RECORD: 7-4 – COACH: Mark Venn
LEAGUE: 6-3 (2nd Place in the WCL)
CLASSIFICATION: A – PLAYOFFS: Lost in the 1st Round
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 26.4 – Allowed: 12.5 – Differential: +13.9
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Nooksack Valley 21, Lynden 0
Week 2: Nooksack Valley 14, Blaine 0
Week 3: Nooksack Valley 49, Meridian 21
Week 4: Lynden Christian 28, Nooksack Valley 26
Week 5: Nooksack Valley 42, Mount Baker 14
Week 6: Nooksack Valley 34, Lynden 8
Week 7: Nooksack Valley 33, Blaine 3
Week 8: Meridian 24, Nooksack Valley 21
Week 9: Lynden Christian 7, Nooksack Valley 2
State Play-in Game: Nooksack Valley 33, Granite Falls 13
State Playoffs: 1st Round: Charles Wright 19, Nooksack Valley 15
The seniors from the 1989 Pioneer football team had been through enough. Many of them were forced to play as freshman, and it wasn’t pretty. The 1986 team averaged less than one yard per play, and failed to score an offensive touchdown all season. Three years later, these guys were ready to right the wrong.
One of those seniors was quarterback Brandon Newell. He completed 65 passes for 1053 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also ran for 134 yards, four touchdowns and he was named All-League 2nd Team. Newell was joined in the backfield by a talented trio. Dave Longoria became the second sophomore in Whatcom County history to surpass 1000 yards rushing (John Locker was the first). He ran for 1004 yards (5.9 average) and 16 touchdowns. Senior Dale Johnson totaled 729 yards on the ground (5.4) and three touchdowns. Speedy sophomore Troy Slayton added 371 yards rushing (5.8) and five touchdowns, while being a huge factor in the passing game, catching 10 passes for 231 yards (23.1) and five more scores.
Nooksack Valley was a big, strong team in 1989, and rarely did it split anyone out into a wide receiver spot. But, why would you when you have possibly the best tight end tandem in school history with senior Mark Coppinger and junior Tom Ackerman. Coppinger caught 14 passes for 237 yards (16.9) and three touchdowns, and was named All-League 2nd Team. Ackerman hauled in a team-high 24 passes for 319 yards (13.3) and one touchdown, and he was an All-League 1st Team selection.
To along with strong blocking of Coppinger and Ackerman, the offensive line boasted a pair of big, strong kids that could hold their own against anyone. Senior Scott Myhre was an All-League 1st Team pick, and fellow senior Rodney Hayes (6-4 205) was an All-League 2nd Team pick. They were joined on the line by senior Landry Lawrence, junior Jeremy Neyens and sophomore Brian Pike.
Defensively, there was little that opposing offenses could do against the pass rush of Hayes. He lived in the backfield, and was named All-League 1st Team. He was joined up front by Myhre, who was an All-League 2nd Team selection. The linebackers were strong with Coppinger and Ackerman. Coppinger was an All-League 2nd Team pick, and Ackerman returned an interception for a 92-yard touchdown against Meridian. Newell was named All-League 1st Team at defensive back, and led the secondary with numerous interceptions. Slayton returned an interception 62 yards for a score against Lynden.
Newell handled the kicking duties and hit on 24 extra points. Slayton was the punter, and Longoria returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown against eventual league champion Lynden Christian.