RECORD: 9-3 – COACH: Ron Lepper
LEAGUE: 5-1 (1st Place in the 1A NWC)
CLASSIFICATION: 1A – PLAYOFFS: State Quarterfinalist
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 31.7 – Allowed: 16.4 – Differential: +15.3
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Sedro Woolley 35, Mount Baker 7
Week 2: Mount Baker 54, Oroville 6
Week 3: Mount Baker 42, Cascade (Leavenworth) 6
Week 4: Mount Baker 24, Nooksack Valley 14
Week 5: Mount Baker 33, Meridian 25
Week 6: Mount Baker 31, Lynden Christian 20
Week 7: Mount Baker 21, Nooksack Valley 11
Week 8: Meridian 10, Mount Baker 9
Week 9: Mount Baker 20, Lynden Christian 0
State Play-in Game: Mount Baker 70, Cedar Park Christian 13
State 1st Round Game: Mount Baker 41, Montesano 28
State Quarterfinals: Eatonville 29, Mount Baker 28
The 2014 Mountaineers were coming off of their first state championship game in school history, but still had a lot of talent returning.
Junior Mason Bass took over at quarterback following the opening game loss to the eventual 2A state-champions. He completed 27 passes for 473 yards, 10 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He was joined in the backfield by the League’s Most Valuable Player, senior, Liam Short. The bruising fullback carried the ball 217 times for 1530 yards (7.1 average) and 17 touchdowns, and he was an All-League 1st Team selection. Super sophomore Jed Schleimer continued the trend of Schleimer running backs (Joe, Jim and Jake). He ran for a sophomore team record 830 yards (7.1) and nine touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 61 yards (8.7) and two scores. Senior wingback Zach Yurchuk added 512 yards and six touchdowns.
Senior wide receiver Ruvim Tikhonov was a big-play threat for the Mountaineers, catching a team-high 11 passes for 236 yards (21.5) and four touchdowns. 6-foot-5 senior tight end Carson Schmidt also had his share of big plays, basically every time he touched the ball! All four of his receptions went for a touchdown, and they totaled 95 yards. Senior Johnny Mata also caught six passes for 75 yards (12.5) and a score.
Juniors Chad Cohn and Paul Lebedev were the mainstays on the offensive line, each of them being named All-League 1st Team, Cohn for the second year in a row. Lebedev was also named All-State 2nd Team. The line also got consistent play from junior J.T. Keeney who made the ultimate sacrifice, switching from running back to guard. Baker totaled 3374 yards on the ground, and 40 touchdowns.
The defensive line started with Lebedev. From his defensive end spot he sacked the quarterback five times, and was named All-League 1st Team for the second year in a row. Junior linebacker Kolton Zender was all over the field from his middle linebacker spot, and was named All-League 1st Team. The secondary was led by Tikhonov and Mata who each made numerous plays while the ball was in the air. Tikhonov was named All-League 1st Team.
Senior Zane Smith proved to be a very valuable weapon for Mount Baker, kicking 44 extra points and five field goals. His 52-yard field goal against Oroville is the longest in Whatcom County history! Tikhonov and Yurchuk handled the kick returns, and Short scooped up an onside kick and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown against Nooksack Valley.
