RECORD: 11-3 – COACH: Robb Myhre
LEAGUE: 5-1 (T-1st Place in the 1A NWC)
CLASSIFICATION: 1A – PLAYOFFS: STATE SEMIFINALIST
POINTS PER GAME: 35.9 – POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 17.5
POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +18.4
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Nooksack Valley 13, Mount Baker 10
Week 2: Sedro Woolley 16, Nooksack Valley 12
Week 3: Nooksack Valley 55, Concrete 6
Week 4: Nooksack Valley 49, Friday Harbor 7
Week 5: Nooksack Valley 55, Lynden Christian 30
Week 6: Nooksack Valley 23, Meridian 20 (OT)
Week 7: Nooksack Valley 52, Friday Harbor 0
Week 8: Nooksack Valley 45, Lynden Christian 14
Week 9: Meridian 26, Nooksack Valley 22
Week 10: Nooksack Valley 19, Lynden Christian 0
State Play-In Game: Nooksack Valley 42, Vashon Island 20
State Playoffs: 1st Round: Nooksack Valley 49, Battle Ground 21
State Quarterfinals: Nooksack Valley 54, King’s 47
State Semifinals: Cascade Christian 28, Nooksack Valley 12
It was one of the best teams in school history, with a great regular season and an unbelievable post season, the 2009 Pioneers will be a team that the residents of Everson, Nooksack and Sumas will be talking about for a while.
Junior quarterback Tyler Perry had one of the most impressive seasons in recent memory. He is still the only player in Whatcom County history to pass for over 2000 yards and rush for over 1000 yards in the same season, which he did in 2009. He completed 163 passes for 2037 yards and 15 touchdowns, while rushing for 1098 yards (5.6 average) and 20 touchdowns, and he was named All-League 2nd Team.
Senior running back Nick DeGrasse was named All-League 1st Team for the second year in a row. He ran for 1125 yards (7.0) and 14 touchdowns, including a 37-carry, 239-yard, 4-touchdown performance against King’s in one of the biggest comeback wins in Washington State Playoff history.
Perry used many receivers in the Pioneer spread offense, but none more than senior Anthony Reese. Reese had rare athleticism, and finished with 58 catches for 914 yards (15.8) and 10 touchdowns, and he was named both All-League 1st Team and All-State 1st Team. 6-foot-4 junior Kyle Handy provided a large catch radius for Perry, and he had 38 receptions for 500 yards (13.2) and a touchdown. DeGrasse caught 15 passes for 250 yards (16.7) and two scores. Sophomore Trevon Myhre caught 17 passes for 205 yards (12.1) and two touchdowns, while rushing for 200 yards (4.5) and three touchdowns.
Seniors Jon Charroin and Jessie Salmonson were the leaders of the offensive line. Both were named All-League 1st Team, and were able to form the wall that protected the high-octane Pioneer offense. Sophomore B.J. Salmoson provided rare size and strength, and was named All-League 2nd Team, along with senior Devin Dykes. A rare occurrence, the offense totaled over 5000 yards and 60 touchdowns!
The Salmonson boys headed up the defensive line, with Jessie being named All-League 1st Team, and B.J. was All-League Honorable Mention. Dykes was also named All-League 1st Team up front, and fellow senior Josh Larson was an All-League 2nd Team selection. Charroin was moved from defensive end to linebacker, and had another spectacular season. He was in on 143 tackles, and had six fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and three sacks. He was named the league’s Most Valuable Player, and was All-State 1st Team. Senior Levi Stuit was stout at linebacker, and was named All-League 1st Team. Perry was named All-League 1st Team at defensive back for the second year in a row, and Reese was named All-League 2nd Team in the secondary.
Senior Travis Benner made 35 extra points and one field goal. DeGrasse and Reese had huge years returning kickoffs and punts, respectively.