RECORD: 5-4 – COACH: John Custer
LEAGUE: 4-4 (3rd Place in the NWL)
CLASSIFICATION: AA – PLAYOFFS: None
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 14.6 – Allowed: 8.4 – Differential: +6.2
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Stanwood 9, Sehome 8
Week 2: Sehome 7, Ferndale 0
Week 3: Sehome 21, Mariner 3
Week 4: Sedro Woolley 13, Sehome 7
Week 5: Sehome 21, Mount Vernon 6
Week 6: Sehome 34, Anacortes 19
Week 7: Bellingham 16, Sehome 14
Week 8: Burlington-Edison 10, Sehome 7
Week 9: Sehome 12, Arlington 0
The 1986 Mariners were coming off a one-win season, and looking to do some damage in the Northwest League.
Senior quarterback Doug Ericksen was one of the best athletes in the county, and his leadership helped turn around the Sehome program in a hurry. He was named All-League 1st Team, completing 79 passes for 790 yards and 10 touchdowns while rushing for 169 yards and three more scores.
Senior running back Paul Farrell proved to be the best in the league, rushing for a Whatcom County leading 932 yards and five touchdowns. His 5.8 yards per carry was also tops in the county, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Senior Cory Benson was one of the best dual-threat running backs of the 1980’s. He ran for 205 yards and a touchdown, while leading the team with 37 catches for 291 yards (7.9 average) and a touchdown.
In week two the Mariners beat Ferndale 7-0. It was the first victory for Sehome over the Golden Eagles since 1978, but it came at a costly expense. The lone touchdown was scored by the 6-foot-5 230-pound sure-fire All-State candidate at tight end, Jay Reyna, who injured his foot on the scoring play. He was lost for the season after that play, and you could only imagine how well Sehome could have been with Reyna healthy all season. Junior Joe Velasquez was a key target for Ericksen, catching 22 passes for 264 yards (12.0) and four touchdowns.
The combination of seniors Mark Fierst and Jim Holtrop was devastating on opposing defensive lines. They were each named All-League 1st Team, leading the way for the league’s top rusher, top pass catcher, and number one ranked quarterback.
The defense allowed double digits in only four of the nine games played, and it was led by senior linebacker Rod Gates. Gates was named All-League 1st Team, and was also the Northwest League’s Defensive Player of the Year. He was joined at linebacker by fellow senior Sean McIvor, who was named All-League 2nd Team. The defensive front was led by Holtrop and senior Tim Skudlarick, who were named All-League 1st Team and 2nd Team respectively. Ericksen anchored the defensive backfield, and was an All-League 1st team selection.
Ericksen handled all of the kicking duties, hitting 11 extra points, and he was named All-League 2nd Team at punter.