Tag Archives: 1975

Top 150 #73 – 1975 Lynden Lions

RECORD: 9-1 – COACH: Rollie DeKoster

LEAGUE: 9-1 (T-1st Place in the WCL)

CLASSIFICATION: “A” – Playoffs: Lost Play-In Game

POINTS PER GAME: 21.8 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 5.2
POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +16.6

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Lynden 24, Lynden Christian 0

Week 2: Lynden 21, Blaine 0

Week 3: Nooksack Valley 12, Lynden 3

Week 4: Lynden 13, Mount Baker 12

Week 5: Lynden 49, Meridian 0

Week 6: Lynden 14, Lynden Christian 6

Week 7: Lynden 28, Blaine 7

Week 8: Lynden 15, Nooksack Valley 12

Week 9: Lynden 19, Mount Baker 3

Week 10: Lynden 32, Meridian 0

Mini Play-In Game: Nooksack Valley 12, Lynden 0


The 1975 version of the Lions was your typical Lynden squad. Big, tall, talented and a loaded senior class. They also only allowed three teams to reach double-digits in scoring, but couldn’t get past Nooksack Valley in a mini-playoff game.

Scott Rutgers

The old saying goes, “When you have two quarterbacks, you don’t really have one.” But, it worked for Lynden, with seniors Dean Vander Yacht and Scott Rutgers sharing the duties behind center. Vander Yacht was named All-League 2nd Team, completing 24 passes for 403 yards and five touchdowns. Rutgers put up similar numbers, completing 21 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns.

Rick Honcoop

Senior Rick Ellis and junior Rick Honcoop split carries in the backfield. Ellis ran for 559 yards (4.5 average) and six touchdowns, while Honcoop totaled 533 yards on the ground (4.4) and seven touchdowns. Ellis was named All-League 1st Team, and Honcoop garnered second team honors. Senior Don Roe contributed on the ground with 103 yards (3.3) and a pair of scores.

Monte Maberry

Senior tight end Monte Maberry caught 11 passes for 124 yards (11.3) and a touchdown, and he was named All-League 1st Team. He was also involved on end-around trick pass plays, completing three long passes for touchdowns. Roe was a big-play receiver, catching 12 passes for 271 yards (22.6) and two touchdowns. Junior Dennis Hill caught a team-high 13 passes for 201 yards (15.5) and two touchdowns. Ellis hauled in a team-high three touchdown receptions.

Bob Bonsen

6-foot-2 165-pound senior Bob Bonsen led the offensive line from his center position, and was named All-League 1st Team. He was joined up front by seniors Tim Vonk, Doug Helgath, Gregg Nelson and junior Wade Bailey.

Tim Vonk

Vonk was the unquestioned leader of the defense, and put fear into many opponents. The 5-foot-11 205-pound nose tackle was named All-State at defensive line, and was also named the Whatcom County League Defensive Player of the Year. Rutgers was the main man in the middle, at linebacker, and was named All-League 1st Team. Rutgers and Vonk shared Lynden’s coveted “High Tackle Award”. Rutgers also booted five extra points, and was named All-League 1st Team as a kicker.

Top 150 #90 – 1975 Bellingham Red Raiders

RECORD: 7-2  –  COACH: Vel West

 LEAGUE: 5-2 (2nd Place in the NWL)

 CLASSIFICATION: AAA – PLAYOFFS: None

Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 19.4 – Allowed: 7.3 – Differential: +12.1

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Bellingham 15, Cascade (Everett) 14

Week 2: Bellingham 28, Vancouver College 0

Week 3: Oak Harbor 6, Bellingham 0

Week 4: Bellingham 21, Anacortes 7

Week 5: Bellingham 20, Mount Vernon 6

Week 6: Bellingham 14, Ferndale 6

Week 7: Bellingham 38, Sedro Woolley 6

Week 8: Burlington-Edison 21, Bellingham 0

Week 9: Bellingham 19, Sehome 0


The 1975 Red Raiders were all about running the ball down your throat. On average they ran the ball 41 times a game, and passed it three times a game. The opposition knew what was going to happen, they just didn’t know who it was going to happen with!

Chris Galley
Chris Galley

Junior quarterback Chris Galley led the charge for Bellingham, and he completed 10 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns, and was named All-League 2nd Team. He also had a pair of senior running backs that were each named All-League 2nd Team. Larry Ripley had an awesome year, rushing for 791 yards (7.8 average) and 12 touchdowns. His 7.8 yards per carry was the school’s single season record that stood for 39 years until quarterback Kalien Hayes broke it in 2014. He also ran for 240 yards in a game against Sehome, the most ever by a Red Raider against their crosstown rival. Bill Slesk was also amazing, rushing for 460 yards (6.2) and three scores. Bellingham also received hard running from junior Jon Pearson (257 yards) and senior Brett Emmons (100 yards).

Larry Ripley
Larry Ripley

Senior tight end Kent Barber was the main threat in the passing game. He caught three passes for 74 yards (24.7) and a touchdown. He was named All-League 1st Team. Slesk, along with juniors Terry Todd and Tim O’Connell, each caught a pair of passes.

Kent Barber
Kent Barber

The offensive line was senior driven, and they opened up some major holes for the run-oriented Red Raiders. Seniors, Mel Chapman, Chris Yonlick and Pete Hay were all named All-League 2nd Team. Bellingham ran for nearly 2000 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry, and scored 24 rushing touchdowns.

Rick Faupel
Rick Faupel

The defense was led by the All-League 1st Team, and League Defensive Player of the Year, Rick Faupel. Although undersized, the 5-foot-10 165-pound senior used amazing skill and quickness from his defensive tackle spot to dominate the rest of the league. Other standouts on defense included Emmons, Galley, Chapman, Ripley and Slesk. They were also joined by seniors Wade Smith, Bob Thompson and junior Carr Lanham.

Brett Emmons
Brett Emmons

Junior Jon Christie was a great kicker, connecting on 17 extra points while being named All-League 2nd Team. Slesk returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown against Burlington-Edison.