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Historical Teams of the Northwest
Oct. 16, 1926 The Multnomah Club football team was manhandled in Portland 55-0 by the University of Gonzaga marking one of the earliest starts to minor league football in the Northwest. The Seattle Amateur Football League announced it's lineup of teams including 2 Japanese-American clubs.
1930's Ubangi Blackhawks or Black & Tans This was a predominantly black football team in Seattle in the 1930s. Night clubs of the same name existed as well during this period.
1935- USS Pennsylvania The "Jack Tars" won the Battle Fleet Championship in Bremerton 13-8 over the USS Arizona on Dec. 28th in front of 3,500 fans.
1935- West Seattle Yellowjackets West Seattle takes the Jack Taylor Trophy in 24-0 win over Enumclaw in the Northwest League championship.
1935- Italian Club The Italians claim the Seattle Community League championship by tieing the Uptown Athletic Club 7-7 to finish the season 3-0-1 while Uptown finished 1-0-3 in league play.
1937- Renton Rams Rams season debut against the Kitsap Destroyers features a crowd of 2,000 fans including Governor Clarence Martin, Lt. Governor Victor Meyers, UW head coach Jimmy Phelan, and the mayors of Renton and Bremerton.
1937- Kitsap Destoyers Finishing 4-7-2 on the season wasn't as spectacular as the Destoyers playing 4 games in 11 days. Oct. 20, 1937 saw the beginning of coach Tim Timmins' squad go on a 3 game win streak that was stopped on Halloween night by the Enumclaw Silver Barons.
1937- Enumclaw Silver Barons Win the inaugural Silver Bowl Dec 12, 1937 defeating Northwest Leauge champ Renton Rams 12-6.
1937-1940- Renton Rams Rams lineup includes future Seattle sports legend Don Sprinkle at fullback.
1938- Grays Harbor Indians Indians set a new Northwest League record losing all ten league games.
1938- West Seattle Yellowjackets West Seattle takes Northwest League title with 7-6 win over Enumclaw. Kicker Homer Tipton became the hero by kicking the conversion over the crossbar for the 'Jackets.
1939- Seattle Cavaliers Elmo Hudgens founds the Cavaliers.
1939- Bremerton Red Raiders The Red Raiders arose after the Kitsap Destroyers were disbanded following the 1938 season. Playing in the 1939 Olympic league and going undefeated, Bremerton was invited to take part in the 1940 Northwest League Jamboree, then if the competion isn't "too stiff", have the option to remain in the league and play for the championship, or play in the independent circuit.
1940- Boeing Aero Mechanics earn the title "scoreless wonders" by winning 4 games and tieing 4 others...all 0-0. Enumclaw at 5-1 demands a ruling because according to points they lead, however Boeing has no losses even though against the Yellowjackets they ran only 2 plays in the first half punting 7 times on first down!
1940- Bremerton Red Raiders Nov 17, 1940 the Raiders would entertain a team from the USS Arizona. Many of the Arizona "Eleven" would be asleep in their bunks a year later when Pearl Harbor is attacked and the Arizona sunk.
1941- West Seattle Athletic Club Yellowjackets Yellowjackets burn through the Northwest League going 8-0 and smashing the competition with a 183-19 point differential. Next closest opponent finishes 4-3 with a 24-60 point differential.
1941- Arkansas Travelers Better known as the 206th Coastal Artillery Division, wins the Puget Sound Army Football League title. Slated to Play the Moffett Field (CA) Flyers for the Far West Service Championship in Tacoma on Dec 13, 1941...6 days after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.
1941- Green Lake Athletic Club Green Lake wins the 160 Pound Football League by defeating Enumclaw.
1941- Fort Lewis 41st Division Becomes the first gridirion team in history to use walkie-talkies during a game when head coach LT Hackenbruck has one clipped to his belt on the sidelines while assitant coach LT Lorne Tuttle is stationed in the crows nest above the field for a birds-eye view of the action. Fort Lewis would lose the game 10-2 to the Seattle Aero Mechanics.
1944- Portland Rockets Finished 3-6-1 in the APFL Link to Game Program
1944- Seattle Bombers Coached by Earl "Dutch" Clark finishing 5-5-1 in the APFL Picture Link 1 Picture Link 2
Game Program Link
1946- Tacoma Indians Tacoma's first professional football team, played in the Pacific Coast Professional Football League (PCPFL) in 1946. Steve Slivinski, former University of Washington and Washington Redskins player, was the coach and the team's top offensive threats included the dynamic Pacific Lutheran College connection of Marv Harshman and Marv "Tommygun" Tommervik., Other Tacoman's on the Indians included Sig Sigurdson, Earl Platt, and Gene Walters. Photo Link
1946-47 Salt Lake City Seagulls 3-9-2 in the PCPFL and played its final game on Nov 10, 1947 (the season officially ended Jan 29.) Ken Soffee was leading the league in punting with a 55-yd average. Joe Churich was 3rd in Rushing with 350 yards.
1948- Rainier Beach Ramblers Don Sprinkle's Ramblers make their beginning into Northwest Football lore playing in the 175-pound Football League.
1949- Enumclaw Silver Barons The Silver Barons debut in the Northwest 175-Pound Football League after playing as the Enumclaw Athletic Club in 1948.
1950- Queen City Ramblers A one-time naming of the Rainier Beach Ramblers as they faced the Hawaii League Champ Hawaii Alohas in the Queen City Bowl on January 2, 1950. The Ramblers won the game 33-0 to boost their 2-season record to 20-0-2.
1950- Seattle Ramblers Donning Scarlet and White uniforms, the Rainier Beach Ramblers were renamed the Seattle Ramblers. The Northwest 175-Pound Football League disbanded took up an independent schedule.
1950- Butte Buzzies Take on Seattle All-Stars.
1952- Butte Buzzies Take on and lose to Carroll College Saints.
1953- Vancouver Cubs Annis Stukus (the "Loquacious Lithuanian") is recruited by the B.C. Lions of the CFL to build a "farm" team. The Cubs will play other Canadian and US semipro teams while preparing future Lions players. The CFL Coach of the Year ever since 1961 has received the Annis Stukus Trophy.
1953- Seattle Ramblers "Muscle Bowl" is played in Tacoma, a benefit for the South End Boys' Club. The game is played against a touring group of Professional Wrestlers including NFL All-Time All-Star Bronko Nagurski.
1956- Seattle Ramblers Minor league legend Dick Barnes began playing for the Ramblers while working for Boeing.
1957- Seattle Cavaliers Cavs taste defeat on Nov 16 at the hands of the UBC Thunderbirds 40-2. Sign Dick Barnes whose first game as a Cavalier was against the Walla Walla State Prison team. Barnes continued to play until 1988.
1960- Spokane Valley Olympics Take on the Seattle Ramblers and suffer a 41-6 setback.
1961- Portland Pioneers Pioneers make their semipro debut.
1962- Portland Thunderbirds Thunderbirds are spawned out of the Portland Pioneers which played the previous season.
1963- Edmonds Warriors New semipro team is started which featured many former Seattle Ramblers.
1963- Seattle Ramblers Legendary Rambler Don Sprinkle dies and is laid to rest in August. The Ramblers battle on but without it's heart and soul, the Ramblers slip into history leaving a long legacy of football in the Northwest.
1964- Fort Lewis Rangers Army team with former pros Don Kasso (QB) and Alden Kimbrough (End). Kimbrough was a 1957 Rose Bowl star at Oregon. Rangers boast a "huge" defensive line averaging 240-250 lbs per man. Played in the newly formed Pacific Northwest League
1964- British Columbia Millionairs Oct. 24, 1964: Lost to the Fort Lewis Rangers 52-0.
1964- Seattle Ramblers Don Sprinkle's Ramblers go by the wayside of minor league football. The name will be used briefly by a new group, but eventually this team is renamed as well, leaving the true Seattle Ramblers legacy intact. Seattle Ramblers' legacy: 90-46-3 (20-0-2 as the Rainier Beach Ramblers)
1965- Edmonds Warriors Purchased by Lafa Lane and renamed the Seattle Ramblers. Won the Pacific Coast League title in 1966.
1965- Seattle Cavaliers Sept 25, 1965: Played Simon Fraser University in SFU's first-ever football game.
1965-66 Portland Thunderbirds A member of the Pacific Football League, Linfield Hall of Famer Norm Musser played for the T-birds during this period. September 15, 1966 Game against Edmonds is televised on KPTV12 featuring Jimmy Jones calling the plays. Featured a fan favorite band group called the Seagram's Seven whose members never played the same instrument they brought with them. Player Jerry Scott would later be a part owner of the Eastside Express (Bellevue, WA) and the Walla Walla Stars of the Evergreen Football League.
1966- Seattle Ramblers Ramblers are reborn (briefly)after Edmonds is purchased by Lane. After winning the PCL title, Lane renames the team the Seattle Rangers and moves to the Continental Football League.
1967- Victoria Steelers Averaged only 12 points per game finishing 4-8 in their lone season with the Continental Football League. DT Jim Heighton went on to play 11 games with the BC Lions in 1969. LB Red O'Brien was sent to the Steelers by the New York Giants in 1967 after playing on the Giants taxi squad which practiced with the Giants and played in the ACPFL in Scranton, PA.
1967-1969 Seattle Rangers Lane sunk $500,000 into the Rangers and trying to bring an NFL or AFL team to Seattle. Announced the shut down of the Rangers effective Nov. 9, 1969 after unsuccessfully trying to give the team away.
1968- Spokane Shockers The Shockers burst onto the scene in 1968 in the Continental Football League. Featuring a little known slinger from Alabama nicknamed "Snake". He would complete 17 of 44 passes for the Shockers before making himself a household name with the Oakland Raiders...his name: Kenny Stabler. Fans of the NFL would pay the same price for one game to see Stabler perform that fans of the Shockers paid for season tickets. The Shockers would be gone after a 5-7 season in 1969.
1973- Pierce County Bengals Win the Northwest International Football League (NIFL) Title going 11-0 before losing to the NIFL All-Stars 14-7.
1973- Seattle Cavaliers Oct 13: Lose to UBC Thunderbirds 8-0. Following a 15-minute break, the Cavaliers played their second game of the afternoon against Whatcom County and are leading 14-0 as UBC players head for their bus. Former Puget Sound All-American Bob Cason is Cavs QB.
1974- Pierce County Bengals Again the Bengals go undefeated in NIFL play before losing 12-6 to the NIFL All-Stars.
1975- Thurston County Vikings Vikings make their NIFL debut playing at North Thurston High. Roll to 4 straight victories before dropping final 3. Coached by Fran Luhtala, picked up Green Bay Packer and Shelton native Bob Martin following his release as Packer DT.
1975- Pierce County Bengals Bengals win NIFL Title and finish 9-0. Steve Harshman, future co-founder and head coach of the Auburn Panthers selected 1st team All-NIFL guard for first time.
1976- Thurston County Vikings Finish season 5-5 with win over Seattle Titans. Player vote opts to forego playoff game against undefeated Pierce County Bengals. Vikings team folds after the season.
1976- Pierce County Bengals Bengals win 4th NIFL Title to remain unbeaten in two seasons.
1977- Pierce County Bengals 3 consecutive seasons undefeated in NIFL. Take on San Jose Tigers in Pacific Coast Championship squeaking out a 28-27 victory.
1978- Burlington Raiders Raiders finish the NIFL regular season 2-5 but are in the playoffs over the Burien Flyers who finished 7-1. Raiders make a playoff run defeating the Pierce County Bengals, handing Pierce County it's first loss in 4 years.
1979- Pierce County Bengals Bengals roar back in '79 demolishing all competition in the regular season before stopping the Spokane Golden Hawks 12-9 in OT to win the final installment of the NIFL.
1980- Pierce County Bengals Walk through the 4 team PFL with 7-0 record. NIFL split following the 1979 season into two camps. Lose West Coast Championship to Twin City Cougars 28-23. Cougars go on to defeat Delavan (WI) Blue Devils for 1st AFA National Championship.
1980- Van-Port Thunderbirds Coached by Ed Wyatt: "I once coached a semi-pro team named the Van-Port (Vancouver-Portland) Thunderbirds. Of course I remember Jake von Scherrer, a very talented athlete from Pacific University, who, as he mentioned, was lost to us when he injured his knee. Despite the outlaw image some might have of such teams, I remember fondly the men I met and worked with. They were good football players and they loved the game. The football was about as pure as it got, because those guys had no ulterior motives - they wanted to play the game. Maybe they harbored hopes of getting a shot at the NFL - or, for some of them, another shot - but nobody would have played under those conditions unless he had a deep love of the game. And little did I know at the time how well, years later, the special conditions of coaching football in the bushes would prepare me for coaching overseas!"
1980- Okanagan Sun The Okanagan Sun Football Club was founded in 1980 and began play in what was then known as the "Big 4", the forerunner to what is now the British Columbia Football Conference
1980- Seattle Cavaliers Signed player Tony Softli (1980-82) and later as head coach. Currently (2006) Vice President/Player Personnel for the NFL's St. Louis Rams. Former Oregon Duck DT and Washington State Trooper Mike Kessler was signed as well.
1981- Pierce County Bengals 1981 would open without the PC Bengals for the first time in 8 seasons. The Bengals had compiled an impressive 76-4-1 record winning 7 league crowns and 1 regional title over the span before being reorganized out of the area leagues and no teams were willing to play them anymore.
1981- Seattle Cavaliers Cavs win their first NFA title over the Skagit Valley Raiders 14-2.
1982- Washington County Grizzlies Griz defeat regular season unbeaten Oregon City Steelheads 27-14 for NFA title.
1983- Portland Steelheads Steelheads are the last to win a Northwest Football Alliance (NFA) title before the domination of the league by the Auburn Panthers. Portland racing great DJ Jannuzzi signed to play out of high school instead of taking college offer.
1983- Eastside Express Signed player Tony Softli (1983-85)
1984- Auburn Panthers Founded by Phil Pompeo and Steve Harshman, Panthers (1984-87) begin an unprecedented 57-game winning streak. Win Northwest Football Alliance (NFA) title with 13-0 record. NFA MVP: Harry Washington (Minnesota Vikings & Chicago Bears). Former Winnipeg Blue-Bomber and Puget Sound standout Randy Moon played wide receiver for the Panthers. Assistant Coach Craig Puki played on the San Francisco 49ers first Super Bowl team.
1985- Auburn Panthers Set NFA records in 85-6 win over Snohomish Blue Knights on August 23. Win Northwest Football Alliance (NFA) title with 19-3 victory over Salem Stars. Went on to defeat the San Jose Bandits and finish 15-0.
1985- Spokane Fury Play their final game in the NWFL finishing 16-8 in 3 seasons and 2-3 in NWFL playoffs before folding.
1986- Auburn Panthers Win 3rd Consecutive NFA crown with a final record of 15-0 and win Champions Bowl I with a 34-0 victory of Chicago Cowboys. The win gives the American Minor League Football Association (AMLFA) National Title to Auburn. In 3 seasons the Panthers are 43-0. The Cowboys had defeated the Chicago Chargers in the Metro Championship earlier...the Chargers are the recognized AFA National Champions.
1987- Auburn Panthers Win 4th straight NFA crown going undefeated 14-0. Would finally lose the AMLFA National Championship to the San Jose Bandits in Champions Bowl II. The Panthers held a 57-1 record all-time at the end of 1987 season.
1987- Red Deer Sooners Our semipro brothers to the north, the Sooners were located halfway between Calgary and Edmonton played in the '87 Alberta Football League Championship, and again in '89 with an 18-man roster.
1987- Abbotsford Air Force Originated in 1987 by a group of football enthusiasts headed by Dr. Bill MacGregor, became a member of the Canadian Junior Football League. Abbotsford is located just north of Sumas, Washington.
1988- Eugene Blast Debut in the first season of the NWFL. Former D-Lineman Jeff Miller played 4 seasons before moving on to Vermont and now coaches the Vermont Ice Storm under Head Coach Doug Perez, a former US National Rowing Team coach in 1980. Ellis "Rick" Jones was Equipment Manager.
1988- Okanagan Sun Take a 50-0 victory over the Burlington Jr. Tigercats to claim the Armadale Cup. Had previously defeated the Richmond Raiders for the BCJFC title and the Saskaton Hilltops in the Western Canadian Championship.
1988- Pierce County Bengals Bengals mark their return to football as Ed Bemis, Steve Matychowiak, and Ron Baines rekindle the team from the ashes of the Auburn Panthers.
1988- Eastside Express Express defeat the reborn Pierce County Bengals for the 1st ever NWFL Title 14-0.
1989- Portland Thunderbolts Take the NWFL Title. Lose to DuPage (IL) Eagles in Chicago 33-14 in AFA Playoffs. DuPage would lose AFA Title game to Scranton (PA) Eagles featuring Minor League QB legend and record holder John Kennedy.
1990- Tacoma Express With financial problems looming and $24,000 owed to the Tacoma Dome, the Express operations are taken over by the Minor League Football System (MLFS) management until owner Worth Skinner could make good on the bills. The Express missed a scheduled game at Colorado Springs.
1990- Pierce County Bengals Win the NWFL Title.
1990- Federal Way Jets Jets are born and struggle through a losing season in the NWFL. Head Coach and Owner is Ken Austin, Joyce Nolan is the General Manager.
1991- Pierce County Bengals Bengals finish 9-0 to claim NWFL crown.
1992- Marysville Storm Made a brief run with players like the late Native American Michael Lee "The Flea" Joseph and former 3-year starter at Western Washington Tyrone Horton.
1993- Everett Tramps Accepted into the NWFL as a probation team with a 10-game schedule. General Manager: Glenn Benoit announces season opener on July 17 at Shoreline Stadim against the Issaquah Eagles.
1996- Seattle Blue Devils One of the few teams owned and operated by a female, the Devils struggled in their 4-year stint in the NWFL from '96-'99. Seattle would win 8 games in four years before shutting down operations. Former defensive coordinator Jeff Scott would leave following a dispute over the transfer of the team to him, and instead Scott formed the King County Jaguars in 1999.
2000- Calgary Thunder After winning 4 AFL crowns, the Red Deer Sooners relocate to Calgary, adopted the Oakland Raider black and silver and are renamed the Calgary Thunder.
2000- Okanagan Sun Sun defeat the Saskaton Hilltops to win the BCFC Canadian Bowl
2003- Spokane Nightmare Due to serious financial difficulties, Colan Sewell, Chief Operating Officer of the Spokane Nightmare announces the team will forfeit it's game on July 19 to the South Ogden Rhino-Raiders and cease operations.
2003- Apple Valley Bucks Born in eary 2003 in Wenatchee, Jack Cates brought the Bucks to fruition with 2 exhibition games in the late summer of 2003. 2004 saw the Bucks in the NWFL as a true one-year wonder with a 6-8 record in a see-saw season of good play and bad play. After the 2004 season closed with back-to-back forfeits (one for and one against the Bucks), Apple Valley disappeared into history.
2004- Okanagan Sun The Sun lost one of it's brightest stars and CFL prospects when Jeff Halvorson collapsed and died near the end of practice September 1st. Halvorson was posthumously awarded the Wally Buono Award for Canadian Junior Football (minor leagues) as the best player in Canada.
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