The WFL has received a lot of criticism over the years that the league is built around the Thunder and that the other teams in the league are not very competitive.  A recent national coaches poll had the OK Thunder ranked #1 in the country, which is why every league in the country tries to get them to play in their league.  Put the Thunder aside, the Des Moines Blaze beat a the St. Louis Bulldogs in the playoffs.  The St. Louis Bulldogs are a tremendous team with a great history.  Their coach and owner “Chief” is one of the best in the business.

The WFL will return in 2011 with a new updated plan to attract even more teams.  Be sure to check back for more details.  We will also be offering any league champion or any team ranked in the Top 20 for that matter a Cash Prize to play our Champion.  Our Champion versus your Champion.  This has been offered before verbally and has never been accepted.  Maybe someone will step forward and take the challenge.

This was a tough year for all league and for Minor League Football in general, but you can bet that the WFL will once again have the toughest teams and the best competition in 2011.  If you are a team owner and you think you can beat the best, come play the best!

Rico Watkins led the offense with three TD passes. The Thunder offense was on all night as they were only forced to punt one time, that coming in the  fourth quarter with the game  in hand. One has to wonder what’s next for  the Thunder? ” We really want to play some of the better teams from other leagues and see how we match up. The key to that will be if  they are willing to play us” said Thunder coach Bruce Madden. “I know our league has offered to play the champions from the Alliance Football League, the Grid Iron Developmental Football League, and more but those leagues are afraid losing to us would devalue their championships” says Madden. “To me claiming a championship while refusing to play the best teams in the country is pretty worthless. I’ll put the challenge out there, we want to play the best so let’s make it happen. I don’t mean at some half baked “bowl” game in January, I mean right now when your season is done let’s  do it”

The WFL has laid down  the challenge, will any one accept it?

Game Time:  7:00PM
Location:  East Central High School

For additional details call James Ashford at (918)  695-3080

Make sure you show up early to get a good seat. Ticket prices are $10 for Adults, $8.00 for kids and children under 6 are Free.  Also, as a bonus there will be 3 WYFL games played starting at 3:00pm.  Ages 9/10, and 13/14 will be playing for their Youth World Bowl Title. If you want to see the future greats, come watch these kids in action.  They are the best in their area and will be ready to represent!

QB- Rico Watkins Thunder                               

RB-Jerrod Gaskill Blaze                                     

RB- Deon Morris SBulldogs                               

WR- Marcus Pugh Thunder                              

WR- Michael Swalley Thunder                        

WR- Randy Blackford Blaze                            

TE- Clayton Froese Thunder                           

Ol- Jeremy Gray Thunder                              

      Richard Hawkins Crush                                      

      Jess Mickel  Blaze                                              

      Deyon Smith SBulldogs                                     

      Anthony Blessington Kaos

DE- Jared Bell Rampage                                     

        C.B. Boyd Thunder                                              

DT- Brian Miller Rampage                                 

        Aaron Littell Thunder                                          

LB- Joey Crawford Thunder                            

       John Elkington Rampage                                    

       Chuck Smiley Kaos                                            

      Jeremy Nethon Thunder                                   

DB- Quito Lightbourne Thunder                        

        Zach Smith Blaze                                                   

        Andy Sowle Rampage                                          

        Rod Whitter SBulldogs                                         

K- Clinton Haynes Crush                                       

SP- Eli Kennard Thunder                                   

2nd team

QB- Jared Jenson Blaze

RB- Dan Schae Rampage

RB- Jake ThomaRampage

WR- Quinton Mckinney Marauders

WR- Wendall Mosely SBulldogs

WR- Josh Heathcote Blaze

TE- N/A

OL- Josh Toops Thunder

        Corey Curtis Thunder

        Caleb Schweiger Rampage

        Travis Schutt Rampage

        Anthony Blessington Kaos

DE- Jamar Seard SBulldogs

        Shane Spooner Blaze

DT- Calvin Wychoff Thunder

         Shane Hagan Crush

LB- Chris Collins Kaos

       Jamar Crayton SBulldogs

       Joe Williams Kaos

      Matt Meek Blaze

DB- Dirk Timm Rampage

        D.J. Wolfe Wolverines

       Ben Bell Blaze

       Kurtis Dawson Thunder

K- Brandon Hawley Thunder

SP-David Rojas Blaze

The WFL this week has started the process of taking legal action against it’s excusive uniform and apparel supplier. Gametime Athletics Inc. of Memphis, TN, owned by Checliss Rice, was contracted this off season to be the exclusive uniform and apparel supplier for WFL. It seemed like a ground breaking deal that would propl th league forward in it’s effort to separate itself from other leagues in the country. Alas, it was too good to be true. With roughly half of the league ordering from game time before the season, only one team to date has received their uniforms. With only two weeks left before World Bowl IV there is little hope the rest of the teams will receive their uniforms and apparel.

    ”We have dissoled our partnership. They basically took our money and ran. we haven’t even been able to communicate with Checliss in over two months” said Bruce Madden, WFL director of team operations. ” He basically promised us a delivery date and when it didn’t happen (delivery) he had an excuse to push it back a week. That went on for about a month the he just stopped taking calls or answering emails. That was 10 weeks ago.” Madden goes on ” We were promised uniforms in 6 weeks and now we are almost 16  weeks into this thing and he has disappeared. We have talked with other teams they have been dealing with and they tell a similar story.”

     Madden has a warning for other teams and leagues that are pitched by Gametime ” Run. They will take your money and disappear. There are a lot more reputable companies out there. They may be little more expensive but in this case you get what you pay for.” Madden says the league is not taking this issue lightly “We are gathering information as we speak. We are exploring the option of criminal charges but we will definately be filing a civl suit.”

The teams that made the playoff were:

WEBSTER CITY, IA – Des Moines finally got their first shutout of the season Saturday evening while visiting the Midwest Rampage despite holding the competition to 13 points or less in all but one of their previous six contests.

                Rampage quarterback Dan Schaa and tailback Jake Thoma’s tough running kept the chains moving most of the game, however couldn’t penetrate the Blaze red zone. Linebacker Heath Hill led a swarming defense, finishing the game with seven tackles to go with his one and a half sacks.

The three deepest Rampage drives were turned away by a Cale Carlson interception, an Alex Brodus fumble recovery, and a four down goal line stand. Defensive back Zach Smith turned in the defenses big play of the day, blocking a third quarter punt, scooping it up at the Rampage 20-yard line and returning it for six points.  

The Offense also came out clicking, scoring on all five first half possessions. Quarterback DeMareo Darrah Threw for the first three scores, a 15-yarder to tight end Shawn Lents, then twice to receiver Randy Blackford (34, 47). He ran the fourth touchdown in himself from 11 yards out and finished the first half eight for nine with 165 yards, three touchdowns, and a rushing score.

Back Jerrod Gaskill added a season long 82-yard TD off a late option pitch from Darrah, putting the Blaze comfortably up 35-0 at half. Gaskill would add a second touchdown in the third quarter and finish with his third 100-yard game of the season. Blackford finished with 122 yards and two touchdowns on five catches.

“This was a good win,” Said Head Coach Tyrone Tyler. “It gives us some confidence as we come down the stretch and into the playoffs. We accomplished just about everything we wanted to on both sides of the ball and in special teams. It’s about momentum at this point in the season.”

The Blaze have a bye week before heading to Dubuque to face the Bruisers on the 26^th. They return home to Valley Stadium July 10^th for their regular season finale against the Nebraska Wildcats