WashingtonPreps.com - Nooksack Valley Wants More in 2009

October 21, 2009

WashingtonPreps.com Fan Correspondent

Nooksack Valley Looking for More in 2009
The Nooksack Valley Pioneers finished 9-2 in 2008, one of the best seasons in school history, but it ended with a lopsided loss in quarterfinals to a talented Montesano Bulldogs team. While many were satisfied with the huge turnaround from 2007, where the Pioneers finished 2-8, there was a core group of players who were not.

They vowed to return in 2009 stronger, more disciplined, and leverage their experience in seeking their first football "Gold Ball". Led by a strong group of returning starters, including seniors Jon Charroin, Jessie Salmonson, Josh Larson, Levi Stuit, Devin Dykes and Anthony Reese, the Pioneers campaign began immediately after that November loss. Countless hours were spent in the early morning; lifting weights, running stairs, catching passes and working on speed & agility.

Fast forward to today, which finds the Pioneers ranked in both the WashingtonPreps and AP 1A polls and at the top of the Northwest Conference 1A teams (4-0, 6-1 overall). Nooksack Valley, fresh off their 52-0 shutout of Friday Harbor, is in their second year of using the Spread offense. Head coach Robb Myhre has opened the playbook, leading to a greater number of players getting involved and more points being scored. This complements the stout Pioneer defense that's holding opponents to 12 points per game, second in the NWC only to 2A power Lynden.

Head Defensive Coach, Britt Lentz, has the advantage of moving an experienced group of players around in different spots, based on the opponent. Senior Jon Charroin, a 1st team all-state DE in 2008, returns from a 105 tackles, 16.5 sacks junior year, but now splits time between linebacker and defensive end. Charroin goes 6'1" 205lbs, and is currently getting looks from Eastern Washington University (EWU), Central Washington University (CWU) and a number of other programs. He combines quick foot speed & strength to beat defensive linemen, while chasing down quarterbacks & running backs to the tune of 10 tackles/game, including 10 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 QB sacks.

Not only a defensive threat, he added a 75-yard kickoff return touchdown against Meridian to his burgeoning football resume. In the Friday Harbor game this past weekend he blocked a punt and recovered it at the 1-yard line, leading to the Pioneers first score.

Offenses who decide to test the "other side" face another very fast defensive end in Jessie Salmonson (6'3", 220lbs) who has 9.0 tackles for loss, including 4.0 sacks. Salmonson, a member of Nooksack's 4x100 relay team, is also getting looks from a variety of colleges, including EWU, CWU and others. Stuit & Larson, both experienced wrestlers and returning starters have aggressive, hard-hitting styles to anchor the linebacker corps, where they are the team's second and third leading tacklers.
A pleasant surprise this season for the Pioneers has been the secondary, which has 11 interceptions, returning five of them for TDs.

Anthony Reese, a standout basketball player and state track hurdler, has three of those interception TDs and is joined by returning playmakers in cornerback Tyler Perry (3 INT) and safety Caleb Cragle (2 INT, 1 for TD), both juniors. Additionally, the special teams' production is up from a year ago with five kickoff/punt return TDs through the first seven games.

The Pioneer offense is spearheaded by Perry, who has rushed 82 times for 596 yards and 10TDs, while completing 73 of 124 passes for 899 yards and 5TDs. Senior Nick deGrasse paces the running backs with 418 yards rushing and 6TDs. The Pioneers have outscored their opponents, including previously ranked 1A Meridian, Mount Baker (tied for 2nd in tough 2A NWC ranks) and 3A Sedro-Wooley, by a margin of 259 to 89.
The Pioneers finish their regular season with conference games against Lynden Christian and Meridian before starting the playoff journey in a few weeks.
Congratulations to the Nooksack Valley Pioneers on their success this year and best of luck the rest of the 2009 season.

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