Get ready — Nooksack’s beefy linemen are eyeing the school’s first state title
Joey Brown, Nooksack Valley’s articulate and accurate fourth-year quarterback, offers an on-target description of his offensive line.
“How good are they? I’d say they’re way above the usual high school level,” Brown said. “They do everything you could ask of them.”
Brown wasn’t exaggerating. When his car was stuck in a ditch last winter, he phoned one of the big boys who protect him and all five arrived to pull him out.
“One of my favorite memories,” he said.
From left to right, the line is junior Brady Ackerman (255 pounds) and seniors Duke Halaapiapi (312), Cian Coppinger (265), John Stremler (255) and Dalton Hickey (235).
They’re in their second full season as a unit. They have earned varsity letters every season at Nooksack after going unbeaten as eighth-graders — not easy to do in a North County also packed with prospects at Lynden and Lynden Christian.
Even though all eight teams that advance to the Class 1A state quarterfinals will be brimming with talent in an especially competitive statewide season, don’t be surprised if the Pioneers finally advance to a state title game after 50 years of late-season frustration since the playoffs began in 1973.
First, though, depending on how the brackets work out, Nooksack will have to overcome quite a challenge.
Providing that Nooksack (5-2, 2-1 NWC 1A) wins at Blaine (2-6, 1-2) and that Lynden Christian (6-2, 3-0) beats visiting Mount Baker (3-5, 2-1), both Thursday night, the Pioneers would then participate in a winner-to-state game, likely against Granite Falls, for the right to play in the State Round of 16 in Week Eleven.
But if Mount Baker pulls an upset, a three-way playoff would be held Tuesday using the Kansas Tie-Breaker to determine which team claims a No. 1 seed and which team qualifies for the play-in game as No. 2 from the NWC. The Mountaineers won such a playoff last season despite four losses and Nooksack came back to eliminate Lynden Christian 3-0.
The five linemen are hungering for possible rematches at state against Lynden Christian, a last-minute 21-20 winner over Nooksack in Week Six, and against King’s, a late fourth-quarter 28-26 winner over the Pioneers in Week Three.
All five linemen say they are willing to play college football, “If there is an opportunity,” as they all put it. In other words, they seek full scholarships.
Are you paying attention, college coaches? You should be, Nooksack coach Craig Bartl said.
“We are blessed,” the coach said. “All five linemen have high character and they all do what’s right on and off the field. They’re a special group because they get along so well. And I don’t think we’ve seen how good they really are yet.”
Halaapiapi, who moved to Nooksack from Hawaii when he was 12, “is our leader,” Bartl said. “Whether he wants to be or not, he is.”
The good-natured but tough Halaapiapi might be the least shy player in Whatcom County, or so his teammates agree. When asked who was the most outgoing player, all four pointed at big Duke.
“Duke has started both ways all four years,” Ackerman said
‘I just thank God for blessing us with all these opportunities,” Halaapiapi said with a grin.
As for who’s the most serious player, there was unanimous agreement it’s Stremler.
“Mr. Serious Stremler,” Ackerman said as the others nodded in agreement.
However, if you talk with these big boys long enough, they’ll acknowledge their most amusing moment.
“I used to have a really bad memory,” said Coppinger, referring to last season. “I mean for learning plays. And to get me going in one practice, Dalton and John would tell me the wrong direction to block.”
So, what happened?
“Well, when I got yelled at by T.J. Ackerman (the line coach and Brady’s father), I pleaded my case,” said Coppinger. “Then T.J. yelled at Dalton and John. And we got back to business.”
“Of course, we would never do that in a game,” “Mr. Serious” Stremler said as Hickey nodded emphatically.
“We were just messing with Cian’s mind,” Hickey said with a big smile.
Learning the plays is no longer a problem for anyone. The linemen beam with pride when it’s noted that Colton Lentz and Skyler Whittern are the No. 1 and No. 3 rushers in the county.
Who’s the hardest worker?
“That question can’t be answered,” a couple of the guys replied instantly.
Last season, the Pioneers lost to Mount Baker 14-13 in Nooksack’s first state semifinal game since 2009 and the first all-county matchup in the semifinals since the two town of Lynden teams were in the same division in 1991.
Who’s the smartest kid?
They all pointed to Ackerman.
“I’m just the little guy,” said with affable junior with a 3.7 grade-point average.
All five linemen and Brown, among others, say their emphasis on “our football culture” has made them especially proud.
“We’re creating a football environment,” said Stremler.
“Yes, our football culture is really good,” said Hickey.
After all, Bartl and his big boys are proud to see a roster with 64 names — more than 40 percent of the boys at Nooksack Valley High School.
Now, that’s really a number to be proud of for the seniors and everyone else, even better than their 334 points in the first seven games.
WEEK NINE
Thursday
Mount Baker at Lynden Christian, 7 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at Blaine, 7 p.m.
Friday
Anacortes at Lynden, 7 p.m.
Edmonds-Woodway at Ferndale, 7 p.m.
Bellingham at Meridian, 7 p.m.
Lakewood vs. Sehome at Civic Stadium, 7 p.m.
Squalicum at Sedro-Woolley, 7 p.m.
Tulalip Heritage at Lummi, 6 p.m.
