A fall to remember
Lummi's state-qualifying football and volleyball teams honored at annual banquet.

Devon Roberts, center, listens while coach Jim Sandusky recounts how he had to pay Devon $10 for correctly naming a song playing on the car radio. It was "Hotel California" by The Eagles. Flanking Devon are Ray Jefferson, left, and Joe Phair.

Shortly before Lummi's annual fall sports banquet Wednesday night, athletic director and football coach Jim Sandusky received an e-mail with results of the balloting for the 1B all-state team. Good timing. Sandusky announced the Blackhawk honorees to the 300 or so people filling a ballroom at Silver Reef Casino. Junior David James was named second-team defensive back, as was senior Gale Jefferson; senior Tony Washington joined them on the second-team defense at end. Senior center Nelson Montenegro made the second-team offense, as did senior wide receiver Ray Jefferson. Gale Jefferson was chosen to the first-team offense at wide receiver, and senior quarterback Dustin Tom was named the state's offensive player of the year. The state's 1B coaches chose the all stars.

Kelsey Jefferson is overcome with emotion as she and seniors Sarah Brady, left, and Tiffany Taubenheim present volleyball coach Dan Williams with a gift.

The Blackhawk football team finished its season with a 10-2 record and played in the state playoffs for the fourth straight year, losing to Lake Quinault in the quarterfinals. The volleyball team finished the season with an 11-9 record after going 1-2 at the state tournament in Yakima.

This post will be the final one on "Pride of a Nation" for this season. The blog will remain up and will have periodic updates, as news arises.

A heartfelt thanks goes to the Blackhawks and to their families and fans. It has been a privilege and a joy to follow the boys throughout the season and to spend time with Jim Sandusky and his coaches, the players and members of the Lummi Nation community. Go Blackhawks!

There's always next year
Blackhawks will say goodbye to eight seniors, but stable of talented running backs returns in 2009.

Sophomore Ty Jameson, rolling out against Crescent this season, is expected to compete for the starting quarterback job next year.

Lummi won't honor the 2008 Blackhawks until next week, and the state 1B championship game has yet to be played, but it’s not too early to start thinking about 2009. Lummi finished the just-completed season with a 10-2 record and won the North Division of the Pacific Coast League. It was a successful season by most standards, but the Blackhawks fell short of their ultimate goal of winning the state championship, losing by 4 points in the state quarterfinal to Lake Quinault. Coach Jim Sandusky figured this year’s squad had a great shot at winning the title, or of at least playing in the championship game in the Tacoma Dome. “Shoot, it was not a cakewalk or anything,” he said, “but it was attainable.”

Coach Jim Sandusky checks the fit of Jerred Tom's jersey prior to a preseason scrimmage. Tom will be in the running to replace his older brother, Dustin, as the Blackhawks' quarterback next year.

An outstanding group of seniors will graduate, including Tony Washington, who started the past three years; and Dustin Tom, Ray Jefferson and Gale Jefferson, each of whom was an integral part of the Blackhawks’ high-octane offense the past two years. “Some of these guys played a lot of football the past two years,” Sandusky said. “That’s the toughest thing for me, not seeing them have an opportunity to win a championship.”

Sandusky said he expects to be back next year, though he said “I won’t paint myself into a corner” and refuse to consider other options, should anything come along. For now, though he’s working to return the Blackhawks to the Tacoma Dome. Lummi must find a replacement for Tom, its record-setting quarterback. Sophomore Ty Jameson played some as a third-stringer — Gale Jefferson filled in when Tom missed time with ankle sprains — and he is expected to compete with Jerred Tom, Dustin’s little brother. Lummi has good running backs returning in Jeremy Roberts, Eddie Williams and Michael James.

Sophomore Eddie Williams, here carrying the ball against Lake Quinault, played football for the first time this year and emerged as a talented running back and linebacker.

A replacement also must be found for all-league center Nelson Montenegro and lineman Lonnie James, but guards Alex LaClair and Murphy Julius will return. “We’ve got some key spots we’ve got to fill,” Sandusky said, “but we’ve got spots I feel pretty comfortable with.

“On paper, people would say we won’t be as good, that we’re young,” he added, “but if everyone comes back and is dedicated we’ll be right back where we were this year, playing to go to the Dome.”

Lummi Nation will celebrate its state-qualifying football and volleyball teams at at 6 p.m. Dec. 10 at Silver Reef Casino.