Tag Archives: 1977

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #67 – 1977 Bellingham Red Raiders

July 13, 2017 Tyler

RECORD: 8-1 – COACH: Vel West

LEAGUE: 7-1 (2nd Place in the NWL)

CLASSIFICATION: “AA” – Playoffs: None

POINTS PER GAME: 22.1 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 9.8

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +12.3

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Bellingham 25, Liberty (Issaquah) 7

Week 2: Bellingham 26, Mount Vernon 0

Week 3: Bellingham 28, Sehome 6

Week 4: Bellingham 23, Ferndale 15

Week 5: Bellingham 19, Lake Stevens 18

Week 6: Bellingham 19, Anacortes 12

Week 7: Burlington-Edison 27, Bellingham 8

Week 8: Bellingham 8, Monroe 7

Week 9: Bellingham 43, Stanwood 14

They had a bruising defense, they had a powerful run game and they had a tremendously strong offensive line. The one thing they didn’t have was a playoff appearance. In 1977 only one team from the Northwest League made the state playoffs, and that was the league champion, and eventual state champion, Burlington-Edison Tigers. Bellingham had just one loss, and it was against those Tigers.

Senior Craig Christie had the control of the offense, and he ran the ship well. This was before the “run and shoot” days of the Red Raiders, so they were mostly ground based. He completed 12 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 106 yards and two more scores.

They had a trio of senior running backs that were relied upon heavily. Dean Wickenburg led the team in rushing with 718 yards (5.8 average), and he scored four touchdowns. Todd Stephan was the big-play guy, rushing for 579 yards (7.0) and a team-high nine touchdowns. Ron Limbacher ran for 374 yards (4.9) and seven scores. Stephan was named All-League 2nd Team, and scored all 28 points in the crosstown rival game against Sehome (four touchdowns and two 2-point conversions). Junior John Herda contributed with 163 yards (4.1) and a touchdown.

Junior tight end Chris Bergner was the main target, catching 10 passes for 189 yards (18.9) and a touchdown. Senior Kevin Kurtz was the big play receiver. Even though he only caught four passes, he made them count, totaling 158 yards (39.5) and a pair of touchdowns.

The offensive line was loaded, and had a pair of seniors that were returning All-League 1st Team players. Senior Bob Csolti and Kevin Foster were each again named All-League 1st Team, and could be the best duo of offensive linemen that Whatcom County saw in the 1970’s. They were joined by senior Cary Gustafson, who was named All-League 2nd Team.

The defense was led by Csolti on the line, and he was named as the League’s Lineman of the Year, and he was chosen All-League 1st Team. He was joined up front by senior Scott Elsner, who was named All-League 2nd Team. Senior Bruce Ebergson returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown in the first game of the season, and was named All-League 1st Team at linebacker. Junior Don Fenton kicked six extra points, and was named All-League 1st Team at punter. Senior Jeff Jenkins returned a punt 46 yards for a touchdown against Stanwood.

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #71 – 1977 Lynden Lions

July 6, 2017 Tyler

RECORD: 10-2 – COACH: Rollie DeKoster

LEAGUE: 9-1 (1st Place in the WCL)

CLASSIFICATION: “A” – Playoffs: State Semifinalist

POINTS PER GAME: 20.7 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 7.8

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +12.9

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Lynden 47, Mount Baker 6

Week 2: Lynden 35, Blaine 0

Week 3: Lynden 40, Nooksack Valley 0

Week 4: Lynden 15, Lynden Christian 8

Week 5: Lynden 3, Meridian 0

Week 6: Mount Baker 35, Lynden 14

Week 7: Lynden 9, Blaine 6

Week 8: Lynden 15, Nooksack Valley 14

Week 9: Lynden 28, Lynden Christian 12

Week 10: Lynden 28, Meridian 0

State Quarterfinals: Lynden 14, Sultan 6

State Semifinals: Winlock 6, Lynden 0

A six-point loss was all that kept Lynden from reaching its first state championship game. After a dominant beginning to the season (outscoring their opponents 122-6 in the first three weeks), the Lions came back down to Earth, but still managed to win close games, and also the League Championship.

It wasn’t a unique offense, if you were looking at formations. But, if you were looking at personnel, it was definitely different. Seniors Rick DeGraaff and Brent Rutgers shared time at quarterback, but when one was under center, the other would be playing somewhere else on the field. DeGraaff completed 29 passes for 404 yards, while Rutgers completed 28 passes for 486 yards and a touchdown. DeGraaff also ran for 215 yards (3.2 average) and three scores, while catching 10 passes for 167 yards (16.7). Rutgers ran for 419 yards (5.8) and a team-high 10 touchdowns, while catching nine passes for 111 yards (12.3) and a score.

Junior Mike Hill led the Lions on the ground with 430 yards (3.8) and four touchdowns. He was joined by senior Ray Alexander’s 403 yards rushing (3.8) and five TD’s. Junior Brian Anderson ran for 376 yards (6.1) and a touchdowns, including a 150-yard performance against Nooksack Valley. Senior Tim Martin contributed with 164 yards rushing (3.8) and three touchdowns.

Senior Tom Lange was named All-League 2nd Team at tight end, and led the team with 11 receptions for 212 yards (19.3). Alexander caught nine passes for 182 yards (20.7) and senior Alonzo Briones caught eight passes for 85 yards (10.6).

The offensive line was led by a trio of seniors. John Van Ieperen was named All-League 1st Team (amazingly the ONLY player on the team named All-League 1st Team on offense). Brian Reimer and Jeff Jones were each named All-League 2nd Team. They paved the way for 27 rushing touchdowns, which stood as the Whatcom County record for rushing touchdowns by a team in one season. The state championship Blaine team would break that record the following season.

Van Ieperen led the defensive line, and was named All-League 1st Team as well as the Whatcom County League Defensive Player of the Year. He was joined up front by Reimer, who was also named All-League 1st Team. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Hill used his great size and speed at linebacker, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Rutgers led the secondary, and was named All-League 1st Team. DeGraaff made huge plays, returning two interceptions for touchdowns (one in each game against the crosstown rival Lyncs), and was named All-League 2nd Team. Alexander picked off a pass against Blaine, and took it 35 yards for a touchdown.

Lange was an exceptional kicker, and was named All-League 1st Team for the second year in a row. He finished with 25 extra points and two field goals. Alexander averaged nearly 40 yards per punt, and was named All-League 2nd Team.

Top 150 Teams, Uncategorized

Top 150 #82 – 1977 Ferndale Golden Eagles

June 6, 2017 Tyler

RECORD: 7-2 – COACH: Tom Manke

LEAGUE: 6-2 (3rd Place in the NWL)

CLASSIFICATION: AA – PLAYOFFS: None

Scoring Stats “Per Game”

Points: 27.6 – Allowed: 8.9 – Differential: +18.7

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Stanwood 13, Ferndale 8

Week 2: Ferndale 37, Arlington 16

Week 3: Ferndale 21, Sedro Woolley 0

Week 4: Bellingham 23, Ferndale 15

Week 5: Ferndale 36, Mount Vernon 0

Week 6: Ferndale 23, Sehome 14

Week 7: Ferndale 40, Edmonds 0

Week 8: Ferndale 24, Lake Stevens 6

Week 9: Ferndale 44, Anacortes 8

When Ferndale dropped its opening game of the season to Stanwood, a team which had gone 0-10 the year before, it seemed like the start of a long fall. But, the Golden Eagles righted themselves and lost only one more game the rest of the way. Even though they didn’t make the playoffs, they averaged 27.6 points per game, which made them the highest scoring team of the 1970’s.

Senior quarterback Matt Beck was named All-League 1st Team, and was a dual threat. He completed 25 passes for 384 yards and six touchdowns. He also ran for 456 yards (5.0 average) and 10 touchdowns.

Ferndale has been known through the years to have many running backs to eclipse the 1000-yard mark during a season, but there can only be one player in school history to be the first to do it. That player was senior, Tom Finkbonner. The 5-foot-11 190-pound senior finished with 1006 yards rushing (5.3) and 12 touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Junior Galen Lane accumulated 524 yards on the ground (5.6) and five scores.

Senior tight end Chuck Oltman led the Golden Eagles in receiving for the second straight season, catching 13 passes for 223 yards (17.2) and five touchdowns. Ed Imhoff, Steve Baker and Finkbonner each caught three passes. Senior Randy Brudwick (6-2 195) was the leader of the offensive line, and he garnered All-League 1st Team honors.

The defense recorded three shut outs, and it was led by Beck and junior Eric Swobody as the defensive ends. Finkbonner and Steve Baker manned the inside linebacker spots, with Lane and Rod Brudwick on the outside. Imhoff and Ron Walton played cornerback with Oltman playing free safety. Sowbody and Oltman were each named All-League 2nd Team. Walton also kicked 13 extra points and a field goal for the Golden Eagles.

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #120 – 1977 Mount Baker Mountaineers

June 13, 2015 Tyler 3 Comments

RECORD: 8-2 – COACH: Bob Wilkinson

LEAGUE: 8-2 (2nd Place in the WCL)

CLASSIFICATION: A – PLAYOFFS: None

Scoring Stats “Per Game”

Points: 22.9 – Allowed: 12.9 – Differential: +10.0

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Lynden 47, Mount Baker 6

Week 2: Mount Baker 35, Lynden Christian 0

Week 3: Mount Baker 9, Meridian 6

Week 4: Mount Baker 28, Nooksack Valley 14

Week 5: Mount Baker 21, Blaine 6

Week 6: Mount Baker 35, Lynden 14

Week 7: Mount Baker 47, Lynden Christian 6

Week 8: Meridian 14, Mount Baker 3

Week 9: Mount Baker 19, Nooksack Valley 6

Week 10: Mount Baker 26, Blaine 16

The 1977 Mountaineers was one of the most senior dominated teams in school history, which was evident the following season when they went 0-10.

Senior quarterback Marty Wilburn was a threat through the air and on the ground. He completed 40 passes for 618 yards and eight touchdowns. He also ran for over 100 yards in three separate games, totaling 597 yards on the ground (5.2 average) and seven touchdowns while gaining All-League 1st Team honors. Sophomore Dan Chapman showed tremendous promise as a backup, completing 8-of-10 passes for 72 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior running back Clay Brown had amazing speed, rushing for 874 yards (6.0 average) and nine touchdowns. He would go on to be named All-League 2nd Team. Senior Nooksack Valley transfer Pat Sturgeon also had a great year in the backfield, also being named All-League 2nd Team. He ran for 383 yards (4.4) and three touchdowns, while leading the team with 14 catches.

Senior receiver Chuck Cooper showed amazing athleticism, catching 11 passes for 235 yards (21.4) and three touchdowns, and he would go on to be named All-League 2nd Team. Senior tight end Augie Drafs caught seven passes for 124 yards (17.7) and three touchdowns. Senior Greg Younkin also caught a pair of touchdown passes.

Massive senior Darryl McNielly led the offensive line, and was an easy choice for All-League 1st Team. When I asked Coach Bob Ames who the best players he coached against in his 41 years of coaching, McNielly was one of the first players he mentioned. The offensive line led the way for almost 2000 yards rushing, and 20 touchdowns on the ground.

McNielly led the defense from his linebacker position, and was named All-League 1st Team for the second year in a row. Senior defensive lineman Joe Mitchell had great size (6-1 200) and speed, which allowed him to be an All-League 1st Team selection. Drafs intercepted a pass against Lynden Christian, and brought it back 15 yards for a touchdown, and was named All-League 2nd Team. Senior Steve Strachila teamed with McNielly at linebacker, and was named All-League 2nd Team.

Sturgeon was a great kicker, hitting 14 extra points and three field goals. Senior Don Donahue was named the All-League 1st Team punter for the second year in a row. Brown handled the kick returns.

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