Whatcom County prep football preview: Play-in postseason format should heat up a chilly fall

Weeks 8, 9 and 10 of the 2024 high school football season should be as compelling as any time in Whatcom County history.

All the coaches of the 10 11-man teams express great enthusiasm for the mostly new 32-team play-in bracket in Week 10. Only Class 3A, including Ferndale, has had such a bracket.

Eight playoff teams? Nine? Even 10? The coaches agree the late season will be more meaningful than ever in Whatcom County, which has a well-earned reputation as a football hot spot.

The 16 survivors of Week 10 will be re-seeded by a state committee to begin the state playoffs, which began in 1973. At some point in the second half of September, the committee will allocate the number of Round of 32 spots for every league.

Coaches anticipate four berths for both the Northwest Conference Class 2A and 1A.

“I absolutely love it,” Sehome coach Brian Young said. “We have the toughest 2A league in the state in the Northwest Conference. We could have five or six of the top 10 teams in the state. This allows us to send the best competition to state.”

“I’m really enthusiastic about the 32-team bracket,” said all-state running back Colton Lentz, who has helped Nooksack Valley to consecutive state 1A semifinal berths for the first time in its history. “It’s crazy how good our NWC 1A league is.”

Who’s back?

After a senior-dominated season last year, only 15 all-league players return to county teams.

County historian Tyler Anderson compiles the best available football statistics. Here are his top two career numbers for returning local stars:

Rushing: Lentz, 420 attempts, 3,177 yards and 45 scores on the ground; Marcus Nixon, Squalicum, 318 for 1,691 yards and 18 scores.

Passing: Jaeger Fyfe, Meridian, 270 for 498 for 3,257 yards and 27 scores; Nolan Wright, Sehome, 244 for 411 for 3,227 yards and 36 scores.

Receiving: Andre Watson, Sehome, 120 catches for 1,653 yards and 23 scores; Cory Olney, 63 for 933 and 10.

Tackles: Lentz 152; Terry Frost, Bellingham, 134. Tackles for loss: Frost, 26.0; Lincoln Hoefer, Meridian, 20.5. Passes defended: Fyfe, 26; Coleby Chambers, Sehome, 25. Interceptions: Watson 11; Olney 10. Sacks: Brady Ackerman, Nooksack Valley, 15; Several tied with 5.

Kickoff returns: Brady Bruland, Mount Baker, 33 for 773 yards and 3 scores; Joaqin Ortiz, Squalicum19 for 569 and 1. Punt returns: Watson, 12 for 127; Ortiz 3 for 93.

The next level

At least 36 players from Whatcom County are playing college football this season.

As per the coaches, the list includes: Bellingham — Josh Leonard, Puget Sound; Josh Tolle, Chapman. Ferndale — Geirean Hatchett, Oklahoma; Landen Hatchett, Washington; Jake Mason, Montana; Conner Walcker, Eastern Washington; Isaiah Carlson, UCLA. Lynden — Lane Herringa, Washington State; Jacob Kettles, Kennesaw State; Michael Bareman, Nevada-Las Vegas; Troy Petz, Washington; Dane Gatterman, Eastern Washington; Kuiper Assink and Cooper Moore, George Fox; Zach Welch, Western Montana. Lynden Christian — Kade Eldridge, USC; Jeremiah Wright, Hawaii; Braden Kuik and Kaden Stuitt, Eastern Washington; Caleb Ryan, Liberty; Tyson Bajema and Will Faber, Northwestern (Iowa); Jamison Hintz, Arizona Christian. Mount Baker — Davin Beeson, Portland State; Ethan Larson and Alex Maloley, Montana State; Jason Lee, Yale. Sehome — Gavin Ortega, Weber State. Squalicum — Ben Schlenbaker, Leighton Smithson, Bryson Lamb; Mason Binning and Colby Lewis, Puget Sound; Evan Brown, Whitworth; Blaze Robles, Bethany (Kansas).

Of course, we can’t forget NFL players Taylor Rapp (Buffalo Bills) via Sehome and Washington, and T.J. Bass (Dallas Cowboys) via Mount Baker and Oregon.

Football forecast

Here is the outlook for all 11 teams in Whatcom County:

CLASS 3A

Ferndale (8-3)

The Golden Eagles figure to make a spirited bid for their 24th state playoff spot, despite numerous first-year starters.

“I would hope so,” longtime coach Jamie Plenkovich said when asked if his team would be a postseason possibility. “Our work ethic is good and we’re excited. With 125 players in our (three-team) program, we’ve taken a little jump in enthusiasm.”

Ferndale’s most noteworthy college prospect is senior running back/linebacker Talan Bungard (6-0, 215), an all-Wesco choice at linebacker. He led the Golden Eagles with 1,082 yards and 15 touchdowns and can pound defenders with the best in the two-division Wesco.

Junior Nolan Boleak, last year’s JV quarterback, “has cemented himself” at the position, his coach noted of the 6-foot-1 passer with considerable potential.

Jacob Gandy, a second-team all-Wesco linebacker, figures to provide plenty of support in the backfield along with senior returnee Zach Nielsen, who had big moments at Sehome as a freshman and at Ferndale as a sophomore before playing tennis last fall.

Returning linemen and defenders of note include seniors Wyatt Straight (280) and Lincoln Thomas (200) along with junior Kulshan LaValley (290).

Senior twins Eli and Israel Kennerley are two-way skill position notables.

After senior Kaden Eldridge took over as the extra-point kicker midway through last season, he connected on 26 of 27 conversions.

In the jamboree at Ferndale last Friday, the Golden Eagles shut out Lynden Christian with a touchdown run by Nielsen and two field goals by Eldridge, then beat Mount Baker on touchdown runs by Gandy and Elliot Lenssen. Freshman Enoch Smith kicked two field goals for Baker.

The Wesco North has replaced Marysville-Pilchuck with Sedro-Woolley and replaced Arlington with Snohomish.

CLASS 2A

Lynden (8-3)

The Lions — state champions for the 11th and 12th times in 2021 and 2022 — saw Anacortes claim its first state title last year and are now ranked third statewide by The Associated Press behind No. 1 Anacortes and No. 2 Archbishop Murphy of Everett.

It’s no wonder eighth-year head coach Blake Van Dalen says he’s ecstatic over the new 32-team bracket for Week 10.

“We graduated 30 seniors and we have 12 seniors now, but we still have over 100 t kids in our program,” he said.

Lynden’s featured athlete is senior quarterback Brant Heppner, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound athlete who has helped the Lions to two state football titles and three state basketball championships.

Brant worked harder in our weight room than anyone ever has,” Van Dalen said. “We had 68 summer days of workouts and he set a record with double workouts 42 times.”

Heppner, who alternated at quarterback his first two seasons, produced 34 scores last season while passing for 22. The Whatcom Preps website lists his career passing totals as 171 for 305 for 2,876 yards and 32 touchdowns with only seven interceptions.

Lynden’s other primary skill threats are junior Daniel Bowler (six touchdowns and more than 600 yards receiving last season) and junior Max Assink, who emerged with two late-season games with more than 100 yards rushing. All-league senior tight end Isaiah Oudman and sophomore kicker Malachi Koenen, who had five field goals, are other major threats.

Van Dalen has high hopes for the offensive line, where seniors Blake Holman (270) and Ryan Van Berkum (265), juniors Logan Ostry (225) and Carter Vrieling (300) and sophomore Zach Dykstra (220) are starting from left to right.

In a jamboree last Friday, the Lions shut out Mount Baker and beat Lynden Christian as Lynden prepared well for Friday’s season opener at Ferndale in one of the state’s classic rivalries. The Lions scored on all five drives on Heppner’s two passes to Bowler and one to Oudman, plus runs by Assink and Ty Jorgenson, plus a field goal by Koenen.

Marysville-Pilchuck will replace Sedro-Woolley in NWC 2A.

Bellingham (6-4)

The Bayhawks will return to the NWC after several years as an independent, although they will not face Lynden this season in coach Adam Leonard’s second year of developing a competitive program.

He noted 100 players in the three-team program, which is likely a school record.

“It’s too early to tell if we can contend for a spot in the Round of 32, but it’s 100 percent better for everyone,” he said. “We’re looking forward to competing, and I’m happy to be back.”

Joe Harward, a 6-4, 195-pound junior, has shown promise at quarterback while replacing Josh Leonard, who is now playing at Puget Sound and is rooming with lineman Colby Lewis from Squalicum. Sophomore Ben Leonard will back up Harward and also play receiver.

Junior defensive back Owen Hanstead led the county with seven interceptions, all in consecutive games.

Other standout two-way players include linebacker/tight end Gabe Van Hofwegen, wide receiver/defensive back Bly Henderson, wide receiver/defensive back Nate Laas, tackle Finn Jensen (305) and tackle Owen

Campbell (200). All are seniors.

Bellingham lost to 3A Mount Vernon but came back to beat Meridian in a jamboree Saturday. Harward scored on a run and threw a scoring pass to sophomore Calvin Van Hofwegan.

Sehome (6-4)

With junior quarterback Nolan Wright and senior wide receiver/defensive back Andre Watson, second-year coach Brian Young is blessed with two of the county’s finest players and leaders.

“As a well-rounded leader and student-athlete (with a 4.0 GPA), I don’t think there’s a better one in the county,” Young said of Wright, who has led the Mariners to a 13-7 record as a freshman and sophomore with 3,227 yards passing and 36 touchdowns, with only seven interceptions. “He’s so humble, so coachable, just one of the guys.”

“The great thing about Andre is that we’ve been able to see him mature into an outstanding leader,” Young said of Watson. “They make a pretty darned good duo.”

Sehome has a raft of other receiving standouts, including all-league kicker Grady Evans (five field goals), Theo Quiggle, Carter Duckworth and Cooper McAtee.

“Pound for pound, the toughest kid we have is our rover, junior Hudson Neff (170). You can’t tell him he’s not a 210-pounder,” said Young. “He’s the heart and soul of our defense. Cole Turrell is a third-year starter as a junior and he’s the leader of our offensive line. There‘s no question about it. And we‘re expecting an outstanding season from senior cornerback Coleby Chambers.”

Wright tied the county record with six touchdown passes against Blaine last season.

Sehome lost only four seniors to graduation, so Young has especially high hopes, even in such a rugged conference.

Squalicum (4-6)

Marcus Nixon, one of the area’s best ball-carriers, is back at running back after spending a productive junior season at quarterback to help the team.

Junior Cole Burke (6-2, 175), last year’s JV signal-caller, is ready to take over for veteran coach Nick Lucey, who says the young prospect “can both pass and run well.”

Nixon has verbally committed to Eastern Washington after an impressive effort with 880 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns plus 862 yards passing and 10 scores — a phenomenal showing in his only season behind center.

“I like where we’re at,” said Lucey, who has produced six state playoff teams in nine opportunities (there were no playoffs in 2020) after the school had never had a playoff team since opening in 1998. “We had a great off-season and a great spring. The kids have done what we’ve asked.”

Talented kick returner and two-way skill player Joaqin Ortiz, who displayed exciting potential as a junior, and fast senior running back/linebacker Malakai Smith offer strong support for Nixon.

Other Storm standouts include junior Laki Fagaautau, who had a breakout sophomore year at linebacker and tight end; junior wide receiver/defensive back Zach Watt; and potential-filled defensive back Hunter Calloway.

“We’re excited about the new Round of 32 in Week 10,” Lucey said. “This will enable the best teams to get to state.”

CLASS 1A

Nooksack Valley (9-3)

Colton Lentz is working toward a lot more than what would be the Pioneers’ school-record third consecutive appearance in the state playoff semifinals.

The Northwest Conference’s 2023 Player of the Year hungers to erase Nooksack Valley’s status as the 1A division’s only team never to win a state title.

Lentz, a record-setting running back/linebacker who has already verbally committed to the University of Montana in Missoula, is confident that “We have the potential to contend.”

All four rival coaches agree that coach Craig Bartl’s Pioneers are a solid favorite to take the title.

Lentz says new starting quarterback Evan Brown (6-3, 190), a junior who backed up graduated brother Joey Brown, is making excellent progress.

“Evan is looking real good, with a strong arm and moving well,” Lentz said.

Lentz is the current county career leader in both tackles (152) and touchdowns (school record 48), with his career-leading 3,177, according to the Whatcom Preps web site. He scored eight touchdowns in three playoff games last season to finish with a school-record 25.

Senior Colby Martin will support Lentz at running back and all-league senior returnee Cory Olney is the leading receiver. Brown has other capable targets in seniors Cole Bauman, Evan Bravo and Tristan Kamphouse and junior Cole Coppinger.

Two-way line standout Brady Ackerman is the only returning starting lineman. The line leader will receive support from seniors Lance Vanberkum and Adlei Whitworth and juniors Landon Stauffer, Cohen Hofford and Sebastian Finkbonner.

Lentz is counting on defensive support from juniors Brian Leyerly and Jaxon Hester.

Lynden Christian (8-3)

The Lyncs graduated 16 seniors, almost all vital contributors to LC’s run to the state quarterfinals, but second-year coach Greg Terpstra is positive about his younger team’s chances.

“I see us as a playoff contender,” he said. “Nooksack is a clear preseason favorite, but the league has a lot of parity this year. Blaine and Meridian are vastly improved, so it’s anybody’s night.”

Junior Eli Maberry and sophomore Dawson Hintz are bidding for the quarterback job, while senior Hollis Owen returns as a dependable running back.

“I think our defense will be real salty again,” Terpstra said.

Two all-league seniors, linebacker Trey Bosman and defensive back Mick Owen, lead the defense, which will also count heavily on junior lineman Treyson Johnson and sophomore Cole Carson. Sophomore Kyler Sterk (270) is the only returning regular on the offensive line.

In the jamboree against Lynden and Ferndale, Maberry and Boyce Roberts looked good on a touchdown connection against the Lions.

“We’re young but we have kids with a great attitude,” said Terpstra, whose team will get a severe test Friday against British Columbia power Vancouver College High at LC. “It’s not a dominant alpha male group, but they’re good kids with no drama. I’m really excited about this group. They have great big g hearts.”

Meridian (4-6)

The Trojans have more starters back than anyone in the league, giving coach Patrick Ames plenty of reason for optimism after “losing four games by about a combined eight points.”

The best-known Trojan is senior quarterback Jaeger Fyfe, whose 3,257 yards passing is a current career best and includes 27 scores, with 16 last season

“Jaeger is looking fine,” said Ames, who has returning senior tight end James Hedahl along with “three sophomore skill players who give us a lot of versatility” — Kasey Brennan, Pierce Brzozowski and Trey Alexander, plus junior Daniel Larsen.

Versatile veteran senior Landen Downey, always a scoring threat in several ways, leads the running backs, who go four deep with seniors Kelley Gray and Ross Driscoll and junior Xavier Perrin.

“We have all five of our offensive line starters back,” said Ames, noting the hard work of seniors Mason Apeles, Carson Campbell, Jaxson Hurlbut and Lincoln Hoefer and sophomore Landon Rowley.

“I’m sure excited about Week 10 and the new Round of 32,” said Ames. “It’s what we should have had all along. We‘ve been playing in the toughest league in the state, top to bottom.”

Blaine (3-7)

The Borderites received plenty of praise from coaches who saw them perform well along with Nooksack Valley in a jamboree last Friday against Sehome and Squalicum.

Andy Olson inherited only 11 seniors last fall when he shifted from Burlington to Blaine, but he had dozens of younger players to work with and got a lot out of them.

The Borderites boast four especially talented senior scoring threats in quarterback Colin Davis, running backs Colby Shipp and Jaiden Paez and versatile receiver Blake Koreski, also a defensive leader at linebacker.

“Davis is looking good after throwing for more than 1,500 yards and 15 or 16 touchdowns last year,” Olson said. Shipp has 822 yards rushing with some memorable moments in his younger days as a varsity stalwart.

“Four of our five offensive linemen return,” said Olson, pointing out Otto Shelton, junior Malaki Murillo, Malloy Messenger and Jayden Winslow.

Others the coach will count on heavily include junior receiver Kai Kerwin, senior defensive backs Zi Yu and Thomas Cox and senior linebacker Logan Villarreal.

“August has been fun, watching the kids grow into leaders,” Olson said.

He called the 32-team bracket “terrific” and believes his kids can make the most of it.

Mount Baker (3-7)

The Mountaineers saw their string of 12 postseason appearances snapped, but coach Ron Lepper heads into his 29th season intending to start a new streak.

Senior Luke Smith (6-3, 175) opens at quarterback after starting the final three games last season.

“Luke is both a passer and a runner and he’s a great kid,” said Lepper.

All-leaguer Dylan Moa returns at running back after a junior year with 790 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. He’ll get plenty of support from fellow senior Brady Bruland, who returned three kickoffs for touchdowns last year and has 773 yards on 33 career returns.

Lepper has two outstanding junior line prospects in Noah Illichev and Jeremiah Sheridan.

Defensively, Shaun Dugger and fellow seniors Moa and Bruland figure to give Baker one of the county’s best linebacker corps.

Freshman kicker Enoc Smith booted two field goals against Ferndale in the jamboree.

CLASS 1B (EIGHT MAN)

Lummi Nation (1-7)

Coach Watiko Leighton made strides with a young team in the first season for the former Ferndale receiver.

“Neah Bay is by far the favorite in our Northwest Eight Man Conference,” he said. “But we hope to compete for the Round of 16 at state. I believe we can make significant improvements.”

Sophomore Landon LaFontaine started the last four games at quarterback as a freshman. “He’s a strong, athletic kid and he has a good heart,” Leighton said.

The running backs will be junior Michael Wilson, junior Isaiah Yrizarris and freshman Russell George. Senior Treyvon Lee and sophomore Anthony Solomon are top pass-catching prospects.

Standout linemen figure to be senior Andrew Tageant and sophomore Deandre James and George figures to be solid at linebacker.

“We’re all locked in,” Leighton said of his team’s focus. “Last year, we started five freshmen, two juniors and one eighth-grader. I‘m excited, especially for the freshmen who played so much.”

Upcoming games

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6

• Lynden at Ferndale, 7 p.m.

• Port Angeles at Mount Baker, 7 p.m.

• Burlington Edison vs. Squalicum at Civic Stadium, 7 p.m.

• Vancouver College at Lynden Christian, 7 p.m.

• Nooksack Valley at Onalaska, 7 p.m.

• Sehome at Marysville-Pilchuck,7 p.m.

• Meridian vs. Deer Park at Apple Bowl, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 7

• Renton at Blaine, 3 p.m.

• Bellingham vs. Chief Sealth at Memorial Stadium, 2 p.m.

• Lummi at Quilcene, 1 p.m.