RECORD: 9-3 – COACH: Ron Lepper
LEAGUE: 6-2 (T-1st in the WCL)
CLASSIFICATION: 2A – PLAYOFFS: Lost in 1st Round
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 30.3 – Allowed: 15.3 – Differential: +15.0
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Meridian 28, Mount Baker 20.
Week 2: Mount Baker 29, Nooksack Valley 0.
Week 3: Mount Baker 36, Sehome 13.
Week 4: Mount Baker 29, Lynden Christian 6.
Week 5: Blaine 21, Mount Baker 20.
Week 6: Mount Baker 28, Meridian 19.
Week 7: Mount Baker 35, Nooksack Valley 6.
Week 8: Mount Baker 56, Cedarcrest 14.
Week 9: Mount Baker 21, Lynden Christian 19.
Week 10: Mount Baker 28, Blaine 12.
Crossover Play-In Game: Mount Baker 40, Sultan 0.
State Playoffs, Round 1: Connell 46, Mount Baker 21.
The 2005 Mountaineers was a team that had balanced talent, and was looking to break into that elusive quarter-final round of the state playoffs. They seemed to have the makings of a great shot at it with top senior running back Spencer Flannery returning, junior Pete Galbraith (who switched from tight end to fullback) and senior quarterback D.J. Williamson who gained valuable experience in last season’s playoff run when quarterback Tyler Murray went down with an injury.
Williamson completed 37-of-83 passes for 557 yards and nine touchdowns. He also ran for 137 yards and two scores. His trio of running backs gave the Mounties all the dimensions that a running game could ask for. Galbraith was a beast of a fullback, usually plowing through the line, and he ran for a Whatcom County-high 1487 yards on 209 carries (7.1 average) and 13 touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Junior Michael Millson was pure speed from the wing-back position, and he gained 735 yards on 64 carries (11.5) and seven touchdowns. Flannery was a mix of size, strength and speed. At 6-foot-2 and 196 pounds, he could run over most high school defenders, but he also had the speed and elusiveness to run around most defenders. He rushed for 1282 yards and 17 touchdowns on 230 carries (5.6), and he was named All-League 2nd Team.
As usual, Baker didn’t throw the ball too much, especially with two running backs each getting over 200 carries. Junior Brandon Welch caught 15 passes for 256 yards (17.1) and seven touchdowns. Flannery hauled in 10 passes for 157 yards (15.7), and junior Trevor Herring had six catches for 44 yards (7.3).
The offensive line was a major strength for the Mounties, and it was led by the senior All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team center, Robbie Welch. Senior Alex Sigmon was also selected All-League 1st Team as Mount Baker averaged 6.6 yards per carry and scored 39 rushing touchdowns.
The defense was led by Welch, who was named as the League’s Defensive Player of the Year, and All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team at outside linebacker. He was in on 161 tackles (30 solo), eight quarterback hurries, seven tackles for loss, three passes broken up, two interceptions, two blocked kicks and two fumble recoveries. Galbraith was a rock in the middle of the field, and he was named All-League 1st Team at linebacker adding 138 tackles (27 solo), five passes broken up, 4.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, three quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Flannery rounded out one of the best linebacking corps’ in school history, and was named All-League 2nd Team with 97 tackles (22 solo), nine tackles for loss, seven passes broken up, three quarterback hurries, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Sigmon was an All-League 1st Team selection on the defensive line with 79 tackles (10 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, 2.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Williamson led the secondary, and was named All-League 2nd team at defensive back with 41 tackles (17 solo), 19 passes broken up, two interceptions and one forced fumble. Sophomore Jon Raney had three interceptions.
Millson did it all on special teams. He kicked 33 extra points, two field goals and he was named All-League 1st Team at kicker. He also averaged 31.6 yards per punt, and returned eight kickoffs for 298 yards (37.3) and two touchdowns. Flannery was the punt returner, and averaged 10.5 yards per return.
And they started two sophomore’s on that offensive line