Tag Archives: 1986

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #72 – 1986 Lynden Christian Lyncs

July 5, 2017 Tyler

RECORD: 10-4 – COACH: Gary Van Hulzen

LEAGUE: 6-3 (2nd Place in the WCL)

CLASSIFICATION: “A” – Playoffs: State Finalist

POINTS PER GAME: 18.2 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 13.1

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +5.1

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Lynden Christian 19, Meridian 13

Week 2: Mount Baker 20, Lynden Christian 0

Week 3: Lynden Christian 14, Lynden 0

Week 4: Lynden Christian 34, Nooksack Valley 2

Week 5: Blaine 19, Lynden Christian 7

Week 6: Lynden Christian 29, Meridian 13

Week 7: Mount Baker 20, Lynden Christian 6

Week 8: Lynden Christian 19, Lynden 14

Week 9: Lynden Christian 28, Nooksack Valley 0

State Play-In Game: Lynden Christian 35, South Whidbey 18

State Playoffs: 1st Round: Lynden Christian 14, Eatonville 12

State Quarterfinals: Lynden Christian 21, Mount Baker 20

State Semifinals: Lynden Christian 14, Tenino 0

State Championship: Ephrata 32, Lynden Christian 15

Following a pair of 2-win seasons, it would have been a big stretch to predict greatness for the 1986 Lynden Christian Lyncs. But after a week one 19-13 win against Meridian (LC’s first win over the Trojans since 1982) at Civic Stadium, it seemed that the Lyncs were in for a heck of a season. It would be the first trip to the state playoffs for Lynden Christian, and it was a memorable one.

Darren Johnson started at running back as a sophomore in 1984, and he became the starting quarterback in 1985. Now in his second season behind center, the 6-foot tall senior had plenty of varsity experience, mastered the roll-out pass and he put up numbers that broke many school records at the time. He completed 110 passes for 1596 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also ran for 162 yards, one touchdown, and he was named All-League 2nd Team.

Senior Rick Mellema was utilized in both the running game and passing game. He rushed for 757 yards (4.3 average) and eight touchdowns, while catching 25 passes for 246 yards (9.8) and two more scores. He would go on to be named All-League 1st Team. Senior fullback Kent Roorda pounded out 454 yards (3.5) between the tackles and was named All-League 2nd Team. Senior Kerry Vander Griend contributed with 211 yards on the ground (3.7) and three touchdowns.

Vander Griend also proved his worth as a receiver, catching 15 passes for 224 yadrs (14.9) and two touchdowns, but senior Craig Shagren was Johnson’s main target. The 6-foot-3 190-pound tight end had a season for the ages, and still regarded as the best tight end in school history. He caught 47 passes for 876 yards (18.6) and 11 touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team as well as All-State 1st Team.

The offensive line was led by big senior Rob Heerspink. He was named All-League 1st Team, and was the main man up front. Left handed senior center Chad Chambers also had a great season, and was named All-League 2nd Team. An extremely balanced team, the ’86 Lyncs became the first team in Whatcom County history to run for over 1700 yards and pass for over 1700 yards in the same season.

The defensive line was headed up by Shagren and senior Rick Bajema, both of which were named All-League 1st Team, with Shagren scoring a defensive touchdown against Meridian. They were joined by senior Gary Groothuis and junior Steve Korthuis, who were both named All-League 2nd Team. Roorda was the heart and soul of the defense from his middle linebacker position, and he was named All-League 1st Team, and was also chosen as the Whatcom County League Defensive Player of the Year. Senior Andy Mellema led the secondary, and was named All-League 1st Team. He was joined by Rick Mellema and junior Barry DeZeeuw, both were named All-League 2nd Team. John Geleynse also took an interception back 80 yards for a touchdown agasinst Nooksack Valley. DeZeeuw was also named All-League 2nd Team at kicker, and he hit on 19 extra points and a field goal.

This is a special team in Lynden Christian’s history, and his highly credited for lifting the program up and setting the bar at a new level for future Lync gridders.

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #76 – 1986 Mount Baker Mountaineers

June 13, 2017 Tyler

RECORD: 9-2 – COACH: Stu Gorski

LEAGUE: 8-1 (1st Place in the WCL)

CLASSIFICATION: “A” – Playoffs: State Quarterfinalist

POINTS PER GAME: 17.7 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 6.5

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +11.2

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Mount Baker 6, Blaine 0

Week 2: Mount Baker 20, Lynden Christian 0

Week 3: Mount Baker 13, Meridian 6

Week 4: Mount Baker 19, Lynden 13

Week 5: Mount Baker 21, Nooksack Valley 0

Week 6: Mount Baker 14, Blaine 0

Week 7: Mount Baker 20, Lynden Christian 6

Week 8: Meridian 17, Mount Baker 7

Week 9: Mount Baker 32, Lynden 8

State Playoffs: 1st Round: Mount Baker 23, North Mason 0

State Quarterfinals: Lynden Christian 21, Mount Baker 20

After multiple second-place finishes in the 1980’s, it all came together for the Mountaineers in 1986. After beating Lynden Christian twice in the regular season they met again in the quarterfinals of the state tournament, and they lost an overtime thriller to the eventual state runner up.

Baker was led by one of the greatest overall athletes in school history, Jeff Curtis. The 6-foot-1 170-pound senior was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, completing 86 passes for 1417 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for 143 yards and five touchdowns.

Senior running back Tim Jacoby transferred from Ferndale and led the Mountie rushing attack. He ran for 596 yards (3.8 average), seven touchdowns and he was named All-League 1st Team. Junior Nathan Hull added 207 yards on the ground (3.6). He also caught seven passes for 47 yards (6.7).

Seniors Roger Van Weerdhuizen and Jeff Gorski each spent time at tight end, as well as being split out wide, and were a great receiving combo for Curtis. Van Weerdhuizen used his height (6’4″) and his leaping ability (6’9″ high jumper) to create big plays down field. His 45 catches for 910 yards (20.2) and 13 touchdowns made up for the most prolific receiving season that Whatcom County saw in the decade of the 1980’s, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Gorski caught 26 passes for 287 yards (11.0), and he was named All-League 2nd Team.

The offensive line was led by three All-League 1st Team selections; seniors Bob Carbee and Doug Chadwick, along with junior John Raper. Seniors Warner Webb and Willie Pitts were named All-League 2nd Team to round out one of the best overall offensive lines in school history.

Raper also stood out on the defensive line, being named both All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team. He was joined up front by Pitts and Webb, who were each named All-League 2nd Team. Junior Jeff Sande was all over the field from his linebacker position and was named All-League 1st Team. Curtis and Van Weerdhuizen used their supreme athleticism to dominate in the secondary. Curtis was named both All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team, and Van Weerdhuizen nabbed All-League 2nd Team honors.

Curtis handled the kicking duties, hitting on 12 extra points and a field goal, and he was also named All-League 1st Team at punter for the second season in a row.

Top 150 Teams

Top 150 #135 – 1986 Sehome Mariners

May 29, 2015 Tyler 3 Comments

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.