Bellingham looks to capitalize off momentum of successful 2014
Ted Flint and the Red Raiders laid a foundation they could be proud of last fall.
Bellingham’s five wins was more than it had the past three seasons combined, as it navigated the first half of a two-year independent schedule.
This season, the Red Raiders begin constructing what the team hopes will develop into a polished football product.
“Our theme this year is improve everyday,” Flint said, “and I think we are doing that. If we go out everyday and do something better than we did the day before, I think we are going to be fine.”
Bellingham already is living up to the message. Flint said the group this year is far beyond where it was at the same time a year ago.
The Red Raiders finished 2014 by winning five of their last seven games, but a slow start put Bellingham behind. Fittingly, the team is placing a premium on a better start to the new campaign.
“Once we got rolling, we were a pretty good team,” senior two-way starter Trent Helming said, “so If we could start off really good and get high intensity, I feel like we could beat any team.”
Bellingham improved its defense a year ago, and Flint’s wing-T offensive attack allowed graduated back Tanner Aliff to run for a county high 1,757 yards.
But the Red Raiders might look a little different this season, and it’s not due to their new helmet sticker.
Sophomore quarterback Nick Knutson has impressed Flint with his throwing ability, and coupled with Bellingham’s speedy personnel, expect for a few more balls to be flying around, as the Red Raiders look to install some spread formation looks.
“Obviously, not being able to throw last year hurt us in a few games,” Flint said. “So, we have to be able to throw the ball, and we got guys that can do that now.”
Flint made clear he won’t be abandoning his wing-T, though.
Helming is Bellingham’s only returner along the O-line, but Tevon Lautenbach and Nick Oesterling should be strong additions.
They’ll be paving the way for new backs Dakota Johanson, Isiah Harrington and Chris Thompson, while Bellingham introduces a deep WR crop made up of Ethan Fields, Zach Lorenz, Nich Smith, Noah Hadfield and Joe Worley.
Bellingham’s defense will be led by Helming, Lorenz, Hadfield and Smith, who all played plenty varsity snaps last season.
Hadfield and Johanson give the Red Raiders some experience at linebacker, and Lautenbach, Harrington and Brahm van Woerden are expected to join the duo.
Bellingham brings back secondary players Smith, Lorenz and Thompson.
Key numbers
2
Offensive starters from 2014 returning for
Bellingham in 2015.
4
Defensive starters from 2014 returning for
Bellingham in 2015.
.714
Bellingham’s win percentage during the final seven games of 2014.
117
Total passing yards
the Red Raiders
recorded in 2014.
Players to watch
TRENT HELMING
Bellingham, Sr., OL/DL
Helming has established himself as a true leader and will factor greatly into the Red Raiders’ success.
DAKOTA JOHANSON
Bellingham, Jr., RB/LB
Someone will need to fill the void left by Tanner Aliff, and Johanson gives Bellingham a solid candidate.
NICK KNUTSON
Bellingham, So., QB
Knutson appears to be a major part of the Red Raiders’ future, and Flint offered high praise to the quarterback’s arm.
ZACH LORENZ
Bellingham, Sr., WR/DB
Lorenz is one of the team’s few seniors, and he should give Bellingham a solid pass catcher and a reliable DB.
Three keys to 2015
1. IMPROVE EVERY DAY
This is the Red Raiders’ motto, and as simple as it sounds, it’s the key to Bellingham returning to the type of club it wants to be. The Red Raiders already took a massive step forward last year. Let’s see if they can do it again.
2. BALANCE
Flint admitted there were times last year when Bellingham’s inability to throw the football cost the team. Now that the Red Raiders are developing a passing game, Flint will be tasked with finding that intricate balance between run and pass.
3. QUICK OFF THE LINE
Bellingham finished strong last year. But surely nothing would give the Red Raiders a bigger boost of confidence than hanging with Squalicum, Sehome and Lynden Christian during the season’s first three weeks.
Projection
The Red Raiders are improving. There’s no doubting that. A winning season is certainly possible, as Bellingham looks to garner more respect before rejoining the NWC next year.
2015 schedule
Date | Opponent | Time |
Sept. 4 | at Squalicum* | 7 p.m. |
Sept. 11 | at Sehome* | 7 p.m. |
Sept. 18 | Lynden Christian* | 7 p.m. |
Sept. 25 | Charles Wright* | 7 p.m. |
Oct. 2 | at Friday Harbor | 6:30 p.m. |
Oct. 9 | Bellevue Christian* | 7 p.m. |
Oct. 16 | at Orcas Island | 1:30 p.m. |
Oct. 23 | at La Conner | TBD |
Oct. 30 | Highline* | 7 p.m. |
Nov. 5 | Friday Harbor* | 7 p.m. |
*At Civic Stadium
2015 roster
No. | Player | Yr. | Ht. | Wt. | Pos. |
2 | Spencer Lee | Fr. | 5-8 | 140 | WR/DB |
3 | Allain Cole | Jr. | 6-0 | 150 | WR/DB |
5 | Jonny Henry | Fr. | 5-10 | 145 | QB/DB |
6 | Sebastian Serrano | Fr. | 5-4 | 115 | WR/DB |
7 | Michael Finney | So. | 5-11 | 130 | WR/DB |
8 | Nick Knutson | So. | 6-0 | 170 | QB/DB |
9 | Kyle Hansen | Jr. | 5-7 | 130 | SR/DB |
10 | Zach Lorenz | Sr. | 5-10 | 160 | WR/DB |
11 | Towner Goodman | Fr. | 5-8 | 145 | RB/DB |
12 | Ethan Berschauer | So. | 6-1 | 160 | SR/DB |
13 | Rand Bentley | Fr. | 6-4 | 165 | QB/DB |
14 | Timothy Edwards | Fr. | 5-8 | 130 | RB/DB |
15 | Connor Wallace | So. | 5-9 | 150 | SR/DB |
16 | Hayden Woods | So. | 5-11 | 150 | WR/DB |
17 | Noah Hadfield | Sr. | 6-0 | 190 | WR/LB |
22 | Ethan Fields | So. | 6-0 | 180 | SR/DB |
23 | Kole Jorgenson | Sr. | 6-0 | 150 | WR/DB |
24 | Isiah Harrington | So. | 5-8 | 170 | RB/LB |
26 | Pacheco Oberon | Fr. | 5-8 | 130 | WR/DB |
28 | Jordan Cavalier | Fr. | 5-9 | 132 | RB/DB |
30 | Nich Smith | Jr. | 6-1 | 170 | WR/DB |
31 | Dylan Gibson | Sr. | 5-7 | 197 | RB/LB |
32 | Chris Thompson | Jr. | 5-10 | 170 | RB/ DB |
35 | Eric Collado | Fr. | 5-8 | 156 | RB/LB |
40 | Brahm vanWoerden | So. | 5-10 | 155 | SR/LB |
41 | Noah Johnson | So. | 5-9 | 115 | WR/DB |
42 | Dakota Johanson | Jr. | 5-11 | 200 | RB/LB |
44 | Joseph Worley | Jr. | 6-3 | 250 | SR/DL |
45 | Eli Kongshang | Fr. | 6-1 | 185 | RB/LB |
46 | Kobey Sturgeon | Fr. | 6-0 | 160 | OL/LB |
50 | Jade Dudoward | So. | 5-10 | 200 | OL/DL |
51 | Tevon Lautenbach | So. | 6-1 | 173 | OL/LB |
52 | Nicholas Oesterling | So. | 6-2 | 180 | OL/DL |
53 | Simon Lynch | Jr. | 5-8 | 158 | OL/DL |
54 | Kelton Connors | Jr. | 5-11 | 170 | OL/LB |
55 | Trent Helming | Sr. | 5-11 | 179 | OL/DL |
57 | Xavier Felmley | Fr. | 5-11 | 180 | OL/DL |
58 | Aiden Helming | So. | 5-11 | 168 | OL/LB |
60 | Hunter Bills | Jr. | 5-10 | 220 | OL/LB |
61 | Chris Reed | Jr. | 5-8 | 190 | OL/DL |
62 | Koa Hanks | Jr. | 6-1 | 177 | OL/LB |
63 | Christian Butenschoen | Fr. | 5-10 | 215 | OL/DL |
64 | Ricky Burgos | Sr. | 5-9 | 220 | OL/DL |
65 | Jackson Lee | So. | 5-7 | 180 | OL/DL |
66 | Andrew Chaparro | Jr. | 5-9 | 180 | OL/DL |
67 | Nate Leishman | Jr. | 5-9 | 217 | OL/DL |
68 | Hunter Hedwell | Fr. | 6-0 | 176 | OL/LB |
70 | Dylan Nogle | Jr. | 5-11 | 210 | OL/DL |
71 | Chase Johanson | Fr. | 6-0 | 200 | OL/DL |
72 | Theo Vinup | Sr. | 6-2 | 220 | OL/DL |
73 | Luke Visser | Fr. | 6-3 | 145 | OL/DL |
74 | Connor McEvoy | So. | 6-2 | 160 | OL/DL |
75 | Alex Bonesteele | Fr. | 5-11 | 237 | OL/DL |
79 | Caleb McDonald | Fr. | 5-9 | 190 | OL/DL |
80 | Louis Nawrocki | So. | 6-2 | 165 | WR/DB |
81 | Ethan Johnson | Fr. | 5-8 | 115 | WR/DB |
82 | Kirk Alford | Fr. | 5-2 | 115 | WR/DB |
2014 Season recap
RESULTS
(5-5)
Date | Opponent | Result |
Sept. 5 | Squalicum | L 55-13 |
Sept. 12 | Sehome | L 38-14 |
Sept. 19 | at Lynden Christian | L 41-0 |
Sept. 26 | at Charles Wright | W 47-30 |
Oct. 3 | Friday Harbor | W 21-19 |
Oct. 11 | at Bellevue Christian | W 35-21 |
Oct. 18 | Orcas Island | W 49-22 |
Oct. 25 | La Conner | L 21-14 |
Oct. 31 | at Highline | W 41-14 |
Nov. 6 | at Friday Harbor | L 7-6 |
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing | Att. | Yards | Avg. | TD |
Tanner Aliff | 226 | 1,757 | 7.8 | 18 |
Kalien Hayes | 97 | 805 | 8.3 | 10 |
Mitchell Osorio | 24 | 128 | 5.3 | 1 |
Jacob Frazier | 27 | 81 | 3.0 | 0 |
Sean Ryder | 21 | 72 | 3.4 | 1 |
Passing | Cmp. | Att. | Yds. | TD | Int. |
Kalien Hayes | 8 | 28 | 93 | 0 | 3 |
Nick Knutson* | 2 | 10 | 24 | 1 | 1 |
Receiving | Rec. | Yards | Avg. | TD |
Eric Thompson | 3 | 66 | 22.0 | 1 |
Colin Bigelow | 3 | 34 | 11.3 | 0 |
Dante Koplowitz-Fleming | 1 | 18 | 18.0 | 0 |
Zach Lorenz* | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0 |
Akash Kumar | 1 | -3 | -3.0 | 0 |
*returning player
This story was originally published August 30, 2015 at 4:18 PM with the headline "Bellingham looks to capitalize off momentum of successful 2014."