Tag Archives: 2003

Top 150 #64 – 2003 Ferndale Golden Eagles

RECORD: 9-2 – COACH: Adam Mathieson

LEAGUE: 6-1 (1st in the NWL)

CLASSIFICATION: 3A – Playoffs: State Quarterfinalist

POINTS PER GAME: 25.7 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 13.8
POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +11.9

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Ferndale 49, Roosevelt 0

Week 2: Ferndale 21, Heritage 14

Week 3: Ferndale 30, Bellingham 0

Week 4: Burlington-Edison 41, Ferndale 27 (Decision reversed)

Week 5: Sehome 21, Ferndale 12

Week 6: Ferndale 19, Squalicum 3

Week 7: Ferndale 28, Sedro Woolley 7

Week 8: Ferndale 26, Lynden 14

Week 9: Ferndale 35, Anacortes 14

State Playoffs: 1st Round: Ferndale 36, Camas 7

State Quarterfinals: O’Dea 31, Ferndale 0


It was the post-Vic Randall era. It was the pre-Jamie Plenkovich era. In what could have been looked at as a “transitional” season, the Golden Eagles made the most of it!

Jake Locker

Sophomore Jake Locker became the full time starter, and his greatness shined through from game one. He was named All-League 1st Team, completing 30 passes for 713 yards and nine touchdowns. He also rushed for 478 yards (6.0 average) and three touchdowns.

Sean Morrison

Senior fullback Sean Morrison enjoyed a gigantic breakout season, rushing for 1403 yards (5.5) and 19 touchdowns, and he was named All-League 2nd Team. Senior Adam Lane proved to be one of the most versatile players on the team, rushing for 411 yards (6.7) and three scores, while catching a team-high 12 passes for 314 yards (26.2) and three more TD’s, and he was named All-League 1st Team.

Adam Lane

Senior Riley Cornelsen rushed for 225 yards (3.8) and two touchdowns, and he also caught six passes for 92 yards (15.3) and two scores on his way to being named All-League Honorable Mention. Seniors Kyle Scarborough and Cameron Dahl each proved to be big-play receivers, both averaging over 20 yards a reception.

Riley Cornelsen

Seniors Beau Haugness and Cody Higgerson were the leaders of the massive Ferndale offensive line. Both players were named All-League 2nd Team. They were joined by juniors Jack Piper and Ronnie Gomez, both of whom were named All-League Honorable Mention. The ground-oriented Golden Eagles ran for over 2600 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Jack Piper

Morrison and Piper led the defensive front, with Morrison being named All-League 2nd Team, and Piper and All-League Honorable Mention selection. Cornelsen was the unquestioned leader of the defense, and was named All-League 1st Team. He also regarded as one of the best linebackers in school history, and was named All-State 1st Team. He was joined at linebacker by senior Aaron Ivy and junior Jamie Howard, both of whom were named All-League Honorable Mention.

Ronnie Gomez

Locker headed up the secondary, and was named All-League 1st Team for the second year in a row. Lane was named All-League 2nd Team, and Scarborough was an All-League Honorable Mention pick at defensive back. Senior Dean Dammarell nailed 26 extra points and a field goal.

 

Top 150 #86 – 2003 Mount Baker Mountaineers

RECORD: 9-2  –  COACH: Ron Lepper

 LEAGUE: 7-1 (2nd Place in the NCC)

 CLASSIFICATION: 2A – PLAYOFFS: Lost in 1st Round

Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 36.2 – Allowed: 12.4 – Differential: +23.8

GAME BY GAME:

Week 1: Mount Baker 29, Burlington-Edison 15

Week 2: Mount Baker 14, Nooksack Valley 13

Week 3: Meridian 28, Mount Baker 0

Week 4: Mount Baker 50, Granite Falls 6

Week 5: Mount Baker 49, Lakewood 21

Week 6: Mount Baker 76, Blaine 0

Week 7: Mount Baker 37, Sultan 13

Week 8: Mount Baker 56, Todd Beamer 7

Week 9: Mount Baker 19, Lynden Christian 0

Week 10: Mount Baker 55, South Whidbey 14

State Playoffs: 1st Round: LaCenter 19, Mount Baker 13


The 2003 version of the Mounties was extremely explosive, and their two losses happen to be at the hands of the two top teams in the state, in the 2A classification.

Wes Norstadt

After playing wide receiver and wingback for the Mounties, senior Wes Norstadt lined up at quarterback in 2003. Although he possessed one of the strongest arms in school history, it was about the running game for Mount Baker. He did complete 28 passes for 642 yards and seven touchdowns, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention. He also ran for 340 yards (6.0 average) and four TD’s. Senior running back Mikel Rathjen had an incredible season, rushing for 1533 yards (8.9), 21 touchdowns and five 2-point conversions. He was named the League’s Offensive Player of the Year, and was All-State 2nd Team. Senior fullback Cody Lawson ran for 694 yards (11.2) and seven touchdowns, while fellow senior Kyle Vessel added 535 yards on the ground (15.7) and nine touchdowns. Both were named All-League 2nd Team.

Mikel Rathjen

Junior wide receiver Kyle Kinder caught seven passes for a team-high 171 yards (24.4) and a touchdown. Senior tight end Keith Williams, a converted offensive lineman, caught a team-high eight passes for 154 yards (19.3) and two scores. He was named All-League Honorable Mention. Vessel and senior Tyler Marshall each caught five passes, and Rathjen caught three.

Guy Gates

The offensive line, as usual, was the unsung hero for Mount Baker. 222-pound junior tackle Guy Gates was named All-League 1st Team and fellow junior Daniel Chudek was named All-League 2nd Team as the center. The rest of the line was filled out by seniors Travis Magnusson and Brad Smith, and sophomore J.C. George. All three were named All-League Honorable Mention. The led the way for 3612 yards on the ground and 55 touchdowns overall. They also helped the Mountaineers average an eye-popping 9.1 yards per carry for the entire season!

Keith Williams

Williams led the defensive attack from his inside linebacker position, leading the team with 178 tackles (30 solo), and three forced fumbles. He also had three tackles for loss. Gates also had an impressive season, lining up next to Williams, with 142 tackles (14 solo), nine tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. Williams was named All-League 1st Team, with Gates nabbing All-League 2nd Team honors. Norstadt led the secondary from his free safety position, and he totaled 53 tackles (18 solo), three interceptions, three passes broken up, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was named All-League 1st Team as well as All-State 1st Team. Senior Josh Little led the team with three sacks and nine tackles for loss as a defensive tackle, while senior Charlie Brown has seven tackles for loss, two sacks and a team-high four fumble recoveries as a defensive end. Junior Garrett Graham intercepted three passes to help the secondary.

Senior Bryan Visser kicked 32 extra points, while Lawson, Rathjen and Graham handled the return duties.