RECORD: 7-4 – COACH: Bob Ames
LEAGUE: 6-2 (T-1st Place in the WCL)
CLASSIFICATION: 2A – PLAYOFFS: Lost Play-in Game
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 27.6 – Allowed: 16.9 – Differential: +10.7
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Meridian 28, Mount Baker 20
Week 2: Bellingham 26, Meridian 20
Week 3: Lynden Christian 21, Meridian 7
Week 4: Meridian 19, Blaine 8
Week 5: Meridian 38, Nooksack Valley 0
Week 6: Mount Baker 28, Meridian 19
Week 7: Meridian 33, Colville 28
Week 8: Meridian 42, Lynden Christian 14
Week 9: Meridian 36, Blaine 7
Week 10: Meridian 41, Nooksack Valley 6
State Play-in Game: King’s 28, Meridian 21
2005 was the last season the Trojans played in the 2A ranks, and they still tied for the league title. It was a typical Meridian team with master play-calling on offense, getting the ball to it’s best players and a swarming defense.
Junior quarterback Tyler Slesk had a very “Slesk-like” season under center completing 183-of-318 passes for 2653 yards and 30 touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Senior running back Tyler Culp was the team’s workhorse, carrying the call 155 times for 819 yards (5.3 average) and six touchdowns. He was also named All-League 1st Team.
Senior wide receiver Josh Keough put up one of the best seasons in Whatcom County history catching 67 passes for 1148 yards (17.1) and 12 touchdowns. He was nearly unstoppable, and was named All-League 1st Team, Whatcom County League Offensive Player of the Year and All-State 1st Team. Sophomore Sean Hurlbut caught 27 passes for 272 yards (10.1) and three scores while junior Bryan Black showed his amazing athleticism with 23 catches for 541 yards (23.5) and eight touchdowns in only five games. Hurlbut was named All-League 2nd Team. As usual, the Trojans spread the wealth in the passing game. Senior T.J. Norris caught 20 passes, and senior Taylor Garcia hauled in 19.
Senior linemen Eric Hoyt and Bryant Michaelson led the push at the line of scrimmage, and each were rewarded by being named All-League 2nd Team. Meridian averaged 4.1 yards per carry and scored 12 rushing touchdowns.
Juniors Chris Appel and Cody Reinke led the defensive unit up front, Appel was named All-League 1st Team, and Reinke was All-League 2nd Team. Culp named All-League 1st Team for the second straight year at linebacker and junior Luke Scott intercepted a pass and brought it back 39 yards for a score against Nooksack Valley and was named All-League 2nd Team at linebacker. Keough’s talents didn’t only happen on the offensive side of the ball, he intercepted six passes (three in the opening game against Mount Baker) and was named All-League 1st Team at defensive back. Fellow senior Jesse Trefethen had four picks, returned one for a touchdown and was an All-League 2nd Team choice in the secondary.
Sophomore Andrei Lintz handled the kicking duties, hitting 15 extra points. He also averaged 34.2 yards per punt, and was named All-League 1st Team punter. Culp and Hurlbut returned kickoffs while Keough handled the punt returns.