Tag Archives: 1980

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #65 – 1980 Ferndale Golden Eagles

RECORD: 7-2 – COACH: Tom Manke

LEAGUE: 2-2 (3rd Place in the NWL)
CLASSIFICATION: “AA” – Playoffs: None
POINTS PER GAME: 25.4 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 4.9
POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +20.5

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Ferndale 26, Mount Vernon 7

Week 2: Ferndale 24, Sehome 0

Week 3: Ferndale 21, Sedro Woolley 0

Week 4: Ferndale 47, Stanwood 0

Week 5: Burlington-Edison 10, Ferndale 0

Week 6: Bellingham 27, Ferndale 26

Week 7: Ferndale 42, Monroe 0

Week 8: Ferndale 34, Queen Anne 0

Week 9: Ferndale 9, Mount Vernon 0

They were third place in the league, and they didn’t make the playoffs. But, what an awesome team! They shut out six of their opponents in their seven wins, and their two losses were by a total of 11 points.

Kurt Hanson

Seniors Kurt Hanson and Scot Schwisow split time at quarterback. Hanson completed 11 passes for 206 yards and five touchdowns, with Schwisow amassing 12 completions for 164 yards and three scores. Of course, the Golden Eagles were more ground-oriented, and Hanson ran for 79 yards and three touchdowns.

John Locker

Junior John Locker had another outstanding season, rushing for 866 yards (6.0 average) and nine touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team for the second year in a row. He was joined by senior Glenn Niemela who rushed for 455 yards (5.7) and three scores. The three-headed rushing attack wouldn’t have been complete without junior Greg Ebe and his 211 yards rushing (5.6) and four touchdowns.

Greg Daws

6-foot-4 senior tight end Greg Daws made huge plays for the Golden Eagles, catching nine passes for 136 yards (15.1) and five touchdowns. Senior Kurt Evans caught seven passes for 69 yards (9.9), and sophomore tight end Greg Finkbonner caught a pair of touchdown passes.

John Brandt

The offensive line was led by the 170-pound senior, John Brandt. He was named All-League 1st Team, and cleared many paths for Locker and company. Fellow senior Dennis Butolph also pushed his weight around up front, and the Ferndale rushing attack totaled 1745 yards, and averaged 5.4 yards per carry, and this was before the time when offensive linemen could use their hands at all!

Glenn Niemela

The defensive line was led by junior Ken Altona, and Daws. Altona was an All-League 1st Team selection, and Daws was named All-League 2nd Team. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Ebe had the perfect combination of size and speed to dominate at linebacker, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Locker led the secondary, and was named All-League 1st Team. Finkbonner also scored a defensive touchdown against Mount Vernon.

Fabio Froes

Senior Fabio Froes handled the kicking duties, and he hit on 19 extra points and three field goals. Ebe also returned a kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown against Sehome.

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #80 – 1980 Nooksack Valley Pioneers

RECORD: 8-1  –  COACH: Birger Solberg

 LEAGUE: 8-1 (T-1st Place in the WCL)
 CLASSIFICATION: A – PLAYOFFS: Lost Mini Play-in Game
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 22.1 – Allowed: 7.0 – Differential: +15.1

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Nooksack Valley 27, Lynden Christian 0

Week 2: Nooksack Valley 47, Blaine 8

Week 3: Nooksack Valley 13, Mount Baker 0

Week 4: Meridian 13, Nooksack Valley 7

Week 5: Nooksack Valley 16, Lynden 10

Week 6: Nooksack Valley 22, Lynden Christian 6

Week 7: Nooksack Valley 22, Blaine 12

Week 8: Nooksack Valley 19, Mount Baker 0

Week 9: Nooksack Valley 26, Meridian 14

Mini-Playoff Play-in Game: Lynden 14, Nooksack Valley 0

If it wasn’t for a week four loss against Meridian, it may have been the Nooksack Valley Pioneers playing in the 1980 King Bowl. Instead, the Lynden Lions won the state championship, with their only loss coming to the Pioneers. The talent was there, but the playoffs weren’t, as Nooksack Valley would lose a mini-playoff game to Lynden.

Senior Randy Mitchell started at quarterback for the second straight season, and he had a great one! He completed 80 passes for 1069 yards and eight touchdowns. The 6-foot-3 185-pounder was also named All-League 1st Team.

Chuck Handy

Chuck Handy was the main offensive weapon for the Pioneers in 1980. In fact, he was the main offensive weapon of the Whatcom County League, and was named the League’s Offensive Player of the Year. The 5-foot-9 155-pound senior ran for 565 yards (6.9 average) and eight touchdowns, while catching 24 passes for 343 yards (14.3) and two scores. Junior Jim Van Diest ran hard between the tackles, totaling 379 yards on the ground (4.6) and three scores. Senior Jim Harmon added 146 yards rushing (3.7) and three touchdowns.

Allen Vinkes

6-foot-4 senior Allen Vinkes provided a huge target for Mitchell on the outside, catching 23 passes for 309 yards (13.4) and four touchdowns, and would be named All-League 1st Team at wide receiver. Junior Jay Schweigert showed his top-notch athleticism with 20 receptions for 220 yards (11.0) and two scores. He would be named All-League 2nd Team. Sophomore Glen Leenders showed off his skills, catching eight passes for 132 yards (16.5).

Jay Schweigert

The Pioneers’ explosive offense ran behind a strong offensive line. It began with senior center, Jeff Todahl. The 6-foot-1 185-pounder was named All-League 1st Team. He teamed with fellow senior, Bill Edwards (5-7 155), who was named All-League 2nd Team.

The Nooksack Valley defense recorded three shutouts in 1980, and only gave up seven points per game. Massive senior Lyle Olesen (6-2 205), along with Vinkes, led the attack up front. Vinkes was named All-League 1st Team, with Olesen nabbing 2nd Team honors. The back half of the defense was led by Handy, who was not only named All-League 1st Team, but was also All-State 1st Team. Schweigert also played well in the secondary, and was named All-League 2nd Team.

Vinkes kicked 12 extra points and a field goal, and he was named All-League 2nd Team. Olesen also kicked two extra points. Handy returned three punts for touchdowns, proving he was a threat any time he touched the football.