RECORD: 9-3  –  COACH: Ron Lepper

 LEAGUE: 6-2 (3rd Place in the NCC)

 CLASSIFICATION: 2A – PLAYOFFS: Lost in the Quarterfinals

Scoring Stats “Per Game”

Points: 30.8 – Allowed: 15.5 – Differential: +15.3

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Mount Baker 26, Eatonville 23

Week 2: Mount Baker 29, Blaine 20

Week 3: Mount Baker 71, Sultan 6

Week 4: Mount Baker 23, Nooksack Valley 13

Week 5: Meridian 21, Mount Baker 7

Week 6: Mount Baker 43, Granite Falls 12

Week 7: Lynden Christian 21, Mount Baker 18

Week 8: Mount Baker 42, South Whidbey 6

Week 9: Mount Baker 29, Lakewood 13

State Play-in Game: Mount Baker 21, Port Townsend 8

1st Round Playoff Game: Mount Baker 32, Washougal 8

State Quarterfinal Game: Orting 35, Mount Baker 28

The 1999 Mountaineers had one of the best graduating classes in school history. Even though they lost two league games, one of them being a two-touchdown loss to Meridian which beat every other team by at least five touchdowns, they had a strong playoff run.

Even though Baker had a strong senior class, they were led into battle by junior quarterback, Brent Cowden. The first-year starter completed 59 passes for 1077 yards, 16 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He also ran for two touchdowns and was named All-League Honorable Mention. Cowden enjoyed handing off to many different backs, but senior Jim Schleimer received the bulk of the carries. 226 of them, to be exact, gaining 1576 yards (7.0 average) and 23 touchdowns. Although he had a tremendous year, he feel just short of being named All-State, as he was the previous season. He was again named All-League 1st Team, and finished his amazing career as the school’s all-time leading rusher. He would hold that record for 12 years, until Levi Wigg broke it. Schleimer still holds the school record for most career carries (499), career rushing touchdowns (53) and career points scored (344). Joining Schleimer in the backfield was senior Wes Carson, who ran for 799 yards (5.3) and four touchdowns, and he was an All-League 2nd Team pick.

When moving the ball through the air, the Mountie passing attack looked for 5-foot-11 216-pound senior, Travis Galbraith. His athleticism allowed him to switch from guard to tight end, and he proved to be a valuable one, catching 22 passes for 403 yards (18.3) and eight touchdowns. He was also named All-League 1st Team at tight end, a position that would land Baker the All-League 1st Team selection in five of the previous six years. Junior wide receiver Joe Mattingley was a huge big-play threat, catching 12 passes for 393 yards (32.8) and six touchdowns, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention . His 189-yard receiving performance in the quarterfinals still stands as the schools single-game record. Although senior Mike Brennan only caught a pair of passes, his blocking helped him get recognized, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention at tight end. Sure-handed juniors Brian Smith and Stanley Macdonald each caught seven passes.

The offensive line was loaded with seniors from tackle to tackle. Known throughout the team as “Ike”, “Psycho”, “Krazy”, “K-Dog” and “Barney”, all five would be named as League All-Stars. Isaac Parham was as strong as they came at the high school level, at 6-foot-1 and 217 pounds the eventual state-champion wrestler plowed over the competition, and was named All-League 1st Team as well as All-State 1st Team. Jesse Morris was a tremendously athletic lineman, and was named All-League Honorable Mention. Center Kyle Lukes was another star-wrestler, and two-year starter on the line, and was named All-League 1st Team. Right guard Klinton Moa was undersized, but had unbelievable tenacity, and was named All-League 2nd Team. Byron Anderson, at 6-0 257, has superb strength at his right tackle position, and was named All-League Honorable Mention. They led the way for over 3000 yards rushing and 35 touchdowns on the ground.

The defense was led by Galbraith, who was named the League’s Defensive Player of the Year. From his defensive end spot he collected 71 tackles, 22 quarterbacks harassed, 16 tackles for loss, nine sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. On the opposite side, Parham totaled 68 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 10 quarterbacks harassed, six sacks, six fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. He was also named All-League 1st Team at defensive end. Rounding out the defensive line was Moa, and he had 83 tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and was an All-League 2nd Team selection.

The linebackers were led by Schleimer and Morris, who were each named All-League 1st Team. Schleimer finished with 75 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five passes broken up and three fumble recoveries, and Morris ended the season with a team-high 92 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and two sacks. Carson, along with fellow senior Caleb Hansen, were each named All-League Honorable Mention at linebacker. Carson was huge with 14 tackles for loss, while Hansen was in on 80 tackles and nine tackles for loss.

Mattingley led the secondary with six interceptions and eight passes broken up, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Cowden intercepted a pair of passes, and sophomore Justin Brown broke up seven passes, forced two fumbles and he was named All-League Honorable Mention.

Junior Zach Marr handled the kicking duties, with 15 extra points, while the Baker backs combined for 18 two-point conversions. Morris averaged 32.7 yards per punt. Mattingley returned 12 kickoffs for 271 yards (22.6) while junior Dan Varner returned 19 punts for 164 yards (8.6).