Kade Eldridge leads Lynden Christian into Whatcom County Week 6 football action
If Kade Eldridge can fulfill his football ambitions, he will play for a state champion this season, in the Pacific-12 Conference next season and in the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound senior running back/defensive end could not be more gratified to find himself surrounded by a raft of highly talented teammates at Lynden Christian. The Lyncs (5-0) play their homecoming game Friday, Oct. 7, against Nooksack Valley (5-0) in a match-up of high-scoring state tournament contenders.
He has committed to accepting a full scholarship from the University of Southern California, which announced earlier this year that it will begin playing in the Big Ten in 2024.
“I was blown away when (local historian) Tyler Anderson informed me I would be the first Whatcom County player to sign with USC since 1951,” Eldridge said. Bellingham’s Monte Bianchi signed that year.
In fact, Eldridge feels like he has taken a crash course in local and state football history. He was gratified to gain 147 yards and to set up junior quarterback Jeremiah Wright’s winning touchdown as the Lyncs ended Royal’s state-leading 36-game winning streak with a 21-14 upset Oct. 1 in Royal City. The Knights had not lost at home in 11 years.
Now he will face his old buddies at Nooksack Valley, which is 5-0 for the first time since 1975 following the Pioneers’ 48-15 win over Meridian in a Northwest Conference Class 1A opener. One day later, the Lyncs — who are seeking their first state title since 1996 — remained perfect against non-league competition with a 51-7 win at Renton.
Last season, the Lyncs were far more experienced than the Pioneers and shut out Nooksack 41-0. Even though the Pioneers are still young with only five seniors, many of their juniors and sophomore are performing like exceptional seniors and thus a dramatic game is anticipated.
Eldridge attended Nooksack as a freshman, appearing on special teams for the varsity. Due to transfer rules, he played junior varsity in the COVID-19 abbreviated season in February and March 2021. He had an outstanding junior season on both offense and defense as the Lyncs made it to the state 1A semifinals.
“Kade takes joy in celebrating the achievements of others,” said first-year head coach Greg Terpstra. “Kade is extremely perceptive. He asks all the right questions. He makes me a better coach.”
Given a chance to speak about his teammates, Eldridge’s vocal enthusiasm was obvious. He has great admiration for fellow senior Tyler Sipma, who can play pretty much anywhere and is one of the league’s most explosive threats.
“Tyler is a very fine athlete, very quick on his feet,” Edridge said of Sipma, who may play basketball in college. They were the only returning full-time starters.
Eldridge is grateful that Tommy Meyer, one of the team’s four quarterbacks, answered the coaches’ call to start at center.
“I think it’s a blessing in disguise (regarding playing time) for Tommy,” Eldridge said. “He’s definitely helping our team a great deal at center.”
Wright has impressed Eldridge at quarterback — “He’s really a good leader and fills that role well” — and likewise is gratified by the improvement of senior kicker/receiver Braden Kuik and juniors Tyson Bajema, Brodie Bouwman, Kayden Stuit and Dawson Bouma, among many others.
“There’s no doubt that I feel our team is going to make a run for the championship,” Eldridge said.
Eldridge’s work ethic “sets the tone for our team,” Terpstra said. “I don’t think I’ve seen anyone work harder. I think he goes to workouts after our workouts.”
The big guy is proud that he has only 9% body fat, yet he contends that “I’m nowhere near where I want to be.”
That’s why Terpstra says Eldridge “keeps you on your toes because he wants to be coached hard and he wants to be coached right.”
The coach says Eldridge is willing to try anything to help the team.
“That’s how Kade became our punter,” Terpstra said.
Terpstra also notes that Eldridge isn’t concerned about statistics, because the senior knows that the team is better off the more others can perform well, too.
For example, Eldridge carried only five times against Renton because the Lyncs took advantage of an opportunity to polish their passing game on the way to a 51-0 halftime lead.
Kent Bouma, LC’s new defensive coordinator, is thrilled to have Eldridge to work with, along with so many young prospects.
“Kade is just such a hard-working and enjoyable kid to work with,” said Bouma. “He’s a total teammate and a real prospect.”
WEEK 6
Thursday, Oct. 6
Bellingham at Coupeville, 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 7
Marysville-Getchell vs. Ferndale at Blaine High School, 7 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at Lynden Christian, 7 p.m.
Blaine at Meridian, 7 p.m.
Archbishop Murphy at Lynden, 7 p.m.
Lakewood vs. Squalicum at Civic Stadium, 7 p.m.
Sehome at Anacortes, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 8
La Center at Mount Baker, 2 p.m.
Lummi at Quilcene, 1 p.m.
