RECORD: 8-2 – COACH: Ron Lepper
LEAGUE: 7-1 (2nd Place in the NCC)
CLASSIFICATION: 2A – PLAYOFFS: Lost in 1st Round
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 32.9 – Allowed: 12.0 – Differential: +20.9
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Mount Baker 14, Blaine 7
Week 2: Mount Baker 48, Granite Falls 12
Week 3: Mount Baker 28, Lynden Christian 15
Week 4: Mount Baker 64, King’s 3
Week 5: Mount Baker 13, Lakewood 7
Week 6: Mount Baker 34, Chimacum 0
Week 7: Meridian 41, Mount Baker 28
Week 8: Mount Baker 40, Nooksack Valley 0
Week 9: Mount Baker 38, Sultan 7
State Playoffs: 1st Round: Elma 28, Mount Baker 22
The ’97 Mounties accomplished something that hadn’t been done before, and hasn’t happened since… they averaged over 400 yards rushing per game. Let that sink in for a moment. After finishing second in the newly formed North Cascades Conference, they were handed a tough draw, having to face Elma on the road. They lost by six to the eventual state champions.
Although not asked to throw much, senior quarterback Chad Hoidal made the majority of his throws count. He completed 15 passes for 276 yards and six touchdowns, to just one interception. He also ran for a touchdown, and was named All-League Honorable Mention. He had one of the best 1-2 punches in school history behind him to hand off to. Senior Joe Schleimer had the most prolific season a running back has ever had at Mount Baker. He ran for 1880 yards (7.6 average) and 20 touchdowns, while catching five passes for 83 yards (16.6) and three scores. The 6-foot-2 201-pounder played the majority of the season with some sort of injury, and was named All-League 1st Team, as well as All-State 1st Team. In the second quarter of the Granite Falls game, Schleimer went down with an injury, so senior fullback Jacob Prince took over as the featured back. All he did was rush for a then-state-record 422 yards. He was taken out in the 4th quarter, as the backups got some long runs in, as the team totaled 668 yards on the ground…. in just that one game. Prince finished the season with 1151 yards (8.9) and eight touchdowns. He was also named All-League 1st Team. Junior fullback Derek Isenhart chipped in with 377 yards (5.8) and a score.
Senior tight end Erik Knutzen was an extension of the offensive line with his run blocking, but showed his great pass catching skills as well. He was the Mounties’ leading receiver with five receptions for 87 yards (17.4) and two touchdowns. He also ran in a touchdown on an end-around play, and was named All-League 1st Team. Whoever lined up at wide receiver was generally not asked to run pass patterns, but to wipe out the cornerback for the running play that was selected. A trio of seniors rotated in and out, usually bringing in the play selection, and all three, Zach Mallahan, Josh Sivo and Jeremiah Kafhold, each caught a pass.
The offensive line was one of the best in Whatcom County history. It was led the 6-foot-2 265-pound senior left guard, Travis LoGrande. Coach Lepper called him the best high school offensive lineman he’s ever coached, mostly because of how great his feet were. He was named All-League 1st Team, as well as All-State 1st Team. At left tackle was junior, Brandon “The Load” Welters. When senior Luke Kalsbeek went down with an injury in week one, the big 296-pound junior was inserted into the starting lineup. He created huge running lanes, and was named All-League Honorable Mention. At center was the “little guy”, senior, Myron Cronk. At 5-foot-8 and 184 pounds he used his leverage and strength to get under opposing defensive tackles, and was named All-League 2nd Team. Senior Randy Fleming was a huge presence (6’4″ 230) at right guard. He finished his career with a bang, being named All-League 1st Team, and started at four of the five offensive line positions in his three-year varsity career. He was also the long snapper for Baker. At right tackle was senior Brent Moa. The 6-foot-1 244-pounder was another mauling run blocker, and an emotional leader. He was named All-League 2nd Team.
The defensive line was led by senior defensive end, Kris DeKriek. A punishing hitter, DeKriek has a knack for getting to the quarterback. He finished with 71 total tackles, 22 QB hurries, 11 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and he was named All-League 1st team. Fleming was the other defensive end, and he finished with 43 total tackles, nine QB hurries, seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one sack, and was named All-League Honorable Mention. The defensive tackles were Moa and fellow senior, Josh Erholm, and they were both named All-League 2nd Team. Moa tallied 70 total tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception. Erholm had 48 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, six QB hurries, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
Knutzen led the linebacking corps, and was named All-League 1st Team. He finished with 110 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, three passes broken up, three forced fumbles, two sacks, one fumble recovery and one interception. Next to him was Isenhart, who was named All-League 2nd Team. He totaled 64 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two passes broken up, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble. The outside linebacker spots were manned by seniors Nathan Brouwer and Chad Rathjen, both of which were named All-League Honorable Mention. Brouwer had 60 total tackles, five tackles for loss, three QB hurries, three fumble recoveries and one interception. Rathjen finished with 42 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, five QB hurries, two passes broken up and one fumble recovery.
Prince and Mallahan were on an island at cornerback, and they held their own. Prince was named All-League 1st Team, finishing with 20 tackles, five passes broken up, one sack, one tackle for loss and one interception. Mallahan was an All-League 2nd Teamer with 23 tackles, 12 passes broken up, and two interceptions. Sophomore Wes Carson took over mid-season at free safety, and was eventually named All-League Honorable Mention. He totaled 39 tackles, two interceptions, one pass broken up, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
The placekicking was problematic before settling on sophomore, Travis Galbraith. He connected on 13 extra points. Prince averaged 30.4 yards per punt. Sivo and Prince also provided some major fireworks returning kickoffs, both averaging over 30 yards per return. Mallahan averaged 12.7 yards per punt return, including a touchdown against King’s.