RECORD: 8-2 – COACH: Vic Randall
LEAGUE: 7-1 (2nd Place in the NWL)
CLASSIFICATION: “AA” – Playoffs: Lost in 1st Round
POINTS PER GAME: 21.3 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 8.2
POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +13.1
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Ferndale 18, Sedro Woolley 15
Week 2: Bellingham 17, Ferndale 14
Week 3: Ferndale 41, West Vancouver (BC) 8
Week 4: Ferndale 14, Burlington-Edison 7
Week 5: Ferndale 28, Arlington 0
Week 6: Ferndale 7, Mount Vernon 0
Week 7: Ferndale 25, Sehome 8
Week 8: Ferndale 14, Stanwood 7
Week 9: Ferndale 39, Anacortes 0
State Playoffs: 1st Round: Lake Stevens 20, Ferndale 13
The 1987 Golden Eagles were loaded with talent, and their only two losses came to teams that made deep runs into the state playoffs. They also had a good mix of seniors and underclassmen, which helped out in the following season.
After three years of Doug Pederson, followed by a year of Darin Nolan, at quarterback, Ferndale went with untested junior, Scott Campbell. All he did was throw a game winning touchdown pass in a week one upset win at Sedro-Woolley, and lead his team to the state playoffs. Campbell finished with 24 completions for 404 yards and two touchdowns.
Junior Brion Mattson led the team with 579 yards rushing (5.0 average), and he scored four touchdowns while being named All-League 2nd Team. Seniors John Slaughter and Ralph Pratt also received a number of carries. Slaughter ran for 565 yards (8.2) and three touchdowns, while Pratt finished with 549 yards (5.7) and eight touchdowns. Junior Shawn Van De Mark also scored eight touchdowns on the ground, and all three players were named All-League Honorable Mention. Senior receiver Chad Vanden Haak was the main target in the passing game, hauling in eight passes for 194 yards (24.3) and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in week one. Van De Mark caught seven passes, while Mattson had six receptions.
The offensive line was undoubtedly led by senior Frank Hernandez. After occaisonally singing the National Anthem before the game, Hernandez crossed the white line and became a beast in the trenches, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Senior Jerrod Saab also helped up front, and was named All-League Honorable Mention. Jerry Bird, Trevor Ford and Roy Finkbonner rounded out the line, opening huge holes for the Golden Eagle rushing attack. Ferndale ran for over 2000 yards and 27 touchdowns.
The Golden Eagle defense was amazing, shutting out three opponents and holding four other teams to just one touchdown. The defensive line was led by senior Steve Roughton at defensive end, and Hernandez at defensive tackle. Both players were named All-League 1st Team. Slaughter was an Honorable Mention pick at defensive tackle, as was junior defensive end Bo Westford, who made a ton of great plays, including a blocked punt for a touchdown against Arlington, and an interception return for a touchdown against Sehome.
6-foot-4 195-pound junior Scott Burkhalter was a fierce presence at linebacker, and was named All-League 2nd Team. Mattson shined in the secondary, and was named All-League 1st Team. He was joined in the defensive backfield with Pratt and sophomore Jason Muggy, both of whom were named All-League Honorable Mention. Saab kicked 16 extra points and one field goal, while John Hoyer handled the punting duties.