Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008

PREP FOOTBALL: Tom's standout career for Blackhawks comes to close

BELLINGHAM -Dustin Tom's last official pass attempt in a Lummi football uniform ended the same way 63 others before it this season had, in the arms of a teammate in the end zone.

In a perfect world, his 21-yard touchdown to Gale Jefferson would have been enough for the Blackhawks to continue their season and make a trip to Tacoma for the fourth straight year. But the football field is far from perfection, and the TD, which came with only seven seconds left, only made the score look closer.

Lummi's 36-32 loss to Lake Quinault on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Civic Stadium in the Class 1B state playoffs not only ended the Blackhawks' season, it also brought to a close arguably the most productive passing season in state history.

"Dustin has matured quite a bit over the past three years and developed into quite a quarterback for us," Lummi coach Jim Sandusky said. "He's put up numbers that are going to be hard to match."

According to records kept by David Maley, who maintains year-to-year numbers for the various football classifications in the state, Tom leaves owning the eight-man single-season records for yards and touchdowns in the state.

Tom finished with 5,268 yards in Lummi's 12 games, or about 439 yards each game. His 64 touchdowns raised the state record to a level that will be hard to match, as he averaged 5.3 each game, including nine in a victory over Crescent - the second-highest single-game total in state history.

"This season, Dustin not only had the mental capacity to absorb everything we try to do with the passing game, but he also had the receivers and backs who were talented enough to help him put up those big numbers," Sandusky said.

But those big numbers didn't come as easily Saturday, as Lake Quinault limited Tom to 374 yards and only the one touchdown. He also threw two interceptions, including one at the Lake Quinault 5 on a drive that could have gotten Lummi back in the game in the closing minutes.

The Elks did a good job of putting pressure on Tom throughout the day, forcing him to leave the pocket and throw off balance.

Tom's teammates also struggled on the chilly afternoon, dropping passes they usually catch and having a couple of big plays called back on penalties.

Tom did rush for three touchdowns Saturday, but it just wasn't enough to extend Lummi's season.

But once the sting of Saturday's loss wears off, it will be hard to overlook the career passing numbers Tom has put up for the Blackhawks the past three years - a 62.0 percent completion percentage (569 for 918), 9,702 yards, 120 touchdowns and only 20 interceptions.

"It's been a lot of fun to watch," Sandusky said.

Reach David Rasbach at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2271.