Snohomish County Vikings seek return to 1999 glory days

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, June 7, 2001

By Aaron Coe

Herald Writer

For players on the Snohomish County Vikings football team, it isn’t about the money.

At least not money for them. There are no shoe deals and certainly no $252 million contracts.

If you’re a Viking, you play for the love of the game and for a chance to give a little back to the community. And for the dream of someday playing college or professional football.

The semi-pro team, which opens the regular season at 6:30 p.m. Saturday with a home game at Edmonds Stadium, doesn’t pay its players. The Vikings are a member of the Northwest Football League, a non-profit entity with teams in Washington and Oregon.

The Vikings have donated most of the money from ticket sales to Northwest Harvest and other charitable organizations since the team’s inception nine years ago. The team reports that more than $20,000 has been donated in the past three years.

“We wanted to make a difference in our community,” said Vikings head coach Wes Fischer, who has coached the team from its inception. “We believe in helping people.”

The team finished 4-6 last year, but hopes to return to a season like 1999, when Snohomish County ended the season ranked as the nation’s 12th-best semi-pro football team and Fischer was named coach of the year.

As is often the case, there will be many new faces on this year’s team, which includes several players with local ties.

Offensive tackle Adam Aney, a 2000 Northwest League first team selection who prepped in Monroe, is back to anchor the offensive line. Also on the offensive line will be Cascade graduate Burley Lockhart, who stands 6 feet, 4 inches and weighs 300 pounds.

Former Monroe players Mike Alcorn and Kale Alexander are both linebackers along with Tom Fischer, a Sultan graduate who is Wes Fischer’s son. Snohomish product Jeff Berry will play defensive end.

With the return of all-league running back Mike Harris, who led the NWFL with 994 yards last season, the Vikings should again see success on the ground.

The head coach is busy trying to get the passing game going. The team will run the West Coast offense, which features a short passing game. Fischer said new quarterback Steve Fisher and a pair of former Edmonds School District receivers will have to develop quickly for the team to succeed.

Meadowdale product Andy Shreve scored the only touchdown in last week’s 9-6 preseason victory over the West Sound Orcas of Bremerton. Edmonds-Woodway graduate Phil Nugent also will need to make an impact along with Hakeem McAllister, who played for the University of Montana.

“Our receivers are going to have to step up,” said Fischer, a 1964 Snohomish graduate who played for legendary coach Dick Armstrong. “We’re not quite as far along as we’d like to be.”

Offensive coordinator Phil Pompeo returns to the team after a one-year hiatus, which Fischer says will help the offense.

One thing is for certain: The Vikings will make an impact in the community.

For more information on the Northwest League and the Vikings, visit the league’s Web site at www.nwfootball.net.