These are the standout players from Whatcom County high school football in 2022
The football league in which Ferndale plays does not designate awards such as player of the year, but Landen Hatchett earned an even better honor: Under Armour All-American.
As such, the 305-pound lineman, who earned both first-team offensive and defensive all-league honors in the Wesco 3A North for the second consecutive year, will make his television debut on ESPN in the 15th annual Under Armour Bowl for 100 of the nation’s best seniors Jan. 3 in Orlando, Fla.
But wait, there’s more bowl news: Hatchett also will play in the Army Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 17, in Ford Center at The Star, a stadium in Frisco, Texas, near Plano and Arlington.
That will give the Hatchett family quite possibly a local family bowl record for one winter, since former Ferndale star Geirean Hatchett will play for the University of Washington against Texas in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio Dec. 29.
“I’m excited that Geirean and I will have three seasons together,” said Landen, who will officially join the Huskies on Dec. 21, the national early signing day. Feb. 1 will be the regular signing day.
He was honored Dec. 9 recently during a winter pep assembly at Ferndale.
That was five days after Hatchett’s teammate for whom he blocked seemingly countless times in four years together, running back Isaiah Carlson, committed to UCLA during his official recruiting visit.
“No way I was leaving Westwood without committing,” tweeted Carlson, the school career record holder for touchdowns with 57.
That gives Whatcom County at least three Pacific-12 scholarship winners in the same season. Lynden Christian running back/defensive end Kade Eldridge committed to the University of Southern California several weeks ago.
Hatchett readily acknowledged his good fortune.
“I’ve been watching the Under Armour Bowl since I was in middle school,” the much-honored center/defensive tackle said. “That’s why this almost seems surreal … There have been four NFL first-round draft choices who have played in this game.”
The only other Washington State player chosen for the game is Kennedy Catholic lineman Micah Banuelos.
Hatchett, who has a 3.85 grade-point average, will conclude his studies at Ferndale Jan. 30. He will graduate early in order to join the Huskies in time for spring training and to get an early feeling for college life.
“I’ll definitely miss baseball,” said Hatchett, an All-Northwest Conference catcher last season and first baseman as a sophomore.”
College players
Although most local prospects won’t sign until Feb. 1, coaches list at least 14 local seniors — among the highest season totals ever — who plan to join college football programs.
Coach Blake VanDalen of two-time defending state 2A champion Lynden said five Lions are looking for their best options: kicker/wide receiver/defensive back Troy Petz, running back/linebacker Lane Heeringa, wide receiver/defensive back Isaiah Stanley and linemen Jesus Ortiz and Dane Gatterman.
In addition to Hatchett and Carlson, their four-year Ferndale offensive and defensive line teammate Jake Mason, the county career sack record holder with 33, has talked with several Division I colleges.
Sehome linebacker/receiver Max Malo will join his brother Tim at Brown University in the Ivy League. Teammates Tommy Funk, a running back/linebacker, and lineman Habib Bello are also looking at opportunities, as is Squalicum safety/receiver Nick Watt.
Mount Baker lineman Ethan Larson plans to play at Montana Western.
Eldridge may not be the only LC senior who’ll play football. Wide receiver/defensive back Tyler Sipma likely will have options in both football and basketball.
Coaches honored
Ferndale’s Jamie Plenkovich was voted Coach of the Year in the Wesco 3A North and Mount Baker’s Ron Lepper was elected Coach of the Year in the NWC 1A.
Plenkovich’s Golden Eagles (9-3) won the overall Wesco North and South playoff title and made it to the state 3A quarterfinals, where Ferndale lost to eventual state runner-up Eastside Catholic. Lepper’s Mountaineers beat Nooksack Valley 14-13 in the state 1A semifinals for his 200th victory in 27 seasons before the Mounties fell in the title game to defending champion Royal.
Justin Portz of NWC 2A runner-up Anacortes also earned Coach of the Year honors.
Assistant Coach of the Year recognition went to Scott Noteboom of Lynden in NWC 2A and to T.J. Ackerman of Nooksack Valley in NWC 1A.
More honors
Northwest Washington leagues allow the coaches to honor the same football player on both offense and defense.
Ferndale’s Hatchett, Carlson and Mason were honored both ways, as were Lynden’s Heeringa and Anacortes running back/linebacker Brock Beaner. Heeringa was defensive MVP and Beaner was offensive MVP.
In the five-team NWC 1A, Offensive Player of the Year was Mount Baker running back/linebacker Marcquis George and the Defensive Player of the Year was Eldridge.
Eight players were voted first team both ways: Mount Baker’s Ethan Larson and Alex Maloley, Nooksack Valley’s Colton Lentz, John Stremler and Duke Halaapiapi; Lynden Christian’s Eldridge and Sipma; and Meridian’s Hunter Jones.
All-league players
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE 1A
(Five schools)
Offensive Player of the Year: Marcquis George, Mount Baker, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year: Kade Eldridge, Lynden Christian, Sr.
Offense
Quarterback: Joey Brown, Nooksack Valley, Jr.
Running backs: George; Colton Lentz, Nooksack Valley, Soph.; Kade Eldridge, Lynden Christian, Sr.; Wilhem Maloley, Mount Baker, Sr.
Wide receivers: Tyler Sipma, Lynden Christian, Sr.; Hunter Jones, Meridian, Sr.; Jackson Bennett, Nooksack Valley, Jr.
Tight end: Amrit Nagra, Meridian, Sr.
Offensive linemen: Ethan Larson, Mount Baker, Sr.; Brady Ackerman, Nooksack Valley, Soph.; Duke Halaapiapi, Nooksack Valley, Jr.; Jesse Harward, Mount Baker, Jr.; Alex Maloley, Mount Baker, Jr.; John Stremler, Nooksack Valley, Jr.; Tommy Meyer, Lynden Christian, Sr.
Kicker: Matthew Hayes, Blaine, Jr.
Defense
Defensive linemen: John Stremler, Nooksack Valley, Jr.; Ethan Larson, Mount Baker, Sr.; Duke Halaapiapi, Nooksack Valley, Alex Maloley, Mount Baker, Jr. Carter Seigman, Lynden Christian, Jr.
Linebackers: Brady West, Mount Baker, Sr.; Colton Lentz, Nooksack Valley, Soph.; Josh Elmer, Meridian, Jr.; Kayden Stuitt, Lynden Christian, Jr.
Defensive backs: Landon Smith, Mount Baker, Sr.; Tyler Sipma Lynden Christian, Sr.; Lane Dykstra, Lynden Christian, Sr.; Hunter Jones, Meridian, Sr.
Punter: Kade Eldridge, Lynden Christian, Sr.
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE 2A
(Nine schools)
Offensive MVP: Brock Beaner, Anacortes, Soph.
Defensive MVP: Lane Heeringa, Lynden, Sr.
First team offense
Running backs: Brock Beaner; Anacortes, Soph.; Lane Heeringa, Lynden, Sr.; Tommy Funk, Sehome, Sr.
Quarterback: Rex Larson, Anacortes, Jr.
Wide receivers: Isaiah Stanley, Lynden, Sr.; Hamza Abdalle-McDermott, Burlington, Soph.; Hayden John, Anacortes, Sr.
Tight end: Isaiah Oudman, Lynden, Soph.
Offensive linemen:- Dane Gatterman, Lynden, Sr.; Garrett Bickley, Anacortes, Sr.; Jesus Ortiz, Lynden, Sr.; Reece Thompson, Burlington, Sr.; Aiden Johnson, Sedro-Woolley, Sr.; Issiah Smith, Archbishop Murphy, Sr.
Kicker: Troy Petz, Lynden, Sr.
First team defense
Defensive linemen: Luke Winterberg, Lynden, Sr.; Julian Rodriguez-Padilla, Sedro-Woolley, Jr.; Averie Sykes, Anacortes, Sr.; Reece Thompson, Burlington, Sr.
Linebackers: Lane Heeringa, Lynden, Sr.; Max Malo, Sehome, Sr.; Brock Beaner, Anacortes, Soph.; Adriaan Castro, Anacortes, Sr.; Owen Scheib, Sedro-Woolley, Sr.
Defensive backs: Collin Anker, Lynden, Sr.; Hayden John, Anacortes, Sr.; Kobe Baar, Lynden, Sr.; Nick Watt, Squalicum, Sr.
Punter: Matthew Faulk, Archbishop Murphy, Sr.
Second team offense
Running backs: Chance Supler, Sedro-Woolley, Sr.; Marcus Nixon, Squalicum, Soph.
Quarterback: Carsten Reynolds, Sedro-Woolley, Jr.
Wide receivers: Brady Beaner, Anacortes, Soph.; Jayden Lee, Sedro-Woolley, Sr.; Jacob Sorenson, Squalicum, Sr.
Offensive linemen: Evan Jabbora, Squalicum, Sr.; Antonio Vasquez, Sedro-Woolley, Sr. Lucas Ortega, Sehome, Jr.; Kyle Leseman, Anacortes, Jr.; Tyler Walker, Burlington, Soph.
Kickers: Matthew Faulk Archbishop Murphy, Sr.; Kai Sonnon, Squalicum, Sr.
Second team defense
Defensive linemen: Garrett Bickley, Anacortes, Sr.; Habib Bello, Sehome, Sr.; Ethan Ralston, Lakewood, Jr.; Issiah Smith, Archbishop Murphy, Sr.
Linebackers: Campbell Nolte, Lynden, Sr.; Tyler Frost, Bellingham, Soph.; Kai Swanson, Sehome, Sr.; Tommy Funk, Sehome, Sr.
Defensive backs: Brady Beaner, Anacortes, Soph.; Carsten Reynolds, Sedro-Woolley, Jr.; Jack O’Hara, Lakewood, Sr.; Jayden Lee, Sedro-Woolley, Sr.
Punter: Troy Petz, Lynden.
WESCO NORTH 3A
(Ferndale players)
First team offense
Running back: Isaiah Carlson, Sr.
Tight end: Jordan Mason, Sr.
Offensive linemen: Landen Hatchett, Sr.; Jake Mason, Sr.; Camden Raymond, Jr.
First team defense
Defensive linemen:- Jake Mason, Sr.; Landen Hatchett, Sr.
Linebacker: Isaiah Carlson, Sr.
Defensive backs: Conner Walcker, Jr.; Damien Toney, Sr.
Second team offense
Running back: Zach Nielsen, Soph.
Second team defense
Defensive lineman: Camden Raymond, Jr.
