RECORD: 7-3 – COACH: Hal Haddock
LEAGUE: 7-3 (2nd Place in the WCL)
CLASSIFICATION: A – PLAYOFFS: None
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 15.2- Allowed: 9.8 – Differential: +5.4
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Blaine 8, Nooksack Valley 6
Week 2: Nooksack Valley 20, Meridian 6
Week 3: Nooksack Valley 20, Lynden 3
Week 4: Nooksack Valley 18, Mount Baker 7
Week 5: Nooksack Valley 26, Lynden Christian 15
Week 6: Blaine 12, Nooksack Valley 6
Week 7: Nooksack Valley 20, Meridian 14
Week 8: Lynden 33, Nooksack Valley 6
Week 9: Nooksack Valley 8, Mount Baker 0
Week 10: Nooksack Valley 22, Lynden Christian 0
The 1978 Pioneers had a lot of talent, but in this season, the Whatcom County League was loaded with great teams and players. The Blaine Borderites would end up winning the state championship, and their starting quarterback, Curt Kramme, told me once that he felt that his team, Lynden, or Nooksack Valley could have won the state championship that season. That’s how good the league was in comparison to the state playoff teams.
Even though the Pioneers ran the ball on 90% of their plays, they did throw a little bit. 6-foot-2 170-pound senior quarterback Todd Norman competed 11 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for two touchdowns. He primarily handed the ball of the his pair of “Bill’s”. Even though his two senior running backs shared the same first name, their last names are ones that any fan of Whatcom County football would recognize immediately.
Bill Van Diest was a tough, bruising fullback. The 5-foot-11 185-pounder ran for a team-high 685 yards (5.3 average) and five touchdowns, and he was named All-League 2nd Team. Bill Handy was an amazingly dynamic player. His speed and shiftiness allowed him to gain 668 yards on the ground (5.6), 10 touchdowns, while being the team’s leading receiver with six catches for 121 yards (20.2) and two scores. He was named All-League 1st Team, and was also selected as the WCL Offensive Player of the Year. Junior Jamie Olesen ran for 144 yards, while senior Chuck Gelwicks chipped in with 110 yards on the ground.
Senior wide receiver Joe Holtrop was small (5-7 150), but effective. He caught five passes for 126 yards (25.2), and he was an All-League 2nd Team selection. Olesen and sophomore Chuck Handy each caught a pass.
The offensive line was extremely skilled, and made it easier for Nooksack Valley to run the ball 90% of the time. Junior center Rick Bowen (6-3 200) stood out in the middle of the line, and was named All-League 1st Team. Senior Steve Connell was an All-League 2nd Team selection, after being named All-League 1st Team as a junior. The Pioneers ran for 1660 yards and 18 touchdowns.
The defense finished the season strong, with two shutouts in a row, and it was led by Connell up front, and Handy in the backfield. Both players were named All-League 1st Team. Joining Connell on the defensive line was Brad Forbes. Only 5-7 and 150 pounds, the junior used great leverage and was named All-League 2nd Team. Van Diest led the linebacking corps, and was an All-League 2nd Team selection.
Without a reliable kicker, the Pioneers elected to go for two after most touchdowns. Handy, Van Diest and Olesen each had a pair of 2-point conversion, with Holtrop scoring a two-pointer as well. Handy was a scary player to kick the ball to in 1978. In the opening game of the season he retuned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. The following week against Meridian he returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown. He did it again against the Trojans five weeks later, returning a punt 65 yards for a touchdown.
An awesome group of guys!