FOOTBALL
1985 Season
As a sophomore, Birdsell scored his first varsity touchdown in week six against Ferndale, who was ranked #2 in the state at the time. His touchdown came on a 5-yard run in the second quarter. He also caught his first varsity pass in the game, a nine yarder.
One week later against rival Sehome, on the second play from scrimmage, everyone in attendance at Civic Stadium got a great view of Birdsell’s big-play ability. He took the handoff, ran into the left side of the line and appeared to be stopped by several Mariners before squirting loose and down the left sideline for a 68-yard touchdown. The Red Raiders ended up winning the game 15-14.
It was obvious at that point that he would get more chances on offense, and in the following week against Sedro-Woolley he ran the ball seven times for 57 yards, while also catching two passes.
In the finale against Mount Vernon he had 10 carries for 37 yards, and again had a pair of pass receptions.
He averaged seven yards per carry for the year, and Bellingham finished 4-5, and it was the 14th and final year for Vel West as the head football coach.
1985 OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
1986 Season
In his junior season, Bellingham got off to a slow start, dropping its first four games.
His big highlight of the season came in week four when his 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Arlington was the only Red Raider score in a 34-8 loss.
The big play may have sparked the team, as Bellingham followed that game by winning the next four games in a row.
In the final contest of the season, the Red Raiders lost 21-8 to Mount Vernon, despite 56 yards from scrimmage by Birdsell.
Bellingham again finished the season with a 4-5 record, this time under new head coach, John Craig.
1986 OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
1987 Season
After a pair of 4-5 seasons, Bellingham was ready erupt in 1987, and with so much returning talent, it had the chance to do just that.
In the opener at Oak Harbor, the Red Raiders got a rude awakening from the Wildcats who beat them 10-3, but the following week in a Northwest League contest at Ferndale, the Red Raiders began one of the biggest winning streaks in school history.
In that game, Joe Duffey’s 27-yard field goal gave Bellingham a 17-14 lead with 5:42 left in the game. The ensuing kickoff was returned 67 yards by Ferndale’s Shawn Van De Mark, all the way to the Red Raider 28-yard line. However, three plays later, Birdsell intercepted a pass with 2:55 left in the game to secure the win.
Bellingham then handedly defeated Burlington-Edison (25-0) and Arlington (30-9), and heading into the following week’s game against Mount Vernon, the Red Raiders were uncertain of the status of it’s All-State fullback, Jeff Smits. A deep thigh bruise kept the 6-foot-3 215-pounder out of practice all week, so the coaches looked to Birdsell.
Terry responded with a career-high 104 yards rushing to go along with a 19-yard reception, and the first touchdown of the game from 17 yards out.
The following week was the big rivalry game with Sehome, and Birdsell responded with a 30-yard touchdown reception right before halftime.
At home against Stanwood, Bellingham needed a little extra time to pick up the win. In overtime, with the score tied at 14-14, it was Birdsell’s 10-yard first down run to the six yard line which set up the game-winning touchdown two plays later. He finished the game with 49 yards rushing on just four carries, while also catching a 17-yard pass.
Birdsell set the tone quickly in week eight at Anacortes when he took the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. It was his second kickoff return for a touchdown in as many seasons. He also totaled 101 yards from scrimmage, and scored on a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The 41-0 victory gave the Red Raiders the NWL championship and a trip to the state tournament for the first time in five seasons.
In the final regular season game at home against Sedro-Woolley, the Bellingham players were pretty confident, but perhaps none of them were as confident as Birdsell. As soon as the final tick went off the clock, the scoreboard showed that the Red Raiders had won 31-14, and Birdsell had unveiled a T-shirt that read: 1987 NWL Champs, Unbeaten, Untied. He finished the game with 45 yards from scrimmage.
In the state-playoff opener against Shelton, nerves may have gotten to the Red Raiders early on who led just 7-0 at halftime. But the balanced offensive attack got going in the second half, and Birdsell was a huge part of it, as he showed what he also did during the regular season as a dual threat out of the backfield, running for 33 yards, and catching four passes for 28 more. Bellingham was able to move on after a 17-7 win.
Bellingham then traveled to Seattle to take on O’Dea in the second round of the playoffs, and the Red Raiders proved to any doubters that may have been left that they were for real. A 33-0 drubbing of the Irish catapulted Bellingham into the semifinals.
It was a different story in the final four against Tumwater the night after Thanksgiving. The Thunderbirds had a huge play in the third quarter, a 63-yard touchdown pass, and that proved to be the difference in the 8-2 win. Tumwater went to win the state championship, and the game against Bellingham was the closest margin it had during the entire postseason.
It was the best finish in school history, third in state, and even though the Red Raiders had some purely dominant teams before the state tournament game into play in 1973, most would argue that the 1987 squad was the best in school history. Bellingham has only made it to state once (2007) since that magical season, and hasn’t won a league title since 1987.
Birdsell finished second on the team in rushing, and had the most catches by a running back (19) in the entire county. He was named All-League Honorable Mention at running back.
1987 OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
Football Career
It was a tremendous football career, a three-year varsity player that was a huge part of the turnaround in the Bellingham program. Lightning speed allowed for gigantic plays throughout his career. Over the last 50 years, he is the only player in school history to have two kickoff returns for touchdowns. His abilities landed him at the next level playing football for the University of Puget Sound.
CAREER OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
BASKETBALL
1986-87 Season
In his junior year, Bellingham lost its opener 61-59 to Shorewood, but then rattled off six wins in a row, including a 91-48 victory over Anacortes which saw Birdsell score a season-high 10 points.
Two games later against Arlington, the Red Raiders changed their defense up at half time, and Birdsell was tasked to guard the best offensive threat for the Eagles, Don Coghill, who scored 14 points in the second quarter alone. Coghill went scoreless for the rest of the contest.
Bellingham went on to have a terrific season, and they reached the district tournament. After an opening win over Meadowdale, the Red Raiders suffered three close losses to finish their season.
Bellingham finished 16-8, and Birdsell averaged 2.4 points per game. His quickness on defense was his calling card.
1986-87 SEASON STATISTICS
1987-88 Season
After joining the team a little late because of the success with the football team, his first big moment of the season came in the 75-73 win over Stanwood. His layup with 11 seconds left tied the game.
As a reserve, and one of the the shortest players on the team for the second year in a row, Birdsell relied on his quickness and his relentless defensive pressure.
Bellingham continued its winning ways, and went 13-3 down the stretch and into the district playoffs.
The Red Raiders went 2-1 in districts, and continued onto the state tournament where they opened up with a 78-66 loss to Chief Sealth. But, Bellingham fought back with wins over North Kitsap, Olympia and Sunnyside to finish 5th in state. In the state playoffs, Birdsell tripled his season scoring average, and put in a career-high 11 points against Olympia.
Bellingham finished with a 20-7 record.
1987-88 SEASON STATISTICS
Basketball Career
He finished his basketball career as a winner, and a great state tournament. His conditioning allowed him to have great performances on back-to-back days, even against the best that the state of Washington had to offer. His defense allowed the Red Raiders to turn around and flourish offensively.
CAREER STATISTICS
TRACK AND FIELD
Birdsell’s track and field career is an interesting one, as he mostly used it to just stay in shape, knowing that football was going to be there after high school. One of the best sprinters on the team, his abilities were mostly used on relay teams.
