RECORD: 7-2  –  COACH: Tom Manke

 LEAGUE: 6-2 (2nd Place in the NWL)

 CLASSIFICATION: AA – PLAYOFFS: None

Scoring Stats “Per Game”

Points: 21.3 – Allowed: 9.9 – Differential: +11.4

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Arlington 20, Ferndale 0

Week 2: Ferndale 22, Stanwood 13

Week 3: Ferndale 26, Sedro Woolley 24

Week 4: Ferndale 14, Mount Vernon 0

Week 5: Ferndale 34, Sehome 6

Week 6: Ferndale 29, West Vancouver 0

Week 7: Ferndale 28, Anacortes 0

Week 8: Ferndale 33, Burlington-Edison 14

Week 9: Bellingham 25, Ferndale 6

Mini-Playoff Game: Arlington 7, Ferndale 0

The 1981 Golden Eagles just couldn’t get past Arlington to get into the state tournament, but it was still a great season for a great team.

Senior quarterback John Swobody completed 30 passes for 406 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing for two more scores. When he wasn’t dropping back to pass, he was likely handing off to arguably the best running back Whatcom County had to offer in the 1980’s. Senior John Locker had an another amazing season, rushing for 1228 yards (6.1 average) and 11 touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass, and was named All-League 1st Team for the third year in a row, and was named the League’s Offensive Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons. He graduated as Whatcom County’s leading career rusher, and it’s hard to believe he wasn’t named All-State. He remained the county’s all-time leading rusher for 10 years, and is currently ranked 8th all-time. Perhaps more impressive is that his 3371 rushing yards were accumulated before offensive linemen were allowed to use their hands, at all. Numbers shy-rocketed after that rule change.

Joining Locker in the backfield was junior Keith Hanson and senior Greg Ebe. Hanson finished with 301 yards (6.4), while Ebe plowed forward for 277 yards (3.9) and six touchdowns. John’s brother Scott Locker also made some big plays in the backfield, using his amazing speed. The junior only carried the ball nine times, but ran for 102 yards (11.3) and scored twice. Junior tight end Greg Finkbonner was the team’s leading receiver with nine catches for 117 yards (13.0) and two scores. He was also a great blocker, and was named All-League 2nd Team. Scott Locker caught eight passes for 97 yards (12.1) and two touchdowns.

The offensive line also got it done for the Golden Eagles, opening a lot of holes for it’s awesome running backs. Senior Tom Hull led the way from his center position, and the 5-foot-9 168-pounder was named All-League 2nd Team. Other standouts included seniors Ken Altona (6-0 180) and Tor Hanson (6-1 190). Both of which were also named All-League 2nd Team. Ferndale ran for over 2000 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per rushing play.

The defense shut out three opponents during the season, and the line was led by Altona, who was named All-League 1st Team. He was joined up front by All-League 2nd Teamer, Keith Hanson. Ebe was a rock in the middle, and he was named All-League 1st Team at linebacker. He also intercepted a pass against Sehome and brought it back 68 yards for a touchdown. John Locker led the secondary, and was named All-League 2nd Team.

Sophomore Jim Wilkerson handled the kicking, booting four extra points. The Golden Eagles opted to go for two points more often than not, and they converted nine times, with John Locker getting five of them. Scott Locker returned the kicks, and had a 56-yard punt return for a touchdown against Burlington-Edison.

RECORD: 8-3  –  COACH: Jamie Plenkovich

 LEAGUE: 2-0 (1st Place in the 3A NWC)

 CLASSIFICATION: 3A – PLAYOFFS: None

Scoring Stats “Per Game”

Points: 28.0 – Allowed: 17.4 – Differential: +10.6

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Ferndale 28, Bellingham 13

Week 2: Ferndale 52, Shorecrest 6

Week 3: Blaine 28, Ferndale 21

Week 4: Lynden 31, Ferndale 0

Week 5: Ferndale 41, Squalicum 7

Week 6: Ferndale 21, Everett 14

Week 7: Ferndale 41, Sedro Woolley 12

Week 8: Ferndale 24, Stanwood 0

Week 9: Ferndale 31, Mount Vernon 7

State Play-in Game: Ferndale 28, West Seattle 21

State Playoffs: 1st Round: Lindbergh 52, Ferndale 21

The 2009 Golden Eagles featured a lot of fresh faces, but the Ferndale tradition was still there. It was also the first time since 2002 that a Locker wasn’t lining up behind center.

Senior Bo Brudwick started the season at quarterback, and sophomore Jake Frost finished the season there. Both QB’s put up similar numbers, though. Brudwick completed 30 passes for 470 yards and three touchdowns, while Frost completed 25 passes for 480 yards and five touchdowns. Ironically, it had been three years since Ferndale had a 1000-yard rusher, but they had one in 2009. junior Willy Scott was an All-League 2nd Team selection, and he had 1042 yards (9.1 average) and five touchdowns. Senior Brandon Maarhuis bulled his way for 564 yards on the ground (5.0) and a team-high 12 touchdowns. Senior Matt Reynolds added 410 yards rushing (6.7) and eight scores.

Senior Jeff Frost had a great season at wide receiver, catching 27 passes for 434 yards (16.1) and two touchdowns. He was rewarded by being named All-League 2nd Team. Scott caught 16 passes for 301 yards (18.8) and three touchdowns. Reynolds caught a pair of touchdown passes, and senior tight end Isaac Akers also caught one.

The offensive line was led by senior Nick Morris. The 6-foot-1 190-pound former tight end was an All-League 2nd Team selection and helped pave the way for over 2400 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground.

Morris teamed with Akers to form a great defensive line. Morris was named All-League 2nd Team, and Akers was an All-League Honorable Mention pick. Maarhuis was the heart and soul of the defense from his linebacker spot, and was named All-League 1st Team. Jeff Frost was the only returning starter on defense, and led the secondary. Senior Benny Woodworth intercepted a pass against Squalicum and brought it back 32 yards for a touchdown.

Senior Jake Dunn finished off his great kicking career with a great season. He was an All-League Honorable Mention selection, with 39 extra points and three field goals.

RECORD: 7-2  –  COACH: Vic Randall

 LEAGUE: 3-2 (3rd Place in the NWL)

 CLASSIFICATION: AA – PLAYOFFS: None

Scoring Stats “Per Game”

Points: 36.2 – Allowed: 14.3 – Differential: +21.9

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Ferndale 54, North Delta 15

Week 2: Ferndale 35, Seattle Prep 0

Week 3: Ferndale 61, Mark Morris 14

Week 4: Ferndale 7, Olympia 6

Week 5: Anacortes 32, Ferndale 12

Week 6: Ferndale 48, Sedro Woolley 18

Week 7: Ferndale 40, Burlington-Edison 0

Week 8: Lynden 31, Ferndale 15

Week 9: Ferndale 54, Bellingham 13

The 1996 Golden Eagles had an abundance of talent, most of these talented players were first year varsity starters. They probably didn’t achieve as much as they wanted to, but it was still a good year.

Passing the ball was not high on the Ferndale priority list, but big plays were made in the passing game. Senior Gary Little had a strong arm, and he completed 14 passes for 357 yards and five touchdowns, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention. Most of the time he handed the ball off to All-League 1st Team junior fullback, Matthias Wilson. Arguably the best pure running back in Whatcom County history, Wilson stepped into the starting role and showed everyone what he could do. He ran for 1546 yards (7.6 average) and 13 touchdowns. He was joined by junior Britton Hanson who ran for 871 yards (8.5) and 14 touchdowns, and he was named All-League 2nd Team. Sophomore Justin Iwasaki also had some big plays running the ball, totaling 522 yards (7.4) and eight touchdowns.

Junior tight end Tyler Ryan led the Golden Eagles with eight receptions for 182 yards (22.8) and three touchdowns, and he was an All-League Honorable Mention selection. Junior wide receiver Jacob Ferry and Hanson each caught a pair of passes.

The offensive line had great ability to go along with tremendous size. 6-foot-6 291-pound senior Max Seppi represented the size, and was named All-League 1st Team, as well as All-State 1st Team. Fellow senior Kyle Johnson wasn’t nearly as big, but was unbelievably valuable at guard in the Wing T offense, and he was also picked as an All-League 1st Teamer. Juniors Bob Carlstrom and Mike Tull also had great seasons up front, and they were each named All-League Honorable Mention. As a team, they averaged 7.3 yards per carry, and had 37 rushing touchdowns.

Seppi led the defensive push up front, and was named All-League 1st Team. He was joined by Carlstrom, who was an All-League 2nd Team pick. The defensive ends were a pair of sophomore studs that the NWL offenses had to gameplan around for the next two seasons. Addison Perrin and B.J. Hoelzle were each named All-League Honorable Mention. Johnson and Iwasaki were great tacklers in the middle of the field, and were each named All-League 1st Team at linebacker. Iwasaki also returned two interceptions for touchdowns. Ryan, at 6-foot-3 with great speed, led the secondary and was named All-League 2nd Team.

Junior Tyson Oreiro had a very strong leg, and he kicked 28 extra points.