Ferndale’s three-headed running back attack aims for repeat against archrival Lynden
Ferndale appears to have a strong shot at becoming one of the few Washington high schools ever to average 40 points over a 20 game stretch.
That’s because few teams have entered a season with the chops of Ferndale’s three exceptionally talented and unusually experienced running backs, not to mention a potentially outstanding senior quarterback.
The Golden Eagles were little short of awe-inspiring in their season-opening 55-35 non-league victory over Monroe last Saturday.
But running backs Isaiah Carlson, Ryan Pelton and Thomas Broselle and quarterback Mark Schlichting were more interested in making sure their line received credit than they were in talking about the 596 yards and eight consecutive touchdowns they produced without losing so much as a single yard.
So take a bow, Jake Mason, Landon Hatchett, Jordan Mason, Trevor Fetty and Tre Kyle. Your football brothers insisted, noting that Kyle is the only senior. The others are juniors.
The potent Ferndale quartet was also happy to see much-improved senior running back/linebacker Elijah “Raj” McCormick get the opportunity for recognition.
These players will be bidding for their second consecutive win over archrival Lynden when they meet tonight on the Lions’ field at 7 p.m.
The Eagles claimed a thrilling 28-19 win over the Lions during the six-round winter season, which was abbreviated and delayed because of the complications of COVID-19.
Ferndale went 5-1, averaging 41 points, including the game that taught them a whole lot: a 10-5 loss to Sehome.
The frustration of playing before empty Ferndale stands in their winter win over Lynden led Pelton to talk about how “really awesome” it was to play before a large home crowd at Blaine to open this season. The Eagles will use Blaine’s beautiful stadium for two years as their home field during Ferndale’s rebuild.
If the Golden Eagles can reach the Class 3A title game, it would be their 20th contest of this calendar year That, of course, is a big “if,” considering their District 1 competition is annually perhaps the state’s toughest.
But Carlson, a junior, and Pelton and Broselle, both seniors, are in their third season together of producing an amazing level of offensive excitement. Schlichting was a backup, but never stopped working so hard that he seems to have emerged as a competitive peer of the running backs.
“Obviously I’m not as good as (the trio is at running back), but I’ve always looked up to them,” said McCormick, who displayed his value with blocking and six carries for 42 yards on his birthday. “And I know I’ll get a block when I get the ball.”
Longtime coach Jamie Plenkovich echoed that thought.
“They’re a really good core group,” he said. “And all three of them have different talents.”
Broselle, the third of three football players in his family, is all speed and elusiveness. The 205-pound Carlson is power personified and the 225-pound Pelton combines muscle and moves along with great football sense.
Pelton showed that with a phenomenal catch and run with what became Schlichting’s 27-yard touchdown pass. He caught the ball out of a crowd at the 7-yard line and refused to go down before a long tumble into the end zone.
“From the angle I had, that (a hard throw) looked like a pick before Ryan caught it,” said Carlson, marveling how Pelton maintained his focus on the play, which gave Ferndale a 34-16 lead in the final minute of the first half.
The Ferndale veterans know just how tough Lynden can be.
“We have nine players returning on defense and two returning on offense,” Lynden coach Blake VanDalen said before the Lions produced a 24-21 win last Friday over perennial 2A power Hockinson.
What was amazing in the Monroe game was that Ferndale not only never had negative yardage on any of its 55 plays, but that the Golden Eagles produced all 55 points in 25 minutes of clock time from the middle of the first quarter to the middle of the third period.
Schlichting completed 7 of 9 passes for 231 yards for three touchdowns with no interceptions, and the three veteran runners combined for 309 yards: 131 for Carlson on 13 carries, 94 for Broselle on six, and 84 for Pelton on eight. That means the four combined for 540 yards of total offense on only 36 plays.
Broselle produced the most entertaining play, a 69-yard touchdown catch while getting open on a long pass from Schlichting.
“I was a little nervous but I got a whole lot of help,” Schlichting said of his first start.
When asked if anyone would like a lot more carries rather than sharing the ball so well, Pelton just grinned and admitted, “Well, I would like more carries.” But it was easy to see that he is happy to share with such talent.
“I just really love playing with Ryan,” Broselle said, with admiration for his powerful third-year teammate, who ran for two scores in addition to his remarkable catch-and-tumble touchdown. Now he can say the same thing about Carlson, Schlichting, McCormick and the entire line.
WEEK TWO GAMES
Friday’s games
Ferndale at Lynden, 7 p.m.
Lakewood at Lynden Christian, 7 p.m.
Bellevue Christian at Blaine, 7 p.m.
Squalicum at Sequim, 6 p.m.
Hoquiam at Nooksack, 6 p.m.
Anacortes vs. Sehome at Civic Stadium, 5 p.m.
Bellingham vs. West Seattle at Civic Stadium, 8 p.m.
Meridian vs. Evergreen at Highline Stadium, 7 p.m.
Naselle vs. Lummi, site and time TBD
Saturday’s game
Mount Baker at Wenatchee, 6 p.m.
