RECORD: 7-2 – COACH: Tom Manke
LEAGUE: 6-2 (3rd Place in the NWL)
CLASSIFICATION: AA – PLAYOFFS: None
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 27.6 – Allowed: 8.9 – Differential: +18.7
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Stanwood 13, Ferndale 8
Week 2: Ferndale 37, Arlington 16
Week 3: Ferndale 21, Sedro Woolley 0
Week 4: Bellingham 23, Ferndale 15
Week 5: Ferndale 36, Mount Vernon 0
Week 6: Ferndale 23, Sehome 14
Week 7: Ferndale 40, Edmonds 0
Week 8: Ferndale 24, Lake Stevens 6
Week 9: Ferndale 44, Anacortes 8
When Ferndale dropped its opening game of the season to Stanwood, a team which had gone 0-10 the year before, it seemed like the start of a long fall. But, the Golden Eagles righted themselves and lost only one more game the rest of the way. Even though they didn’t make the playoffs, they averaged 27.6 points per game, which made them the highest scoring team of the 1970’s.
Senior quarterback Matt Beck was named All-League 1st Team, and was a dual threat. He completed 25 passes for 384 yards and six touchdowns. He also ran for 456 yards (5.0 average) and 10 touchdowns.
Ferndale has been known through the years to have many running backs to eclipse the 1000-yard mark during a season, but there can only be one player in school history to be the first to do it. That player was senior, Tom Finkbonner. The 5-foot-11 190-pound senior finished with 1006 yards rushing (5.3) and 12 touchdowns, and he was named All-League 1st Team. Junior Galen Lane accumulated 524 yards on the ground (5.6) and five scores.
Senior tight end Chuck Oltman led the Golden Eagles in receiving for the second straight season, catching 13 passes for 223 yards (17.2) and five touchdowns. Ed Imhoff, Steve Baker and Finkbonner each caught three passes. Senior Randy Brudwick (6-2 195) was the leader of the offensive line, and he garnered All-League 1st Team honors.
The defense recorded three shut outs, and it was led by Beck and junior Eric Swobody as the defensive ends. Finkbonner and Steve Baker manned the inside linebacker spots, with Lane and Rod Brudwick on the outside. Imhoff and Ron Walton played cornerback with Oltman playing free safety. Sowbody and Oltman were each named All-League 2nd Team. Walton also kicked 13 extra points and a field goal for the Golden Eagles.
