RMFL MISSION STATEMENT The Rocky Mountain Football League (RMFL) is established to provided competitive, entertaining, recreational tackle football play for adult (18 and over) players at all levels of playing skills in the Rocky Mountain Region of the United States of America. The RMFL was developed with the philosophy that sportsmanship, team-building and simple opportunity to play football for average to star players are its underlying principles and objectives and all other league goals shall be subservient. The RMFL will continue to govern itself through a Managing Board, consisting of equal team representation, managed by a commissioner, hired by the RMFL Managing Board, and shall continue to support the principles of enfranchisement within any team from the Rocky Mountain area that chooses to participate in the RMFL and agrees to be subject to its govern ship and rules. Further, the RMFL and its representative teams shall work to be a positive force in their respective communities providing free or low-cost entertainment in the form of a community team that area residents can support and take pride in. RMFL HISTORY The Rocky Mountain Football League (RMFL) was established in the Spring of 1997 - originally based in Pocatello, Idaho - by it's first "commissioner", Matt Culbertson. Culbertson, who through his 3-year tenure as commissioner actually disdained the title of "commissioner" and merely saw himself as a facilitor of adult football in the Southeast Idaho area. His vision saw the possibilities of league expansion into other realms of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada or Utah, however, the focus of the original Rocky Mountain Football league was not necessarily to "expand", make money or even grow in reputation, it was simply to provide an opportunity for local area football players to continue their careers, or in some situations, begin careers in the greater Rocky Mountain area. It was established as a Fall football league so that players could be playing football.... during "Football Season". In the interim, however, the Rocky Mountain Football League has grown and has gained in reputation and has began to settle in as a Spring Football League. Culbertson, who moved to Pocatello in 1996 from Minnesota played in what is now called the "Great Plains Football League" (GPFL). He gave the league its name and contacted local media sources (primarily newspapers) and produced and put up fliers around Pocatello, Idaho Falls and Blackfoot, Idaho, advertising for interested football players who might wish to play in a "semi-pro" football league in the area. Initial responses were outstanding and he spent countless hours on the phone with football players talking up the new league. Finally, an initial "organizational" meeting was held. After enough players and leaders came forward, it initially appeared as if there would be 6 teams playing (4 from Pocatello/American Falls, 1 from Blackfoot and 1 from Idaho Falls), it eventually settled on 4 organized teams: Rocky Mountain Bulls (headed by Culbertson), Idaho Falls Mustangs (headed by Jared Neumeier), Pocatello-Blackfoot Dragons (headed by Brett Smith, Scott Bell and Rob Aubrey), and Pocatello Fighting Kangaroos (headed by David Lint). In 1997, the Rocky Mountain Bulls rode a dominating defense to the RMFL title winning the title game against the Mustangs 16 - 0. The Bulls, Mustangs and Dragons played some highly competitive and close matches through a brief 6-game regular season, while the Kangaroos struggled with personnel in going winless. That first year goal was met, however... to just play football.... Even today, many RMFL old-timers will say that 1997 was the league's greatest season... because that is the year it all began. 1998 saw the emergence of a new great franchise, the Mini-Cassia Bulldawgs. Prior to the season beginning, it appeared as if there would be two teams from the Burley/Rupert/Twin Falls area, but as the season rounded out, the Bulldawgs emerged as the one united team from south central Idaho. The "Kangaroos" changed their name to "Bandits" and added a few players from a failed new Idaho Falls Team, "Idaho Timberwolves". So the RMFL, which looked like it might begin 1998 with 8 teams, dropped to 5 by season start. Two incredible changes marked the 1998 season. The rise of the Idaho Falls Mustangs and the fall of the Rocky Mountain Bulls. The Mustangs recovered (from a pre-season loss to the Bozeman Kodiaks 14 - 12 which saw the Mustangs amass a record 459 total yards of offense, and a 51 - 6 blowout to a Utah Football League "conglomerate" team) to "run the table" in the 1998 season, going 8 - 0 in the regular season and finally beating the re-named Portneuf Valley Dragons 32 - 0 in the championship game. The 1997 undefeated Bulls, meanwhile struggled early, culminating in the teams worse loss in history, to the until then winless, Pocatello Bandits (Kangaroos). In 1999, the "Bandits" disbanded and became the first original RMFL team to "fold", however 4 new teams were added to the fastly growing league. The highly organized, well-run Great Falls Rangers, the Twin Falls Wildcats and two new "powerhouse" teams, the Snake River Rebels and the Treasure Valley (Boise, Idaho) Cowboys. It would become "the year of the Rebels", as they opened a pre-season game by dropping the 1998 runner-up, (re-named) Blackfoot Dragons 44 - 0 and then going on to roll the once powerful Idaho Falls Mustangs 44 - 12 in the second regular season game of the year. As the Rebels dominated the East Division, the Cowboys did the West and it became only fitting that the teams met in the RMFL Championship game, a hard fought game, won by the Rebels 36 - 28. Year 2000 was marked by significant expansion in the RMFL. The league added the Bozeman Kodiaks, Billings Warriors, Boise Cardinals and Wasatch Wildcats. The Blackfoot Dragons merged with the Rocky Mountain Bulls forming the Rocky Mountain Cobras while the league lost defending champion Snake River to independancy and the allure of a spring schedule. After a bumpy beginning starting with a misunderstanding between the Boise Cardinals and Wasatch Wildcats resulting in rescheduling their game for July 4th weekend, the league had another great season. Emerging as the indominable powerhouse, the Wasatch Wildcats ran the table undefeated through the season. The only minor speed bump for the Wildcats was RMFL's most consistent franchise, the Idaho Falls Mustangs. The Mustangs lead 6-0 through three quarters in the first Wildcat/Mustang game before falling 14-6 and enjoyed a 28-21 lead in the second game with 5 minutes left before falling off at the end. But, in the final meeting, the RMFL championship, the Wildcats made a statement, jumping up fast and furious and cruising to a 68-7 victory over the 1998 champions.
Year 2001 started long before the season began with a hot political battlefield of league affiliations. The Montana teams (Bozeman and Great Falls) decided to test waters in the NAFL. Idaho Falls was convinced to prove themselves in the neigboring UFL and Treasure Valley and Billings folded up shop. What emerged, however, from a depleted RMFL field in 2001 was a new powerhouse football team, the Pocatello Silverbacks. As Pocatello was the original charter city of the league, it became appropriate that new life was breathed into the Rocky Mountain's premier league by a new team from Pocatello. After the league's original champion, Rocky Mountain Bulls folded after the 1999 season and merged with the Fort Hall Cobras, there was a year of no football in Pocatello. The Silverbacks restored football to the "Gate City" and became part of an Idaho surge that vaulted Idaho teams into 4 of the top twenty ranked positions in AA Semi-pro football. After coming behind from a 17-6 deficit in the second quarter of the RMFL championship game to the Boise Roughriders, the Silverbacks came back and decisively captured the championship 48-20. Pocatello finished the season ranked 10th in the nation in AA football. They joined previous RMFL champions, Idaho Falls and Snake River as well as RMFL runner-up Boise in the top 20 AA teams in the country.
2002 witnessed substantial regrowth in the RMFL. Ex-champions, Idaho Falls and Snake River returned to the league and a new powerhouse, the Madison Lionz from Rexburg, Idaho also emerged. Montana returned to the RMFL in the Helena Titans and the stage was set. 2002 was the "year of parity" as, for the first time in league history, no team went undefeated during the regular season. The evental champion, the Idaho Falls Mustangs actually lost two regular season games, going 6-2 before dropping Madison in the first round of the playoffs in a hotly contested game and then playing Pocatello to the final seconds in the "greatest RMFL championship" in the league's history, finally prevailing 28-21 withstanding a last minute drive inside their own 10-yard line by the Silverbacks before denying the Silverbacks a back-to-back championship, while at the same time becoming the first team in RMFL history to win 2 championships. The stage is set for 2003, with all of the Rocky Mountain Powerhouses regrouping and retooling for another great spring in the Rockies...
2003. Parity, parity, parity was the theme of 2003. Although the Madison Lionz "ran the table" in the regular season, going 8-0 into the playoffs, several of their games were closely contested and after losing MVP Quarterback, Troy Dougherty for the season in their seventh game, looked very beatable going into the playoffs. The Mini-Cassia Bulldawgs, the most improved team of the year, won their first divisional title ever, vindicating previous frustration by beating never-defeated before rivals, Pocatello and Boise (twice). Fifth seed, and defending champion, Idaho Falls Mustangs did what had never been done before. The Mustangs, after finishing the season with 5 wins and 3 losses, vindicated each of their three losses in the playoffs... all on the road. Starting with the team they beat in the 2002 Championship game, the Pocatello Silverbacks, then systematically dismantling the Madison Lionz 46-6 and finishing with the coup d'etat, defeating the Snake River Rebels for the first time in Mustang history in the championship game 20-8 to win their unprecendented 3rd RMFL title and, also never achieved, second consecutive. After the season, after 5 years of sporatic glory, the Snake River Rebels, the RMFL's 1999 champions and 2002 suspendees, sadly dispanded. Hope springs eternal, however, as post-season talks turned towards a potential "merger" with the Utah Football League and an influx of competition, rivalries and drama for 2004...
2004. The off-season before the 2004 season brought about a successful merger of the Utah Football League (UFL) with the RMFL. 5 UFL teams came into the RMFL: Davis Vipers, Utah Blitz, Salt Lake Nemesis, Layton Longhorns and 4-time reigning champion, South Ogden Rhino-Raiders. Also 4 new expansion teams joined the league: Utah Woverines, Layton Pitbulls, Mountain Home Bengals and Glacier Knights. With a spike in the growth of the league in 2004, the long-established parity of the previous seasons took a hit. New teams, Mountain Home and Glacier struggled and a stacked-with-ex-college-talent, South Ogden team continued to dominate. Consistent RMFL great organization, Pocatello struggled some and even missed the playoffs. Ultimately, an undefeated South Ogden Rhino-Raiders met the two-time reigning champion (and 3-time RMFL championship winner) Idaho Falls Mustangs in the RMFL title game. Earlier in the season, the Mustangs hung with the Rhino-Raiders for the better part of 3 quarters, with a 0-0 tie until the Rhino-Raiders exploded late in the 3rd quarter and pulled away for a 28-0 victory. There was a little less drama in the championship game, however. After a scoreless first quarter, the Rhino-Raiders put up four 2nd quarter touchdowns to lead 27-0 at half and cruise in for a 46-20 victory and their first RMFL championship. As the 2004 season closed, the merger was deemed successful. However, as the league experienced an increased division between the competetive "have's" and "have not's", hope springs eternal that this gap will close dramatically in 2005. 2005's champion could be any of an array of team's lining up to compete for the big silver pigskin, the RMFL Championship Trophy.
2005. An unprecedented 8 new teams were added to the RMFL in 2005. A return of the 2000 champion, Wasatch Wildcats, as well as the Missoula Raptors, Idaho Matadors, Snake River Sabercats, Brigham City Devil Dogs, Morgan Marauders, Kamas Valley Muddogs and the Colorado Scorpions. With an ever growing field, the question of continued dominance by the Ogden areas aging Rhino-Raiders became a bigger question mark than ever before. With area rival, Wasatch on the Rhino-Raider schedule as well as championship game runner-up, Idaho Falls, the Rhinos would have their toughest road to the RMFL championship ever... and did. The Rhinos remained undefeated through the regular season, including close wins over lower echelon teams like the Vipers and Kamas Valley Muddogs and a hard fought regular season win over the Wasatch Wildcats. The Rhinos had to face the Wildcats again in the playoffs before facing their biggest Rocky Mountain test ever, the Madison Lionz in the RMFL Championship game. The Lionz were more than a match, amassing more total yards and controlling much of the championship game. The Lionz even seemed on their way to victory when a long touchdown run by Nate Rydalch was muffed near the goal line and the Rhinos recovered the ball...and the game; holding on for a 24-19 victory. Running back, Rashad Kennedy, was the story for the Rhino offense, rushing for 130 yards, two touchdowns and the game MVP award. With talks of a AAA/AA split for the 2006 season, the off-season promised to be eventful and significant to the overall future of the league.
2006. In 2006, expansion ebbed a bit with the introduction of only two "additional" teams. The Utah Heat were added to the RMFL, effectively replacing the folded Utah Blitz and the Magic Valley Bulldawgs were voted in as a "new" team after new management took over the troubled franchise that had forfeited its first round play-off game in 2005. In Montana, the Bitterroot Blaze were formed out of Hamilton, Montana, a team that would make some real noise in 2006 and, perhaps the biggest story, some of the champion Rhino-Raiders formed a new team in Logan, Utah; the Cache Valley Bears. The Bears would be a top team in 2006, however, the discussion revolved early around just what would the formation of the Bears take from the defending champions. The now named, Ogden Rhino-Raiders, however, would not see a set-back. Taking advantage of the late folding of the Wasatch Wildcats, the Rhinos retooled their defense behind the tutledge of the ex-Wilcat defensive coordinator, even setting a league record in quarterback sacks for the season en route to another undefeated season. The biggest story of 2006, however, was the splitting of the RMFL into "two leagues". The RMFL formed a AAA division for its top teams to compete for the overall RMFL title and a AA, or developmental division, that would compete for a AA championship and the opportunity to improve and move up to compete in the AAA level. The Muddogs (formerly known as "Kamas Valley Muddogs") stepped to the forfront behind a new start quarterback (Jordan Kjar) and also went undefeated in the AAA level, winning the first ever AA championship game over the Vipers by a 13-10 margin. The Ogden Rhino-Raiders would survive a hard-fought 35-28 victory over the improved Pocatello Predators in the semi-finals before playing a championship game re-match with the Madison Lionz. In another classic battle, the Rhino-Raiders were able to stay a step ahead of the Madison Lionz and the 2006 MVP, Troy Dougherty with a 34-26 victory despite being out-gained by the Lionz. The big story was two-fold. Another MVP rushing performance by Rashad Kennedy paced the Rhino offense, but it was an incredible attacking defensive effort, sacking Dougherty a record and an unbelievable 13 times getting a defensive team "co-MVP" determination as the Rhinos continued their impressive record of consistency, even in a season that started with the loss of several key players. Quarterback, Dave Stireman, had perhaps his best season in the RMFL, setting a record by tossing 30 touchdown passes while his favorite target, Damon Greenberry, set records in yards and receiving touchdowns (18) as well.
2007. In 2007, only the Salt Lake Seminoles were added to the RMFL field, however, as they effectively replaced the folding Salt Lake Nemesis, the league finally enjoyed a season of relative growth stability. The biggest story of 2007 was that the Ogden Rhino-Raider win streak, dating back to the Utah Football League days (pre-2004) finally came to an end. The Rhino-Raiders would lose battles to both the Idaho Falls Mustangs and Utah Wolverines during the regular season... however, would ultimately win the war. The Bitterroot Blaze asserted themselves at the top of the AA power structure, not only going undefeated, wire-to-wire to capture the AA title in 2007, however, they set a number of records in points allowed, defense, and rushing as Justin Nixon rushed to another rushing title and a AA MVP award. The Blaze would ultimately defeat rival, Missoula for the third time in the season by a score of 15-0 to win the title. Missoula would enter the Championship game, having pulled off perhaps the biggest upset victory of the season, a 34-28 road victory over the top-ranked Vipers from Northern Utah. The Rhino-Raiders would capture the AAA (and overall) RMFL title with another tight victory over their biggest rival, the Cache Valley Bears 16-14. The Rhinos had beaten the Bears earlier in the season 7-6 by virtue of a blocked extra point. They would capture their 4th straight RMFL title, once again, behind a great rushing performance, this time, by Justin Oswald who rushed for 161 yards in the contest and was named the games MVP. The Madison Lionz (renamed Eastern Idaho Lionz) saw their first season without reigning MVP, Troy Dougherty, and fell to the Rhino-Raiders in the quarterfinals 27-21. In what was announced as his "final" season of semi-pro football, Rhino GM and star quarterback, Dave Stireman, finally captured the elusive league MVP award in leading the defending champions back from adversity all season, all the way to another title.
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