RECORD: 8-3 – COACH: Hal Haddock
LEAGUE: 8-2 (1st in the WCL)
CLASSIFICATION: A – PLAYOFFS: Quarterfinalist
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 12.6 – Allowed: 8.1 – Differential: +4.5
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Nooksack Valley 14, Mount Baker 6
Week 2: Nooksack Valley 33, Lynden Christian 6
Week 3: Lynden 12, Nooksack Valley 0
Week 4: Meridian 33, Nooksack Valley 0
Week 5: Nooksack Valley 6, Blaine 0
Week 6: Nooksack Valley 12, Mount Baker 6
Week 7: Nooksack Valley 7, Lynden Christian 0
Week 8: Nooksack Valley 18, Lynden 6
Week 9: Nooksack Valley 12, Meridian 7
Week 10: Nooksack Valley 30, Blaine 0
State Quarterfinals: Castle Rock 13, Nooksack Valley 7
The 1976 Pioneers returned some key members from last season’s state semi-finalist team. As most teams did back then, they were a run first, power kind of team.
Junior quarterback Dan Groves wasn’t asked to throw very much, and he completed 14-of-56 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 27 yards and a score. The backfield was loaded with 185-pound senior Phil Assink leading the way. He carried the ball 121 times for 619 yards (5.1 average) and four touchdowns. He was also the only senior to be named All-League 1st Team at running back. He was joined by senior Doug Groves who had 93 attempts for 383 yards (4.1) and two touchdowns, sophomore Bill Van Diest who rushed for 183 yards on 40 carries (4.6) and three touchdowns and junior Pat Sturgeon who added 155 yards on 37 carries (4.1) and two scores.
Senior Scott Waddell led the team in receiving with four catches for 74 yards. Sturgeon and fellow junior Glenn Williams each had three catches, while Assink and Doug Groves each hauled in a pair of passes.
The line was incredible for Nooksack Valley. Senior Lance Massey (6’3″ 227) was a man among boys, and fellow seniors Marty Binchus (6’1″ 180) and Rich Stacey (5’9″ 197) were all named All-League 1st Team. Defensively, the Pioneers were led by Massey. His dominant play on the defensive line not only garnered and All-League 1st Team selection, but he was also named as the Whatcom County League’s Most Valuable Player as well as being named All-State 1st Team for the second year in a row. Doug Groves was named All-League 1st Team at linebacker, while senior Lyle Martin was named All-League 1st Team as a defensive back.
Scott Griggs Waddell
Mike Stacey