PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JOSH KRAGHT
School: Lynden
Position: Quarterback/defensive back
Year: Junior
What he did: Helped guide Lynden to the Class 2A state championship. ... Equally dangerous running the ball as he is throwing it. ... Passed for 2,201 yards and 25 touchdowns against only five interceptions. ... Rushed for 601 yards and 17 touchdowns. ... Rushed for 254 yards and nine TDs in the first two rounds of the state playoffs. ... Also a standout in Lions' defensive backfield. ... Selected the Northwest Conference 2A/3A Most Valuable Player for the second straight year and was a first-team pick at quarterback and defensive back. ... Selected first-team all-state at quarterback by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "Josh was tremendous for us on offense running the ball and throwing it, but the thing you don't want to overlook is he's also a very good defensive back. No offense to Luke (Christianson), but if the other team had one guy that was really strong at the receiver position, Josh would get matched up with him. His coverage skills are just outstanding." - Curt Kramme
COACH OF THE YEAR
RON LEPPER
School: Mount Baker
What he did: Guided the Mountaineers to a 7-3 record and into the Class 2A Northwest District Playoffs for its first home playoff game since 2003. ... Only losses of the year were to Meridian - a 1A state playoff team - and 2A state finalists Lynden and Archbishop Murphy. ... Got the most out of a roster that started the season with only 31 players. ... Selected the Northwest Conference 2A/3A Coach of the Year.
Coach's quote: "I think they were solid. Our game ended up 35-0, but it was 14-0 and they were driving for a score right before half. We were fortunate to get a turnover and a quick strike to make it 21-0, or that game would have been very different. They were solid fundamentally and did a nice job. I know he (Lepper) relies heavily on Tom Horsman and his other assistants. They had a great season, and unfortunately the draw wasn't good for them." - Curt Kramme
JESSE ANTCZAK
School: Blaine
Position: Offensive line
Year: Senior
What he did: A leader up front for Blaine that helped open holes for running back Mario Gobbato, who rushed for 2,669 yards and 38 touchdowns this season. ... A big man who was an exceptional athlete, allowing him to get to the second level to make downfield blocks to help Gobbato pick up extra yardage. ... Helped the Borderites reach the Class 2A Northwest District Playoffs. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A second team.
Coach's quote: "Jesse is a big, strong player for us. He was kind of a leader for us on the offensive line. He has tremendous flexibility and very good feet for a guy as big as he is - 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds. He had very good balance and flexibility for a big guy, and that helped him become a more effective blocker." - Jay Dodd
AARON BADDELEY
School: Mount Baker
Position: Defensive back
Year: Senior
What he did: Tied a school record with three interceptions in a game against Squalicum. ... Part of a Mount Baker defensive backfield that limited opponents to 118.7 yards per game through the air and helped the Mountaineers reach the Class 2A Northwest District Playoffs. ... Also caught five passes for 92 yards and a TD and rushed for 243 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A second team.
Coach's quote: "Aaron ... was very mature. He was a guy that was slated to be our starting quarterback, and he offered to make a move to make the team better overall. He ended up playing three different positions for us on offense and three more on defense. His unselfishness and sacrifice for the team was huge for us. Because of that, I think he enjoyed his senior year a whole lot more, because he got to play a whole lot of different positions and was a key piece for us." - Ron Lepper
JACOB BARTEL
School: Ferndale
Position: Punter
Year: Senior
What he did: Averaged about 37 yards per punt with a big, strong leg. ... Also handled kickoff duties for Ferndale and booted about 65 percent into the end zone for touchbacks. ... Helped the Golden Eagles reach the Class 3A Quad-District Playoffs. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 3A/2A first team.
Coach's quote: "He also handled kickoffs for us and put a lot of them in the end zone for touchbacks. We haven't had that kind of weapon before. That's a huge, huge deal when you consistently are having the other team start on their own 20. ... He's a huge weapon, and I think he's just scratching the surface. He's a big kid - 6-6, about 200 pounds - and he gets some rockets off at times with a lot of hang time. I think he's only going to get better, and hopefully somebody will give him an opportunity at the next level." - Jamie Plenkovich
SPENCER BLACKBURN
School: Meridian
Position: Defensive line
Year: Sophomore
What he did: Quickly developed into an effective run stopper for the Trojans, who held opponents to 3.0 yards per carry this year. ... A quick, strong player with an extremely high motor. ... Also a two-year starter on the offensive line, as he was the first freshman to start up front for the Trojans since 1979. ... Helped Meridian pile up 4,587 yards of total offense and score 54 touchdowns. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 1A first team on both lines.
Coach's quote: "He had a great year on both sides of the ball. Nobody was going to run at Denver (VanderYacht), and he got a lot of action. ... He's very smart, and he's got a great frame. He's only going to get better. He's 6-2, 220 and runs really well. He's got great body awareness and athleticism, and he knows how to play this game." - Bob Ames
AUSTIN BROCKIE
School: Lummi
Position: Wide receiver
Year: Freshman
What he did: Led the Blackhawks with 46 receptions for 1,184 yards and 21 touchdowns. ... A threat to go all the way to the end zone every time he touched the ball with his eye-opening 25.7 yards per reception. ... Helped Lummi reach the Class 1B State Playoffs for the ninth straight year. ... Selected to the All-Northwest 1B League first team. ... Selected first-team all-state by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "He had a good year. He's got some raw talent. He played a little as an eighth grader last year and got his feet wet there. He's got so much raw talent, if he puts his mind to it and works at it, he's a guy that could go on and play at the next level." - Jim Sandusky
DANIEL CANZATER
School: Ferndale
Position: Offensive line
Year: Senior
What he did: One of a number of three-year starters up front for the Golden Eagles. ... Used his tremendous athleticism - he also plays basketball - to his benefit. ... Helped lead Ferndale to 2,804 yards rushing, 33 touchdowns and 6.7 yards per carry this season. ... Helped the Golden Eagles reach the Class 3A Quad-District Playoffs. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 3A/2A first team and honorable mention all-state by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "Daniel is a three-year starter for us and has been all-league two years in a row. He's probably our most talented offensive lineman. We played him at strong-side tackle, and that's the key position for us in our run game. ... It was nice having someone with his size and ability in our system to make that hole bigger and being a physical down blocker for us. He's athletic. You can see that on the basketball floor - he's not just a big body." - Jamie Plenkovich
TYLER CHAU
School: Blaine
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior
What he did: A physical defender that helped the Borderites reach the Class 2A Northwest District Playoffs. ... Good in pass coverage, as well as stuffing the run. ... Also was a blocking back for Mario Gobbato on offense, helping him rush for 2,669 yards and 38 touchdowns this season. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A second team.
Coach's quote: "Tyler was a two-year starter for us at linebacker. He is just a tremendous player out in the flat. He had six interceptions this year and was very good in pass coverage. He really understood his job and how to stop an opponent's offense. He knew exactly how he fit into our game plan and what his job was to make the stop." - Jay Dodd
LUKE CHRISTIANSON
School: Lynden
Position: Utility
Year: Junior
What he did: Switched to receiver with the development of running back Kyle Hanson to help Lynden put more weapons on the field. ... Caught 37 passes for 395 yards and four TDs. ... Still ran for 310 yards and three TDs, including 104 yards and a TD against Interlake in the 2A state quarterfinals. ... Also was a standout at cornerback for the Lions, helping them to the Class 2A state championship.
Coach's quote: "He did so much for us - he played in the backfield, in the slot, he did our fly sweeps, he returned kicks and punts. He even played pretty good for us at defensive back. He's a big play waiting to happen. He made numerous big plays for us, and we're looking for even more next year. He's a solid athlete, who had a fantastic year for us, and we're looking forward to see what he can do next year." - Curt Kramme
TYREL CRONK
School: Mount Baker
Position: Linebacker
Year: Junior
What he did: A hard-nosed linebacker that seemed to be in the middle of every play defensively. ... Helped the Mountaineers limit opponents to 18.2 points per game this season and reach the Class 2A Northwest District Playoffs. ... Also played on Mount Baker's offensive front, which helped the team rush for 2,736 yards and 33 touchdowns and average 7.5 yards per carry. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A first team at linebacker and second team at offensive line.
Coach's quote: "Tyrel is one of those guys that loves to play the game. We expected big things out of him, and he delivered. We got an idea in camp that he was going to have one of those breakout years, and he followed through. He's a guy that week in and week out got us going defensively." - Ron Lepper
OLIVER DOUGHERTY
School: Bellingham
Position: Receiver
Year: Senior
What he did: Equally adept at burning teams with his blazing speed and athleticism as a receiver or a runner. ... Caught 31 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns. ... Rushed for 549 yards and nine TDs on 97 carries. ... Scored three or more touchdowns in a game three times this season, including four in a game against Blaine. ... Also dangerous returning kicks and quarterbacked a young Bellingham secondary. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference first team as a receiver.
Coach's quote: "He's always been an all-around asset for us. He's done everything from being the captain to holding for PATs. He's just one of those guys you can count on to do anything. He had, what, 20 touchdowns for us this year. He's very versatile and an electrifying performer." - Doug Trainor
MARIO GOBBATO
School: Blaine
Position: Running back
Year: Junior
What he did: Fell just 9 yards short of the old state single-season rushing record with 2,669 yards. ... Rushing total accounted for 73.1 percent of Blaine's total offense. ... Also scored 38 touchdowns and helped the Borderites reach the Class 2A Northwest District Playoffs. ... Was a workhorse for Blaine, in spite of his 5-foot-8, 150-pound frame, averaging 33.5 rushes per game and carrying the ball 50 times in a Week 8 win at Anacortes. ... A unanimous selection to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A first team. ... Selected first-team all-state by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "Mario was the heart and soul of our offense. Our offense revolved around him, and deservedly so. He's a tremendous running back with outstanding balance and vision. Those are his top two qualities as a running back - just his ability to stay on his feet and find a way to fight for that extra yard. Obviously he had a great season for us." - Jay Dodd
BRETT GUNDERSON
School: Meridian
Position: Offensive line
Year: Senior
What he did: A big, physical anchor for the Trojans offensive front. ... Helped pave the way for the Trojans to roll up 2,518 yards and 37 touchdowns on the ground this season wile averaging 6.2 yards per carry. ... Helped Meridian reach the Class 1A State Playoffs. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 1A first team.
Coach's quote: "He's a hard-working kid. He's smart, and he's one of the funnier kids on the team. He will definitely go on and play somewhere. He's already been offered some money, and money always talks when it's time to start picking a college. ... He's a big body. He's athletic, and he's not afraid to hit people. He and Ivan (Yelfimov) were a great pair for us." - Bob Ames
TREY HANDY
School: Nooksack Valley
Position: Wide receiver
Year: Junior
What he did: Through 10 games, Handy led the Northwest Conference with 1,200 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns. ... Had 62 receptions, giving him a 19.4 yards per catch average. ... Also played cornerback for the Pioneers and helped lead the team to the 1A Tri-District Playoffs. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 1A first team at both receiver and corner. ... Selected first-team all-state by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "Trey really stepped up this year having to fill some big holes we had at the receiver position. It seemed like every game he had a big game. He started the year off with a school record in receiving yards and receptions in the game against Cascade Christian, and he never let off the gas. He has the innate ability to get open and do something with the ball in his hands." - Robb Myhre
KYLE HANSON
School: Lynden
Position: Running back
Year: Senior
What he did: Finished fifth in the Northwest Conference with 1,110 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. ... Emerged during offseason workouts and developed into a solid slashing-style back that gave the Lions' offense some balance. ... Tied up the Class 2A State Championship game with an 11-yard run with 1:48 to play, giving Lynden a chance to win the state title on the extra point. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A second team.
Coach's quote: "He was one of the bigger surprises of the season. Last year at this time, I wasn't even sure he was going to play. ... Spring football came around, and he kept showing up and kept showing up. He's very instinctive, and he sees his blocks well. He's a very patient runner - in fact, that's what I think he does best. He stays behind his blockers and waits for the play to develop. A lot of times, you see high school kids get impatient and outrun their linemen, but not Kyle." - Curt Kramme
BRYCE HENTHORN
School: Bellingham
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior
What he did: A bright spot for a Red Raiders defense that struggled through much of the season. ... Led Bellingham in a number of defensive categories, including tackles "times two of the next guy," coach Doug Trainor said. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A second team. ... Getting some interest from smaller Division III colleges, Trainor said.
Coach's quote: "He's a kid that made some big sacrifices for us. He's really a fullback/safety, but with our situation, he had to play offensive line and linebacker for us. I think he played both of those positions for us at an all-league level. I've very proud of what he did. Doing the things he did, and being undersized at both positions, I think that shows you the type of guy he is." -Trainor
DEION HOSKINS
School: Lummi
Position: Utility
Year: Sophomore
What he did: When healthy, was the star of the Blackhawks' high-powered offense. ... Averaged 9.7 yards on 64 carries (623 yards) and rushed for 12 touchdowns. ... Also caught 29 passes for 351 yards and eight TDs. ... Kicked 14 extra points and accounted for 166 points this season. ... Helped Lummi reach the Class 1B State Playoffs for the ninth straight year. ... Also a standout linebacker. ... Selected to the All-Northwest 1B League first team at running back and linebacker. ... Selected honorable mention all-state at running back by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "Deion was such a force for a sophomore. It's really too bad he got hurt in that playoff game and injured his ankle pretty good. ... He's somebody that the other team game plans against. It's great to have somebody like that, and it's great to have him back for another two years. He's a captain and a very hard worker." - Jim Sandusky
JAREK JENSEN
School: Squalicum
Position: Defensive line
Year: Senior
What he did: An athletic 6-foot-2, 270-pounder who caused match-up problems for just about anyone. ... A strong leader on a Storm squad that opened the season with only eight seniors on its roster. ... Squalicum's main run stuffer up the middle, as the Storm typically played him at nose tackle. ... Just as dominating on the offensive front, as he was often the lead road grader for Luke Weber. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A second team on the defensive line and was first team on offense.
Coach's quote: "He was always outstanding for us. He is a top-line lineman. He is very physical and has all the tools you would want in a lineman. Defensively, we played him a lot at the nose, because it was difficult for the center to see around him and block him. He was a big part of us stopping any running play. Of course, when we talk about Jarek, the first thing you need to talk about is what a quality young man he is and how hard he works. He was a great example for our younger players to look up to." - Reed Richardson
BLAKE KORTHUIS
School: Lynden
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior
What he did: Another in a long line of instinctive inside linebackers at Lynden. ... A two-year starter that inherited the position from his older brother. ... A big part of the reason Lynden was able to limit opponents to 12.1 points per game this season on its way to the Class 2A state title. ... Led the Lions in tackles and helped make the calls ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference first-team. ... Selected honorable mention all-state by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "He's a solid player. If you walked by him in the hall, you probably won't identify him as a football player, but the guy was our leading tackler, I believe. ... Our defense is designed to funnel the ball into those two inside linebackers, and they should our leading tacklers. But it's one thing to say that and another to do it. Blake was solid all season long. He also did a good job as our signal caller. He had two great seasons for us." - Curt Kramme
SANTIAGO LOPEZ
School: Lynden
Position: Kicker
Year: Senior
What he did: Converted 69 of 74 extra-point attempts this season for Lynden, including one with 1:48 left to play in the Class 2A State Championship Game that lifted the Lions to a 17-16 victory. ... Also booted eight field goals. ... Routinely put the ball into the end zone for touchbacks on kickoffs, but his most memorable kickoff was the perfect onside bouncer that John Shine recovered to set up the game-winning drive in the title game. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A first team. ... Selected first-team all-state by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "I've been telling people since the season ended that if he had come up to me 20 years ago and told (me 'I) want to play kicker,' I would have said, well, we don't have just kickers. Either you're a player or you're not. Looking back, I'm coming a complete 180. ... He was involved in so many scoring plays and made a big difference for us in field position. He's a great weapon. It's going to be strange the first time next year when we line up for an extra point and the crowd's not chanting, 'Santiago.'" - Curt Kramme
MATT MEYER
School: Lynden
Position: Offensive line
Year: Junior
What he did: A big, physical presence on the left side of Lynden's offensive line that teamed up with guard Taylor Witman to form probably the best tandem in Whatcom County. ... Helped the Lions win a Class 2A state title. ... Part of a line that helped Lynden amass 5,276 yards of total offense and 73 touchdowns this year. ... Lynden also started to lean on him more as a defensive end as the season progressed. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A second team.
Coach's quote: "He had a good year last year, and I think he really stepped it up this year. When we needed yards on the ground, we went behind Matt and T-Wit (Witman). I think everybody knew we were going to go that way. If you scouted us, you knew we ran about 75 percent of our run plays behind those two. It didn't matter if you did know, because Matt and T-Wit still blocked it. The North Thurston and Archbishop game, when we needed game-winning drives, we ran right behind those guys." - Curt Kramme
JOHN MURPHY
School: Meridian
Position: Running back
Year: Senior
What he did: Finished second in the Northwest Conference with 1,644 yards and scored 20 TDs this year. ... Was the Trojans' workhorse in spite of his 5-foot-6, 140-pound frame. ... Also caught 17 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns and helped Meridian reach the Class 1A State Playoffs after rushing for a season-high 277 yards and four TDs against Charles Wright in the tri-district playoffs. ... Shared Player of the Year honors with Trevon Myhre on the All-Northwest Conference 1A team and was a first-team running back and linebacker. ... Selected honorable mention all-state by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "Johnny goes 110 percent on every play. He never sits out anything in practice, unless he's hurt. But you know, he's the quickest healer I've ever seen. ... He's 145 pounds soaking wet, regardless of what he says. He does everything so hard and so fast. He wasn't the guy we had to go to all the time - he was the guy that was most successful." - Bob Ames
TREVON MYHRE
School: Nooksack Valley
Position: Quarterback
Year: Senior
What he did: Strong-armed quarterback led the Northwest Conference through the first 10 weeks with 2,162 yards passing and 23 touchdowns. ... Limited his interceptions later in the season and finished with seven. ... Also led the Pioneers on the ground with 713 yards and 14 touchdowns on 109 carries. ... Also a standout in the Pioneers' defensive backfield. ... Shared Northwest Conference 1A Player of the Year honors with John Murphy and was selected the first-team quarterback and punter.
Coach's quote: "He did a great job taking the leadership role at quarterback. He was our most inspirational player. He kind of had to bide his time for the position he really wanted until this year, and I thought he ended up being the best quarterback in the state. He accounted for about 75 percent of our offense. ... He just had a great year and did a great job for us in the time he was allotted back there." - Robb Myhre
CALEB NEWMAN
School: Lynden
Position: Defensive line
Year: Junior
What he did: A physical beast at defensive end for Lynden with his 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame and a motor that never quit. ... Great athleticism allowed him to rush the quarterback, stuff the run or drop into coverage. ... Part of the Lions defense that held opponents to 12.1 points per game this season and helped win the Class 2A state title. ... Also used on the offensive line and at running back, where he rushed for four short-yardage touchdowns. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A first team. ... Selected first-team all-state by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "Caleb's competitive spirit really aids him in football. Sometimes, it's almost a detriment. Sometimes his motor is cranked so high he forgets what he's supposed to do. It's a plus most of time, though. The biggest compliment you can give any player is that you'd hate to play against him. Caleb is definitely one of those guys. I'm glad he's on our side." - Curt Kramme
ALEC POSTLEWAIT
School: Mount Baker
Position: Defensive line
Year: Senior
What he did: A big, physical presence up front for the Mountaineers. ... Played a big role in Mount Baker limiting opponents to 18.2 points per game this season and advancing to the Class 2A Northwest District Playoffs. ... Also played along the offensive line, helping Mount Baker tally 2,736 yards and 33 touchdowns rushing and average 7.5 yards per carry. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A first team on both lines. ... Selected first-team all-state by the Associated Press at offensive line and honorable mention on defense.
Coach's quote: "Alec -- we knew he was going to be the big guy up front for us. Maturity was a big word for him. We moved him around on both sides of the ball to a number of different positions - basically whatever was best for the team. He took it in stride and went out and had a great year for us." - Ron Lepper
KYLE PRATHER
School: Ferndale
Position: Linebacker
Year: Senior
What he did: Played in the middle of Ferndale's defense, and helped the Golden Eagles limit Sedro-Woolley and Mount Vernon to 84 yards combined in their two NWC 3A games this year. ... Led Ferndale in tackles. ... Also rushed for 491 yards and four TDs on offense. ... Helped the Golden Eagles reach the Class 3A Quad-District Playoffs. ... A unanimous All-Northwest Conference 3A/2A first team selection. ... Selected honorable mention all-state by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "Kyle is another two-time all-league player at linebacker. He's just a really good high school football player. Not a big kid, as far as linebackers go, but we would try to game plan and put him at the point of attack and move him to where we thought the offense was going. He's a good, physical football player. It's good to see a guy like him, who is not the biggest, but uses everything he has to make an impact on our team." - Jamie Plenkovich
ANDREW PRICE
School: Blaine
Position: Tight end
Year: Senior
What he did: At 6-foot-7, 240 pounds, he was a big target when Blaine decided to pass the ball, as he led the Borderites with 23 catches for 436 yards and five touchdowns. ... When he played down, he was part of a Blaine offensive line that paved the way for Mario Gobbato to rush for 2,669 yards and 38 touchdowns this season. ... Helped Blaine reach the Class 2A Northwest District Playoffs. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A second team.
Coach's quote: "Andrew is just a big, big target. Early in the year, we tried to split him out at wide receiver to take advantage of his size and the mismatches he created. As the season progressed, he became a very good blocker and was a big part of our running game with his ability to block." - Jay Dodd
CALEB RODRIGUEZ
School: Ferndale
Position: Defensive line
Year: Senior
What he did: A three-year starter for the Golden Eagles, who used his tremendous athleticism to disrupt opposing offenses. ... Also played along the offensive line, helping lead the way for Ferndale to rush for 2,804 yards, 33 touchdowns and 6.7 yards per carry this season. ... Helped the Golden Eagles reach the Class 3A Quad-District Playoffs. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 3A/2A first team and honorable mention all-state by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "He was our best pass rusher. He's a guy that had some moments where he could really take over and dominate a game. Against Squalicum in our season opener, he had a great game creating a few fumbles and getting a few sacks. He was probably our main disrupter. He's another kid that is really athletic and played good in space." - Jamie Plenkovich
BJ SALMONSON
School: Nooksack Valley
Position: Offensive line
Year: Senior
What he did: A heavy-handed offensive lineman who has been among the best in the Northwest Conference the past three years. ... Anchored a line that led the Pioneers to 3,535 yards of total offense and 49 touchdowns and helped the team get to the Class 1A Tri-District Playoffs. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference first team on both lines ... Selected first-team all-state by the Associated Press. ... Has committed to play at Washington State next year - Nooksack Valley's first Division I football recruit.
Coach's quote: "BJ, obviously, is one of the most dominant linemen we've ever had. It's nice to have a kid like that on your side of the ball, rather than have to go up against him. It was a real blessing to coach a kid like that. With BJ, you never had to question what you would get from him. When it was time for us to run and we needed a yard, we ran left behind BJ and it was try to stop us." - Robb Myhre
CASEY SMITH
School: Meridian
Position: Defensive back
Year: Senior
What he did: Played a big role in Meridian holding opposing offenses to 10 touchdown passes and intercepting 17 passes this year. ... Trojans allowed only 13.0 points per game this season. ... Also led the team offensively with 38 catches for 614 yards and added two touchdowns, while rushing for 269 yards and four more scores. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 1A first team at defensive back and receiver.
Coach's quote: "Casey has been a captain and a four-year guy for us. He actually worked in last year with that group we had, and they were great for his learning curve. When it came time to put a secondary together, it was all designed around Casey. We tried to play him where we thought we needed him most." - Bob Ames
DENVER VANDERYACT
School: Meridian
Position: Defensive line
Year: Senior
What he did: Played a big role in Meridian holding opponents to 3.0 yards per rush this year despite battling the effects of a knee injury he suffered late last year. ... Developed such a strong reputation for stopping the run that opponents game-planned to the other side of the field. ... Also caught 12 passes for 184 yards and helped Meridian pile up 4,587 yards of total offense and score 54 touchdowns as a tight end. ... Helped Meridian reach the first round of the Class 1A State Playoffs. ... Selected first-team All-Northwest Conference at tight end and on the defensive line.
Coach's quote: "Denver was the best football player in the league. We put him on left side and nobody would run that way. He got a little frustrated because of that, but Spencer (Blackburn) and Johnny (Murphy) made a lot of plays for us on the other side, and it was all because of Denver." - Bob Ames
ZACH VIS
School: Lynden
Position: Defensive back
Year: Junior
What he did: A hard-hitting safety, who has a knack for making a big play when Lynden needs it most. ... The Lions limited opponents to 85.8 yards per game passing and gave up only three touchdowns through the air. ... Also a standout at receiver, leading the conference with 77 catches for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns, including a number of big catches during Lynden's run to the 2A state title. ... A unanimous All-Northwest Conference selection at defensive back and a first-team pick at receiver ... Selected first-team all-state by the Associated Press at receiver and honorable mention at defensive back.
Coach's quote: "He has an uncanny ability to time out hits, and that's not something you can coach. He had the big hit for us against Archbishop in the third quarter, when the guy looked like he was going to catch the ball, before Zach made the big hit. He made plays like that all season and also a lot of great plays last year. The sky's the limit with him. He's not only a gifted athlete, but he's very intelligent about asking questions and learning the mental part of the game." - Curt Kramme
LEVI WIGG
School: Mount Baker
Position: Running back
Year: Senior
What he did: Finished third in the Northwest Conference with 1,413 yards this season and scored 21 touchdowns. ... Led all NWC backs with at least 25 carries with his 9.1 yards per attempt. ... Helped the Mountaineers reach the Class 2A Northwest District Playoffs and post a 7-3 record this year. ... Has rushed for 3,209 yards and 44 touchdowns the past two years. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A first team as a running back and defensive back. ... Selected first-team all-state by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "I saw a lot of maturity out of him this year. I know he didn't have some of the numbers he did last year, but we had some other guys we could rely on, and we were also a little bit better team and he didn't get to play as much. Overall, I thought he handled it really well. We still went to him when we needed him, and he gave us everything he had." - Ron Lepper
TAYLOR WITMAN
School: Lynden
Position: Offensive line
Year: Senior
What he did: Teamed with tackle Matt Meyer as perhaps the most dominant left side of the line in Whatcom County. ... A three-year starter for the Lions who helped the team win a second Class 2A state championship during that span. ... Only regular senior starter on a line that helped Lynden amass 5,276 yards of total offense and 73 touchdowns this year. ... Shed nearly 50 pounds before the start of the season to become more of a athletic threat. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A first team ... Selected first-team all-state by the Associated Press.
Coach's quote: "He's a three-year starter and a captain that has led our team in a number of different ways. Many of the things I said about Matt Meyer also apply to him. You put those guys side by side, and they're pretty difficult to match up against. We're going to miss a number of our seniors - Taylor is definitely one we're going to miss as much as anybody." - Curt Kramme
HONORABLE MENTION
Player School
Kelson Ammons Lynden
Matt Aure Nooksack Valley
Eddie Avena Blaine
Richmond Baardson Ferndale
Vlas Bezugly Mount Baker
Dillon Biehle Nooksack Valley
Alex Conley Ferndale
Jesse Cooper Lummi
William Cote Mount Baker
Tanner Dawson Ferndale
Chase De Boer Lynden Christian
Bret DeGraaff Lynden
James Fakkema Blaine
Dominic Franklin Bellingham
Jake Frost Ferndale
Zack Gray Meridian
Roger Hathaway Bellingham
Chad Heerspink Lynden Christian
Chase Heslep Meridian
Eric Ho Sehome
Chad Hunt Ferndale
Brennen Jacoby Mount Baker
Caleb Johnson Blaine
Matt Judy Nooksack Valley
Jordan Kreider Lynden
Titi Lamositele Sehome
David Lytle Ferndale
Ryan Lowry Squalicum
Max McGuinn Meridian
Justin O'Flaherty Lynden
Caleb Park Lynden Christian
Tyson Perry Nooksack Valley
Austin Rapp Sehome
James Reedy-Capp Meridian
Isaac Reimer Lynden Christian
Zan Roman Mount Baker
Joey Scheffer Nooksack Valley
Jake Schleimer Mount Baker
Robert Scott Lummi
Dak Shagren Lynden
Jeremy Spotted Bear Lummi
David Starkovich Squalicum
Jared Tom Lummi
Levi Vander Yacht Lynden Christian
Thomas Vazorka Bellingham
Eli Wall Lummi
Cody Walls Lynden
Luke Weber Squalicum
Nate Wielenga Lynden
Luke Winsor Bellingham
Ivan Yelfimov Meridian
