Prep football season is back. These are the Whatcom players expected to make their marks
The fall 2021 Whatcom County football season will be significantly different than both the regular-length 2019 campaign and the unique six-round 2021 winter schedule.
Most enjoyable for local high school enthusiasts is that, barring unexpected negative developments regarding COVID-19, pretty much anyone who wants to attend a game can do so.
No one who lived through it will forget the frustration of the state-mandated limit of 200 people in any stadium, including the players and coaches, during the last winter season.
Fans this year will be asked to socially distance in their family pods, but there still should be plenty of room.
The players won’t be required to wear masks when in action on the field. Masks will still be required in indoor circumstances.
Best of all, at this point, a full playoff schedule is anticipated, beginning the weekend of Nov. 5-6 with the Round of 32 in each of the six divisions.
Squalicum fans will see more local games for their perennial playoff contender, now that the Storm has returned to Class 2A after several years in Class 3A in the Wesco North Conference.
Blaine followers will see their program’s return to Class 1A after several years of being one of the smallest schools in Class 2A.
That will give the county’s 1A part of the Northwest Conference five teams and will result in only one game between them instead of the two games they played annually with a four-team setup.
Ferndale, meanwhile, remains in the Wesco North as the county’s only 3A team and will use Blaine as its home field for both the 2021 and 2022 seasons while the school is remodeled.
Bellingham, a 2A school, will play an independent schedule in football, which it has done before, while continuing to rebuild its program under second-season coach Robb Myhre, who spent 20 mostly successful years at Nooksack Valley.
Meridian, limited to two games last winter due to COVID-19 exposure, is back with a full schedule.
Any player with a positive test will be evaluated on an individual basis and will not automatically result in the cancellation of the next game. Vaccination and contact tracing will play key roles.
The first teams to play will be Sehome at Nooksack at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2.
Unique 20-game opportunity
No local high school football team in county history has ever played 20 games in the same calendar year, but it would happen if any of four county teams reach the state finals, which is the 14th game. Ferndale and Mount Baker both went 5-1 while Lynden finished 4-2 and Nooksack Valley was 2-4.
Trying to achieve what would be the also-unique distinction of 19 games in calendar year 2021 will be Lynden Christian (5-0), Squalicum (4-1), Sehome (3-2), Bellingham (3-2) and eight-man Lummi (3-2). Bellingham will participate in the Round of 32 in Week 10 only if it goes undefeated. The same holds true for Anacortes and Cedarcrest in a possible contest against the No. 2 finisher.
Blaine was 1-3 and Meridian 1-1.
Against non-county competition, Whatcom teams went 18-2 in the weird winter season. Most of those teams lost their starting quarterbacks to graduation, so 90% success may be a stretch, but the county still boasts plenty of returning talent.
The best 2A league?
The seven 2A NWC teams from Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties will create a league with “absolutely no nights off,” as Sehome coach Kevin Beason put it.
“I really think we’ll have the strongest 2A league in the state,” said Lynden coach Blake VanDalen, whose league competition includes Archbishop Murphy, Lakewood, Burlington-Edison, Sedro-Woolley, Squalicum and Sehome.
“The sad thing is that no more than two of our District 1 2A teams can qualify for the state Round of 16 this season because of state allocations,” Van Dalen said.
The same thing has often been said of the county’s 1A teams. The only difference is that now coaches can say it’s “the strongest 1 to 5” instead of “1 to 4.” Again, this season it’s likely no more than two teams can advance to the Round of 16.
All teams have the possibility of playing 10 games, since teams not in the Round of 32 crossover match-ups can play a final non-league contest.
Ferndale’s strong backfield
The Golden Eagles seem to have the most potent ground-gaining trio of any county team with juniors Isaiah Carlson and Thomas Broselle and senior Ryan Pelton, bolstered by a promising new senior starting quarterback in Mark Schlichting.
Two-way junior linemen Landen Hatchett and Jake Mason figure to give them plenty of support.
2A standouts aplenty
The best at perennial playoff contender Lynden include wide receivers Kaleo Jancoc and Cade Slayton, linebacker-receiver Taivin VanDalen and offensive lineman-defensive end Case Zweegman, all senior leaders. Senior Max Moore and junior Kaedan Hermanutz both figure to see extensive time at quarterback.
Squalicum’s best include all-state running back/linebacker Ben Schlenbaker, who has signed with Washington State University; standout wide receiver/defensive back Kai Posey; wide receiver/defensive back Reed Richardson, sharp-looking newcomer Leyton Smithson at quarterback and offensive lineman Bryson Lamb. All are seniors, giving coach Nick Lucey yet another playoff contender.
Schlenbaker became the first sophomore in county history to surpass 2,000 yards rushing in 2019 and finished with more than 1,000 yards in only five games last season.
Sehome can boast an outstanding two-way lineman in Gavin Ortega. Juniors Tommy Funk at running back/linebacker and Max Malo at wide receiver/and safety and senior Hayden Huntley at linebacker/and offensive lineman also have some of the league’s best potential.
Bellingham’s best performers include senior wide receivers Johnny Twedt and Alex Breeding, two-way senior lineman Matthew Butenschoen and two-way junior lineman Javen Livas.
Lots of 1A prospects
Lynden Christian features seniors Caleb Ryan at running back/linebacker, Roman Meenk on both lines, Will Colwell at quarterback and Jamison Hintz at wide receiver/defensive back.
Mount Baker is led by third-year lineman/linebacker Davin Beason, a senior who will be watched by many colleges. Much is anticipated from standout returnees Jesse Sande at running back and Caleb Horsmon at defensive back/wing and two junior lineman Ethan Larson.
Blaine has one of the best college prospects in the league in punter Aidan Holley, who also plays tight end and defensive end well. He is a senior along with fellow standouts Jaxon Kortlever, a wide receiver/safety; Spencer Dalry, a guard/middle linebacker; Scott Baldwin, a wide receiver/cornerback; and John Puha, a two-way tackle.
“Aidan is the best punter I’ve seen at Blaine,” said Jay Dodd, who is in his 16th season as head coach and starred as a player for the Borderites. “He can kick it 50 to 60 yards in the air.”
Meridian features returning quarterback Tucker Harrison, two-way lineman Josh Groen and wide receiver/defensive back Daniel Short.
At Nooksack, sophomore Joey Brown gained starting experience in two games and Jordan Silva is a proven senior running back. Duke Halaapiapi, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound sophomore lineman, showed considerable potential as a freshman.
Lummi among state’s best
Lummi coach Jim Sandusky says “We’re among the state’s top five eight-man teams” and is confident his team has the potential to make a deep run in the state B1 playoffs in his 19th season as coach. His only losing season was a 4-5 record in 2003, his first year.
Lummi’s leaders include all-purpose standout slotback/defensive back Duncan Toby, running back William Elsey, defensive end/tight end Samson Bumatay, defensive end/guard Nigel Hillaire and sophomore center/linebacker Desmond Bailey. The first four are seniors.
Week one games
Thursday’s game
Sehome at Nooksack Valley, 7 p.m.
Friday’s games
Lynden Christian vs. Squalicum at Civic Stadium, 8 p.m.
Hockinson at Lynden, 7 p.m.
Everett vs. Bellingham at Civic Stadium, 5 p.m.
Port Angeles at Blaine, 6 p.m.
Burlington-Edison at Meridian, 7 p.m.
Mossyrock at Lummi, 5 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Mount Baker vs. Life Christian Academy, 7 p.m.
Ferndale vs. Monroe at Blaine, 5 p.m.
