RECORD: 9-2 – COACH: Ron Lepper
LEAGUE: 7-1 (2nd Place in the NCC)
CLASSIFICATION: 2A – PLAYOFFS: Lost in 1st Round
Scoring Stats “Per Game”
Points: 36.2 – Allowed: 12.4 – Differential: +23.8
GAME BY GAME:
Week 1: Mount Baker 29, Burlington-Edison 15
Week 2: Mount Baker 14, Nooksack Valley 13
Week 3: Meridian 28, Mount Baker 0
Week 4: Mount Baker 50, Granite Falls 6
Week 5: Mount Baker 49, Lakewood 21
Week 6: Mount Baker 76, Blaine 0
Week 7: Mount Baker 37, Sultan 13
Week 8: Mount Baker 56, Todd Beamer 7
Week 9: Mount Baker 19, Lynden Christian 0
Week 10: Mount Baker 55, South Whidbey 14
State Playoffs: 1st Round: LaCenter 19, Mount Baker 13
The 2003 version of the Mounties was extremely explosive, and their two losses happen to be at the hands of the two top teams in the state, in the 2A classification.
After playing wide receiver and wingback for the Mounties, senior Wes Norstadt lined up at quarterback in 2003. Although he possessed one of the strongest arms in school history, it was about the running game for Mount Baker. He did complete 28 passes for 642 yards and seven touchdowns, and he was named All-League Honorable Mention. He also ran for 340 yards (6.0 average) and four TD’s. Senior running back Mikel Rathjen had an incredible season, rushing for 1533 yards (8.9), 21 touchdowns and five 2-point conversions. He was named the League’s Offensive Player of the Year, and was All-State 2nd Team. Senior fullback Cody Lawson ran for 694 yards (11.2) and seven touchdowns, while fellow senior Kyle Vessel added 535 yards on the ground (15.7) and nine touchdowns. Both were named All-League 2nd Team.
Junior wide receiver Kyle Kinder caught seven passes for a team-high 171 yards (24.4) and a touchdown. Senior tight end Keith Williams, a converted offensive lineman, caught a team-high eight passes for 154 yards (19.3) and two scores. He was named All-League Honorable Mention. Vessel and senior Tyler Marshall each caught five passes, and Rathjen caught three.
The offensive line, as usual, was the unsung hero for Mount Baker. 222-pound junior tackle Guy Gates was named All-League 1st Team and fellow junior Daniel Chudek was named All-League 2nd Team as the center. The rest of the line was filled out by seniors Travis Magnusson and Brad Smith, and sophomore J.C. George. All three were named All-League Honorable Mention. The led the way for 3612 yards on the ground and 55 touchdowns overall. They also helped the Mountaineers average an eye-popping 9.1 yards per carry for the entire season!
Williams led the defensive attack from his inside linebacker position, leading the team with 178 tackles (30 solo), and three forced fumbles. He also had three tackles for loss. Gates also had an impressive season, lining up next to Williams, with 142 tackles (14 solo), nine tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. Williams was named All-League 1st Team, with Gates nabbing All-League 2nd Team honors. Norstadt led the secondary from his free safety position, and he totaled 53 tackles (18 solo), three interceptions, three passes broken up, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was named All-League 1st Team as well as All-State 1st Team. Senior Josh Little led the team with three sacks and nine tackles for loss as a defensive tackle, while senior Charlie Brown has seven tackles for loss, two sacks and a team-high four fumble recoveries as a defensive end. Junior Garrett Graham intercepted three passes to help the secondary.
Senior Bryan Visser kicked 32 extra points, while Lawson, Rathjen and Graham handled the return duties.