RECORD: 10-2 – COACH: Rollie DeKoster
LEAGUE: 9-1 (1st Place in the WCL)
CLASSIFICATION: “A” – Playoffs: State Semifinalist
POINTS PER GAME: 20.7 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 7.8
POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +12.9
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Lynden 47, Mount Baker 6
Week 2: Lynden 35, Blaine 0
Week 3: Lynden 40, Nooksack Valley 0
Week 4: Lynden 15, Lynden Christian 8
Week 5: Lynden 3, Meridian 0
Week 6: Mount Baker 35, Lynden 14
Week 7: Lynden 9, Blaine 6
Week 8: Lynden 15, Nooksack Valley 14
Week 9: Lynden 28, Lynden Christian 12
Week 10: Lynden 28, Meridian 0
State Quarterfinals: Lynden 14, Sultan 6
State Semifinals: Winlock 6, Lynden 0
A six-point loss was all that kept Lynden from reaching its first state championship game. After a dominant beginning to the season (outscoring their opponents 122-6 in the first three weeks), the Lions came back down to Earth, but still managed to win close games, and also the League Championship.
It wasn’t a unique offense, if you were looking at formations. But, if you were looking at personnel, it was definitely different. Seniors Rick DeGraaff and Brent Rutgers shared time at quarterback, but when one was under center, the other would be playing somewhere else on the field. DeGraaff completed 29 passes for 404 yards, while Rutgers completed 28 passes for 486 yards and a touchdown. DeGraaff also ran for 215 yards (3.2 average) and three scores, while catching 10 passes for 167 yards (16.7). Rutgers ran for 419 yards (5.8) and a team-high 10 touchdowns, while catching nine passes for 111 yards (12.3) and a score.
Junior Mike Hill led the Lions on the ground with 430 yards (3.8) and four touchdowns. He was joined by senior Ray Alexander’s 403 yards rushing (3.8) and five TD’s. Junior Brian Anderson ran for 376 yards (6.1) and a touchdowns, including a 150-yard performance against Nooksack Valley. Senior Tim Martin contributed with 164 yards rushing (3.8) and three touchdowns.
Senior Tom Lange was named All-League 2nd Team at tight end, and led the team with 11 receptions for 212 yards (19.3). Alexander caught nine passes for 182 yards (20.7) and senior Alonzo Briones caught eight passes for 85 yards (10.6).
The offensive line was led by a trio of seniors. John Van Ieperen was named All-League 1st Team (amazingly the ONLY player on the team named All-League 1st Team on offense). Brian Reimer and Jeff Jones were each named All-League 2nd Team. They paved the way for 27 rushing touchdowns, which stood as the Whatcom County record for rushing touchdowns by a team in one season. The state championship Blaine team would break that record the following season.
Van Ieperen led the defensive line, and was named All-League 1st Team as well as the Whatcom County League Defensive Player of the Year. He was joined up front by Reimer, who was also named All-League 1st Team. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Hill used his great size and speed at linebacker, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Rutgers led the secondary, and was named All-League 1st Team. DeGraaff made huge plays, returning two interceptions for touchdowns (one in each game against the crosstown rival Lyncs), and was named All-League 2nd Team. Alexander picked off a pass against Blaine, and took it 35 yards for a touchdown.
Lange was an exceptional kicker, and was named All-League 1st Team for the second year in a row. He finished with 25 extra points and two field goals. Alexander averaged nearly 40 yards per punt, and was named All-League 2nd Team.