He completed 19 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns. He was a huge threat on the ground, rushing for 458 yards (7.6 average) and five touchdowns, and he was named All-League 2nd Team.
Justin Iwasaki
Senior Justin Iwasaki led Ferndale in rushing with 1007 yards (6.7) and he also scored a league-high 26 touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Sophomore fullback Robert Davis exploded onto the scene, rushing for 835 yards (6.3) and five touchdowns, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention.
Chandler Udo
Senior Chandler Udo was the ideal wing back in the Golden Eagle offense, and he was named All-League 1st Team, rushing for 632 yards (7.3) and two touchdowns, while leading the team in receiving with 11 receptions for 356 yards (32.4) and five scores. Junior tight end Paul Terrell hauled in five passes for 88 yards (17.6) and he was named All-League Honorable Mention.
Addison Perrin
It was one of the biggest offensive lines in Whatcom County history, and they pushed their way to over 3000 yards rushing and 40 touchdowns. Seniors John Bailey (6-3 300), Josh Price (6-5 280) and Addison Perrin (6-2 295) brought the bulk up front. Bailey and Price were each named All-League 1st Team, and Perrin was an All-League 2nd Team selection. They were joined by juniors Marc Locker and Bryce Oxford, who were both named All-League Honorable Mention.
BJ Hoelzle
The defensive line was led by the three-year starting bookends, Perrin and B.J. Hoelzle. Perrin was named All-League 2nd Team, and Hoelzle was named All-League 1st Team. The interior was filled by Price and senior Gurpreet Dhillon (6-1 245), and both were named All-League Honorable Mention. Iwasaki became the first player in Whatcom County history to be named All-League 1st Team at linebacker for three years in a row! He was joined by Oxford and senior Clay Owen, who were both named All-League Honorable Mention.
Michael Koenen
The secondary was led by the Randall and Udo. They both possessed tremendous speed, and ball-hawking abilities, and were each named All-League 1st Team. Junior Derrick Thompson was named All-League Honorable Mention as a defensive back. Junior Michael Koenen handled all of the kicking duties, and was named All-League 1st Team at kicker, and All-League 2nd Team at punter. The future NFL’er finished the season with 36 extra points and two field goals.
POINTS PER GAME: 40.4 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 19.1
POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +21.3
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Ferndale 49, Notre Dame (BC) 21
Week 2: Ferndale 35, Sehome 29
Week 3: Ferndale 62, Garfield 12
Week 4: Ferndale 55, Burlington-Edison 14
Week 5: Ferndale 41, Squalicum 14
Week 6: Ferndale 55, Sedro Woolley 14
Week 7: Ferndale 56, Bellingham 0
Week 8: Lynden 49, Ferndale 14
Week 9: Ferndale 55, Anacortes 13
State Play-In Game: Ferndale 22, Hazen 16
State Playoffs: 1st Round: Bellevue 28, Ferndale 0
In 2012, the Golden Eagles came off a disappointing 5-5 season, and the coaches and players were focused on turning things around. They averaged eight more points per game, and the winning ways were back in Ferndale.
Cooper Clark
Replacing three-year starting quarterback Jake Frost was no easy task, but junior Cooper Clark was up for it. He completed 21 passes for 386 yards and five touchdowns, while rushing for a touchdown.
Alex Conley
Clark has a bushel of backs to hand the ball off to, with senior Alex Conley being the main one. Conley finished with 1331 yards (8.7 average) and an eye-popping 27 touchdowns. He was named All-League 1st Team, and nabbed an All-State 2nd Team selection. Senior Hank Hilts had great size (6-1 215) and he powered his way to 682 yards on the ground (6.9) and nine touchdowns. Senior Richmond Baardson was electric every time he touched the ball, gaining 615 yards (8.5) and six touchdowns. Junior Anthony Fleck and senior Daniel Ewald each gained over 200 yards on the ground.
Richmond Baardson
While Ferndale didn’t look to pass often, when it did it looked to Baardson. It was his second season leading the team in receiving, and he caught 10 passes for 248 yards (24.8) and three scores. Senior tight end Cameron Massey caught five passes for 58 yards (11.6) and one touchdown.
Kameron McKay
The offensive line enjoyed pushing the opposition around, clearing the way for 56 touchdowns on the ground. 6-foot-3 200-pound senior Kameron McKay stood out on the line, and was named both All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team. 6-foot-0 225-pound senior Cameron Ivy was a returning starter and was named All-League 2nd Team.
“The Sharks”
McKay also anchored the defensive line, being named All-League 1st Team, and he was joined by Massey at defensive end. Ivy was named All-League 1st Team at linebacker, and he was joined by Ewald and senior Sam Alexander. But, the strength of the defense was the secondary, also known as “The Sharks”: Conley, Clark, Baardson, Fleck and juniors Joey Akers, and Robert Hardin. Conley was named All-League 1st Team, Clark was an All-League 2nd Team pick and Baardson exploded onto his opponents with his terrorizing hits.
Senior Wyatt Dunn hit on 53 extra points, but the great special teams didn’t end there as Clark returned a punt for a touchdown against Burlington-Edison and Baardson returned a punt for a touchdown against Bellingham.
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