Tag Archives: 1978

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #115 – 1978 Nooksack Valley Pioneers

June 18, 2015 Tyler 15 Comments

RECORD: 7-3 – COACH: Hal Haddock

LEAGUE: 7-3 (2nd Place in the WCL)

CLASSIFICATION: A – PLAYOFFS: None

Scoring Stats “Per Game”

Points: 15.2- Allowed: 9.8 – Differential: +5.4

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Blaine 8, Nooksack Valley 6

Week 2: Nooksack Valley 20, Meridian 6

Week 3: Nooksack Valley 20, Lynden 3

Week 4: Nooksack Valley 18, Mount Baker 7

Week 5: Nooksack Valley 26, Lynden Christian 15

Week 6: Blaine 12, Nooksack Valley 6

Week 7: Nooksack Valley 20, Meridian 14

Week 8: Lynden 33, Nooksack Valley 6

Week 9: Nooksack Valley 8, Mount Baker 0

Week 10: Nooksack Valley 22, Lynden Christian 0

The 1978 Pioneers had a lot of talent, but in this season, the Whatcom County League was loaded with great teams and players. The Blaine Borderites would end up winning the state championship, and their starting quarterback, Curt Kramme, told me once that he felt that his team, Lynden, or Nooksack Valley could have won the state championship that season. That’s how good the league was in comparison to the state playoff teams.

Even though the Pioneers ran the ball on 90% of their plays, they did throw a little bit. 6-foot-2 170-pound senior quarterback Todd Norman competed 11 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for two touchdowns. He primarily handed the ball of the his pair of “Bill’s”. Even though his two senior running backs shared the same first name, their last names are ones that any fan of Whatcom County football would recognize immediately.

Bill Van Diest was a tough, bruising fullback. The 5-foot-11 185-pounder ran for a team-high 685 yards (5.3 average) and five touchdowns, and he was named All-League 2nd Team. Bill Handy was an amazingly dynamic player. His speed and shiftiness allowed him to gain 668 yards on the ground (5.6), 10 touchdowns, while being the team’s leading receiver with six catches for 121 yards (20.2) and two scores. He was named All-League 1st Team, and was also selected as the WCL Offensive Player of the Year. Junior Jamie Olesen ran for 144 yards, while senior Chuck Gelwicks chipped in with 110 yards on the ground.

Senior wide receiver Joe Holtrop was small (5-7 150), but effective. He caught five passes for 126 yards (25.2), and he was an All-League 2nd Team selection. Olesen and sophomore Chuck Handy each caught a pass.

The offensive line was extremely skilled, and made it easier for Nooksack Valley to run the ball 90% of the time. Junior center Rick Bowen (6-3 200) stood out in the middle of the line, and was named All-League 1st Team. Senior Steve Connell was an All-League 2nd Team selection, after being named All-League 1st Team as a junior. The Pioneers ran for 1660 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The defense finished the season strong, with two shutouts in a row, and it was led by Connell up front, and Handy in the backfield. Both players were named All-League 1st Team. Joining Connell on the defensive line was Brad Forbes. Only 5-7 and 150 pounds, the junior used great leverage and was named All-League 2nd Team. Van Diest led the linebacking corps, and was an All-League 2nd Team selection.

Without a reliable kicker, the Pioneers elected to go for two after most touchdowns. Handy, Van Diest and Olesen each had a pair of 2-point conversion, with Holtrop scoring a two-pointer as well. Handy was a scary player to kick the ball to in 1978. In the opening game of the season he retuned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. The following week against Meridian he returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown. He did it again against the Trojans five weeks later, returning a punt 65 yards for a touchdown.

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #122 – 1978 Bellingham Red Raiders

June 11, 2015 Tyler 7 Comments

RECORD: 7-2 – COACH: Vel West

LEAGUE: 6-2 (4th Place in the NWL)

CLASSIFICATION: AA – PLAYOFFS: None

Scoring Stats “Per Game”

Points: 18.8 – Allowed: 10.2 – Differential: +8.6

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Bellingham 24, Liberty 20

Week 2: Bellingham 13, Mount Vernon 7

Week 3: Bellingham 9, Sehome 8

Week 4: Ferndale 16, Bellingham 15

Week 5: Bellingham 20, Lake Stevens 6

Week 6: Bellingham 31, Anacortes 6

Week 7: Burlington-Edison 20, Bellingham 10

Week 8: Bellingham 33, Monroe 10

Week 9: Bellingham 13, Stanwood 0

The 1978 Red Raiders were a win away from the playoffs, and lost a close 16-15 game at Ferndale. These Bellinghamsters were part of all the great teams that the red and white had in the late 70’s.

What could be a Whatcom County record, five different Red Raiders threw a touchdown pass in the 1978 season. Senior Don Fenton and junior Ted Genger each threw two TD’s, while Kris Runestrand, Matt Atkins and Greg Brand each threw one. Fenton completed 26 passes for 455 yards, while Runestrand completed 13 passes for 165 yards.

Junior Joe Rushin led Bellingham with 463 yards rushing (5.0 average) and five touchdowns. Fenton was an All-League 2nd Team selection at running back, and he ran for 449 yards (4.7) and seven touchdown. Senior Leonard Lawrence ran for 137 yards (5.3) and two touchdowns.

Tight end Chris Bergner had a great season, both receiving and running the ball. The 6-foot-5 210-pound senior caught 25 passes for 384 yards (15.4) and one touchdown. He also ran for 247 yards (5.4) and two touchdowns and was named All-League 1st Team. Junior Greg Brand caught 13 passes for 210 yards (16.2), while Lawrence caught seven passes for 85 yards (12.1) and a score. Fenton scored two touchdowns receiving, to go along with his seven on the ground, and two as a passer.

Junior Marty West (6-0 195) led the offensive line, and was named All-League 2nd Team. The offense scored 24 touchdowns and ran for 1420 yards.

The coaches son, West, also led the defensive attack, and was named All-League 2nd Team from his defensive line position. Sophomore Greg Gudbranson led the secondary, and was named All-League 2nd Team.

Junior Bill Benson nailed 11 extra points and hit on two field goals.

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #125 – 1978 Lynden Lions

June 8, 2015 Tyler 4 Comments

RECORD: 7-3 – COACH: Rollie DeKoster

LEAGUE: 7-3 (2nd Place in the WCL)

CLASSIFICATION: A – PLAYOFFS: None

Scoring Stats “Per Game”

Points: 16.3 – Allowed: 8.4 – Differential: +7.9

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Lynden 34, Mount Baker 6

Week 2: Lynden 10, Blaine 8

Week 3: Nooksack Valley 20, Lynden 3

Week 4: Lynden 30, Lynden Christian 0

Week 5: Lynden 20, Meridian 0

Week 6: Lynden 6, Mount Baker 0

Week 7: Blaine 14, Lynden 3

Week 8: Lynden 33, Nooksack Valley 6

Week 9: Lynden 2, Lynden Christian 0

Week 10: Meridian 30, Lynden 22

The 1978 Lions had a tremendous season, with four shutout wins and a win against the eventual state champion Blaine Borderites, but it wasn’t enough to make the playoffs, losing a heart-breaker on the road against Meridian on the final week of the season.

In classic Rollie-form, The Lions had seven different players through a pass in that wacky offense. The main signal caller was the diminutive (5-6 145) senior, John Weeks. He completed 17 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 127 yards, two touchdowns and was named All-League 2nd Team. Senior running back Brian Anderson was the main ball-carrier, with 680 yards (4.5 average) and seven touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 59 yards (14.8) and was named All-League 2nd Team. Senior Mike Hill was a force at 210 pounds and he contributed 320 yards on the ground, while hulking sophomore Leif Erickson ran for 237 yards.

Senior Rick Weidkamp was an All-League 1st Team receiver, and he led the team with six catches for 67 yards (11.2) and a touchdown. Senior Jim Jamie caught five passes while fellow senior Garth Allen also caught four passes.

The offensive line was led by the 5-11 180-pound junior Mark Morgan, who was named All-League 1st Team. Senior Dwight Young (5-10 175) also stood out, and was named All-League 2nd Team. Lynden averaged over 150 yards rushing per game, and ran for 18 touchdowns.

Allowing only 8.4 points per game, the defense was the main strength for the Lions. Senior Jim Jamie was the main man on the defensive line, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Joining Jamie was Allen, who was named All-League 2nd Team. Anderson and Hill led the linebacking corps. Anderson was named All-League 1st Team, while Hill was on the 2nd Team. Weeks intercepted a pass in week one against Mount Baker and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown, and he went on to be named All-League 1st Team at defensive back.

Junior Benji Lange proved to be the top kicker with 12 extra points, three field goals, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Anderson had some monster punts, and was named All-League 2nd Team.

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #128 – 1978 Sehome Mariners

June 5, 2015 Tyler 1 Comment

RECORD: 5-5 – COACH: Herb Langeman

LEAGUE: 4-4 (5th Place in the NWL)

CLASSIFICATION: AAA – PLAYOFFS: None

Scoring Stats “Per Game”

Points: 16.6 – Allowed: 8.9 – Differential: +7.7

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Arlington 6, Sehome 0

Week 2: Sedro Woolley 14, Sehome 13

Week 3: Bellingham 9, Sehome 8

Week 4: Sehome 7, Mount Vernon 3

Week 5: Notre Dame (BC), 17, Sehome 15

Week 6: Sehome 12, Ferndale 6

Week 7: Sehome 48, Lake Stevens 6

Week 8: Sehome 27, Anacortes 7

Week 9: Burlington-Edison 7, Sehome 6

Week 10: Sehome 30, Monroe 14

The 1978 Mariners had a misleading record (5-5), in comparison to the caliber of talent they possessed. They lost the opener by two field goals, and the other four losses were by a combined five points. A few breaks here and there, and they could have easily been in the playoffs.

Junior quarterback Curt O’Connor completed 21 passes for 279 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 198 yards and one touchdown. He was joined in the backfield by workhouse junior running back, Ladin Langeman, who ran for a league-high 1102 yards (4.8 average) and nine touchdowns on his way to being named All-League 1st Team. Senior running back Kevin Moore ran for 374 yards (5.3) and six touchdowns, while senior Kent Herzer and junior Pete Dawson combined for over 200 yards and four touchdowns.

Junior receiver Sean Riley was the main target, catching 16 passes for 274 yards (17.1) and one touchdown, and was named All-League 2nd Team. Senior tight end John Lallas caught five passes for 51 yards (10.2).

The senior driven offensive line was a huge part of the team’s success, and it started with All-League 1st Team center Peter Oswald. The guards were Brad Haggen and Howard Bobson, and the tackles were Greg Vaughn and Pat Reynolds. They ran for almost 2000 yards and scored 21 touchdowns on the ground.

On defense the line was led by Herzer from his end position. Haggen and Lallas were the mainstays at linebacker, and junior Joey Lallas was the top dog in the secondary. All four players were named All-League 1st Team. Herzer intercepted a pass against Lake Stevens and brought it back 60 yards for a touchdown.

Sophomore Mike Zimmerman kicked eight extra points, and handled all the kicking duties.

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