Whatcom County’s Semi-Pro Football Teams Had a 13-Game Losing Streak Before Folding in 1976

The Whatcom County Lakers, also known as the Bellingham Lakers, played in the Northwest International Football League as a midway franchise between Canadian and Seattle-area teams. Home games were often played at Ferndale High School. Known for their fierce rivalry with the Skagit Valley Raiders, the Lakers struggled badly. The Sea-Tac Flyers once held the team to -91 yards of total offense in a shutout. By the time the Lakers folded before the conclusion of the 1976 season, they’d lost 13 games in a row. Their final record in six seasons was 8-37-1.

The Western Washington University Vikings played 797 games over 98 seasons, finishing with a record of 383-380-34 and playing in various conferences through the decades. The Vikings (they first went by that name in 1923) played 797 games over 98 seasons, finishing with a record of 383-380-34 and playing in various conferences through the decades. Western football often played regional high schools in their early years, according to a 1975 Bellingham Herald article. The nearest college of similar size was in Tacoma, and early 1900s transportation made road trips much more difficult than they are today. Scores could be outrageous: in 1916, Western beat Ferndale High School 80-0.

The Bellingham Eagles suffered through a 1-9 season as part of the Pacific Football League’s North Division before rebounding to 5-5 in 1998’s Northwest Football League, which consisted of teams from Washington and Oregon. In 1999, the team suffered an off-field tragedy when linebacker James Francis died in an accident. The Eagles went 8-4 in 2000, making the playoffs for the first time. They went 6-4 in 2001 and played their final game three days before 9/11. Over the years, the team played home games at Civic Stadium, WWU’s practice field, and Marysville Junior High Field. Their overall record was 23-28.

The Northwest Avalanche played Northwest Football League teams in 2004 as an independent, going 2-5. When they formally joined the league in 2005, they struggled. A 1-11 season gave way to 5-4 record in 2006, resulting in the team’s first playoff berth. After a brutal 2-7 2007 season saw the Avalanche blown out 63-0 in their final playoff game, the team was sold and reorganized as the Bellingham Bulldogs. The Bulldogs enjoyed significant success, with the bulk of it coming in 2009 and 2010, when the team competed in the North American Football League.

The Whatcom Vikings are currently the area’s only current semi-pro football team. After two eight-game seasons, the team is still searching for its first win. Playing home games at Bellingham High School from spring to summer, the Vikings are currently recruiting both players and coaches for the 2027 season.