RECORD: 8-2 – COACH: Robb Myhre
LEAGUE: 7-1 (2nd Place in the NCC)
CLASSIFICATION: 2A – PLAYOFFS: Lost in 1st Round
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 36.6 – Allowed: 8.9 – Differential: +27.7
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Nooksack Valley 54, South Whidbey 0
Week 2: Nooksack Valley 59, Granite Falls 7
Week 3: Nooksack Valley 57, Sultan 8
Week 4: Nooksack Valley 28, Blaine 0
Week 5: Lynden Christian 12, Nooksack Valley 0
Week 6: Nooksack Valley 24, Meridian 23
Week 7: Nooksack Valley 53, Cascade Christian 6
Week 8: Nooksack Valley 48, Lakewood 7
Week 9: Nooksack Valley 43, Mount Baker 13
State Playoffs: 1st Round: Orting 13, Nooksack Valley 0
The 2001 Pioneers had one of the biggest turnarounds, from one season to the next, in Whatcom County history. In Coach Myhre’s second year at the helm it all gelled together.
Junior quarterback Darrin Van Weerdhuizen played a good season, and was quite a dual threat. He gained valuable experience the year before, due to an injury. He completed 31 passes for 539 yards and six touchdowns, while also scoring three more times on the ground. He had a giant mix of skill players to hand the ball off to. The speedy, and shifty, sophomore Ty Willemsen exploded onto the scene, and was a touchdown scoring machine. The All-League 2nd Teamer ran for 613 yards (6.6 average) and 12 touchdowns. He was also the teams leading receiver with 12 catches for 223 yards (18.6) and a score. Junior fullback Andrew Larson didn’t have as much shiftiness in his style, but his straight-ahead style wound up leading the team with 704 yards on the ground (7.2) and he scored six touchdowns. Senior Aaron Haley, a transfer from Texas, added 464 yards (7.9) and five touchdowns, while junior Anthony Aure contributed with 384 yards rushing (7.1) and four scores.
Junior tight end Scott Venn made some great catches during the season, and finished with 12 receptions for 202 yards (16.8) and two touchdowns. He was also named All-League 2nd Team. Aure also caught a pair of touchdowns, and junior Trent Willemsen hauled in a touchdown pass.
The offensive line was big, but extremely athletic. It revolved around an amazing set of senior pulling guards. Kevin Spoelstra (6-3 210) had great size, strength and speed, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Mitch Thompson (5-10 200) was built more like a guard, and he loved to hit! The Pioneers averaged 6.8 yards per carry, and scored 39 rushing touchdowns.
The same two players that led the offensive line were the main pillars on defense. Spoelstra made huge plays at huge moments from his defensive end spot, including the game-saving tackle against Meridian that would help them clinch a state playoff spot for the first time in 12 years. Thompson at linebacker… I don’t think I can put into words how amazing he was. After interviewing multiple coaches and former players, the word I most commonly heard when speaking about Mitch Thompson was “best”. It was hard to find one better. He was named All-League 1st Team, the League’s Defensive Player of the Year and was named All-State 1st Team. Haley joined Thompson at linebacker, and was an All-League 2nd Teamer. Willemsen starred in the secondary, returned two interceptions for touchdowns, and was named All-League 1st Team. Both seniors Nick Bruland, and Nick Harvey, each returned an interception for a touchdown as well.
Harvey connected on 32 extra points, and was an All-League 2nd Team pick. Willemsen was also a dynamic punt returner, bringing two of them back to the house, a certain skill-set he obtained from his uncles Bill and Chuck Handy.
Great collection of talent, and even better teammates!!
What an awesome year. I’ll never forget the Sultan coach coming in after the game and shaking our hands for the thorough butt-kicking we laid on them. Also, Mitch’s hit(s) during the Cascade Christian game…oh man.