Peterson picked NWC Most Valuable Player
There was hardly a game Ben Peterson didn’t significantly impact, and the small-statured speedster did a bit of everything for the Northwest Conference champion Squalicum Storm.
Peterson was electric with the ball in his hands, running out the backfield, after a catch or weaving through punt and kickoff coverages. On defense, he supplied leadership, hard-hitting and strong tackling for one of the league’s best defenses.
And he also showed off his leg strength from soccer, serving as the Storm’s kicker.
Peterson was selected the Class 2A/3A All-NWC Most Valuable Player when teams were announced earlier this week. His coach, Nick Lucey, was selected Coach of the Year.
The Squalicum junior wide receiver and defensive back finished with 784 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 33 receptions. He ran for 220 yards and three scores, and had four touchdown returns either on defense or special teams. Peterson also kicked four field goals and 45 extra points.
Peterson had many signature moments, including when he scored the first 24 points of Squalicum’s Week 5 win against Burlington-Edison. He scored on a kickoff return, a 50-yard rush, a 68-yard reception, kicked a 20-yard field goal and three extra points. Another came when he thwarted Sedro-Woolley’s comeback bid Week 4 by forcing a fumble and returning it for a score to seal the Storm’s win.
Jacob Burgoon (OL), Jake Burns (DL) and Jack Wendling (LB) joined Peterson as Squalicum first-team selections.
Besides Peterson, Ferndale’s Austin Honeycutt (RB/DL) and Lynden’s Jensen Mayberry (OL/LB and Jordan Wittenberg (WR/DB) earned first-team selections on both sides of the ball.
Honeycutt ran for 1,233 yards and 14 touchdowns on 189 carries and headlined one of the league’s top defensive lines. Mayberry offered the Lions some important physicality.
Wittenberg finished with 847 yards and eight touchdowns on 53 receptions to go along with two rushing scores. He also provided great run support and pass defense.
Other Lynden first-team selections were Sterling Somers (QB), Nathan Gomes (DL) and kicker Per Wolfisberg (K).
Ferndale’s Nick Bartel (OL) and Taylor Bellefeuille (LB), Blaine’s Riley Fritsch (RB), Josh Fakkema (TE) and Kyle Sentkowski (P) and Sehome’s Taylor Rapp (DB) were Whatcom County’s other first-team picks.
Class 2A/3A All-NWC Football Team
MVP: Ben Peterson, Squalicum
Coach of the Year: Nick Lucey, Squalicum
Assistant Coach of the Year: Patrick Murphy, Sedro-Woolley
First team
Offense
Offensive linemen: Jacob Hanson (BE), Jacob Burgoon (Sq), Nick Bartel (Fern), Jensen Mayberry (Lyn), Erik Lukner (SW). Running backs: Riley Fritsch (Bla), Austin Honeycutt (Fern), Quinn Carpenter (SW). Tight end: Josh Fakkema (Bla). Wide receivers: Derek Cherryholmes (BE), Ben Peterson (Sq), Jordan Wittenberg (Lyn). Quarterback: Sterling Somers (Lyn)
Defense
Defensive linemen: Jake Burns (Sq), Austin Honeycutt (Fern), Nathan Gomes (Lyn), Noah Stroosma (SW). Linebackers: Conner Moore (BE), Jack Wendling (Sq), Taylor Bellefeuille (Fern), Jensen Mayberry (Lyn). Secondary: Taylor Rapp (Seh), Ben Peterson (Sq), Jordan Wittenberg (Lyn), Carter Crosby (SW). Kicker: Per Wolfisberg (Lyn). Punter: Kyle Sentkowski (Bla).
Second team
Offense
Offensive linemen: Zech Diemert (Ana), Jacob South (Ana), Scott McIvor (Seh), Jared Phillips (Bla), Tanner Steele (Lyn). Running backs: Taran Lambert (BE), Carter Crosby (SW). Tight end: Billy Hornbeck (SW). Wide receivers: Josiah Westbrook (Sq), Noah King (Lyn), Gavin Holdt (SW). Quarterback: Garrett Sorenson (Sq).
Defense
Defensive linemen: JP Sullivan (BE), Drew Wesen (BE), Caleb Starkovich (Sq), Chris Hernandez (Fern). Linebackers: Tanner Patrick (Seh), Tucker Jensen (Bla), Layton Hagee (Bla), Damek Mitchell (Sq). Secondary: Trystan Lowry (Ana), Tavian Swanson (BE), James Hinson (Fern), Josh Gaethle (SW). Kickers: Jake Field (BE), Kyle Sentkowski (Bla). Punter: Carter Crosby (SW).
This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 8:04 PM with the headline "Peterson picked NWC Most Valuable Player."