1972-73 Meadowdale football
Inducted as: Team
Undefeated, but not a state champion. The 1972-73 Meadowdale High School football team that finished a perfect 10-0 was a victim of poor timing, as it’s season came one year before the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association implemented the state playoffs, and the United Press International and Associated Press voters ranked 9-1 Wenatchee No. 1 in their final polls instead. But the snub didn’t diminish from what was a remarkable season.
The then-Chiefs, coached by Ron Bates, had a senior-laden team that was led by All-Wesco quarterback Mark Hobbs. Meadowdale outscored its opponents by a combined score of 248-66, which remains a school record.
Meadowdale won its first six games with relative ease, then faced its first threat in its seventh game against Mountlake Terrace. Meadowdale trailed 20-14 in the fourth quarter, but behind the running of Hobbs (138 yards) and halfback Mark Raethke (122 yards) Meadowdale rallied to prevail 27-20 and keep its perfect season intact.
In its season finale Meadowdale faced Blanchet with a perfect season on the line. Meadowdale was hampered by the fact Hobbs was suffering from flu-like symptoms. However, the coaches adjusted by handing the ball more frequently to halfback Don Beriault, who scored both touchdowns as Meadowdale won 14-0 to complete the 10-0 season and win its first ever Wesco title.
This is the seventh of nine profiles on the 2020 Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame induction class. This year’s banquet was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the inductees will be officially honored at the 2021 banquet.
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