|
|
Regular Season Games:
April 12, Logan Stampede 6 vs Morgan Marauders 13 Loss 0-1 April 19, Logan Stampede 34 vs Uintah Basin Oilers 8 Win 1-1 April 26, Logan Stampede 6 vs Salt Lake Warriorz 14 Win 2-1 May 3, Logan Stampede 14 vs Uintah Basin Oilers 8 Win 3-1 May 10, Logan Stampede 18 vs Morgan Marauders 6 Win 4-1 May 17, Logan Stampede 14 vs Glacier Knights 20 Loss 4-2 May 31, Logan Stampede 6 vs Salt Lake Warriorz 24 Loss 4-3 June 7, Logan Stampede 22 vs Magic Valley Bulldawgs 28 Loss 4-4
CV HAS NEW FOOTBALL TEAM IN STAMPEDE by Joey Hislop
Smithfield- There's a new football team in town. After some off season shuffling, the Rocky Mountain Football League- an organization of semi-pro football clubs scattered throughout Western Montana, Southern Idaho, and Northern Utah- now has a new team in Cache Valley. The Logan Stampede, one of four new clubs to join the league this season, will compete in the newly- reorganized AA division. According to veteran RMFL player and Stampede co-owner Dave Curtis, with the recent success of Cache Valley's other RMFL team, the AAA Cache Valley Bears, another team in the area would give the growing number of would-be participants a better shot at playing time. "A couple of us players have played up to eight years," Curtis said. "We've played for other teams and we just decided that this is something that's gonna be beneficial for Cache Valley. "The Bears have so many guys on their roster and... it just needed to happen. There's a lot of guys that want to play, and it's another avenue for them to keep going." Though the Stampede begin play March 20 against the Davis Vipers at Davis High School, the team is still looking to fill roster spots, so sign-ups are welcome. According to Curtis, roughly 40 players have signed up so far, leaving room for at least 10 more. If anyone is interested in playing full-contact tackle football but is concerned that the time commitment may be too much for one's schedule, the Stampede practice only once a week with games on the weekend. Semi-pro football is open to all comers. Among those that have signed up are several first-time players. Age is no factor, either. Troy Widdison, a 38-year-old valley native who is playing football competitively for the first time in his life, was asked by a teammate to come out and give it a shot. "I've been wanting to do this for a long time," Widdison said. "I always wanted to play on an organized football team and this is my chance... These guys are pretty tough and a lot stronger but I feel like I can keep up with'em. It's gonna be fun. I'm gonna have a great time." On the other end of the age spectrum, but with the same amount of experience, Skylar Chambers, 19 had played football for fun with his friends before joining the Stampede. "It's fun. It's pretty hard," Chambers said. "I'm the smallest guy on the field. I get hit alot. It's pretty fun, though. I'm catching on pretty good... It's good to meet new people. I just have to give it 100 percent.' Stampede co-owner and defensive back Brian Phillips explained the motivation that goes into putting together a semi-pro football team, especially when you consider that it's made up of people who have schedules to work around. "These guys aren't getting paid to play. They're paying to play," Phillips said. "They're here for the love of the game. They're here to learn, they're here to have fun and that's basically what we are trying to do...We try to get everybody out to practice every week, but sometimes your kids are sick and work just isn't gonna go your way. We're well aware that the responsibilities outside of this football team are much more important." Though the Stampede are still looking for a permanent home field, they begin pre season action on March 20 at 6:30 p.m. against the Davis Vipers. They return to action the following week at North Cache Jr. High School in Richmond, where they will play the Bear River Valley Rockets at 4 p.m. Though his squad is new to the league, Phillips is confident that the team he and Curtis will be putting on the field will be a good one. "Dave and I both know what kind of talent level you need to have to compete at the AA level," Phillips said. "We think we've got a very solid team. We're really happy with what we've got." |
|
|
