Post by headstang on May 10, 2007 14:49:05 GMT -5
Sorry guys with all the bashing talk I had to use that as the header.... I just thought you guys would like to know there was a write up on the Mustangs in the Puyallup Herald that also mentioned the NWFL. I thought it was pretty good press for all "Semi-Pro" football in the Northwest. Here's the article....
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May 10 — Semi-pro footballers clicking at right time
Valley Mustangs outscore opponents 161-15 in last four games
Sean Janssen — of The Herald
The Valley Mustangs semi-pro football team began its second year of existence with a whimper.
At the current rate, it is poised to cap off with a bang.
Beginning with a 1-4 start, the Sunset Chev Stadium-based Mustangs have won four in a row by an average margin of 40-4.
With a 2-1 mark in the Pacific Northwest Football Conference, second in the league, Valley is peaking at the right time to make a playoff run.
On Saturday, May 5, the Mustangs made the Northwest Football League’s Washington Cavaliers of Olympia their latest victim in a 55-7 thrashing. The Cavaliers compete in the same league as the Pierce County Bengals, who also play their home games at Sunset Chev.
There is a little overlap between the spring-league Mustangs and summer-league Bengals’ rosters, with JohnRyan Walker, Mitch Johnson, Anthony Montgomery and Tim Reynolds from Valley also suiting up for Pierce County last season.
The Mustangs themselves used to be called Pierce County, with a Knight mascot for their inaugural season before switching this year to avoid confusion with the Bengals.
The Valley roster is made up largely of Federal Way and Auburn residents, with former Puyallup, Rogers, Lakes and Franklin Pierce players sprinkled in. Former Puyallup quarterback Eric Jarvis played much of Saturday’s game and Jameel Releford, a Rogers alum, also suited up.
“We’re trying to turn it into a junior college-type program,” said team owner Brandon Powell of seeking to fill a niche in Washington state, where there are no two-year colleges with a football program.
The Mustangs built a big lead early against the Cavaliers. Ejai Curran caught his first touchdown pass in the first quarter, a 30-yard bomb from Bryan Alexander.
Alexander found Sean Valentin midway through the first period to add to the advantage with an 8-yard scoring strike.
Just a minute and a half into the second, running back Chris Rice carried it in from 5 yards for a 20-7 lead. The Mustangs built their lead to 34-7 before halftime with a pair of touchdowns in a 49-second span as the quarter closed, with a 60-yard pass from Jarvis to Ryan Reynolds and a Tony Tolefree 46-yard interception return.
In the second half, Valley scored on the second play from scrimmage, a Johnson 30-yard pick-six. The rout was well on its way, with a Reynolds 70-yard interception return to the end zone and 35-yard scoring run from Isaac Syph Jr. still to come.
For Jarvis, a 2005 Puyallup grad, playing alongside high school friends and opponents has been a thrill.
“It’s a group of guys I grew up playing ball with but they were on the other teams in the SPSL. They said ‘We know who you are, we’d love you to come out and play with us,’” he said. “Everyone comes out, we have fun. We play to win and we have a lot of different backgrounds.”
Jarvis said teammates range from men just out of high school to 40-somethings who have played the game since kindergarten.
Even if the blowout against the Cavs looked easy, the Mustangs have learned not to overlook anyone.
“We were losing games 14-12 early this season to teams we should have beat. We all know we have to come out and be fired up for every single game now. We get fired up every down,” Jarvis said. “Our motivation is we need to go to the playoffs. Every game is an opportunity to get better.”
Printer Friendly Version
May 10 — Semi-pro footballers clicking at right time
Valley Mustangs outscore opponents 161-15 in last four games
Sean Janssen — of The Herald
The Valley Mustangs semi-pro football team began its second year of existence with a whimper.
At the current rate, it is poised to cap off with a bang.
Beginning with a 1-4 start, the Sunset Chev Stadium-based Mustangs have won four in a row by an average margin of 40-4.
With a 2-1 mark in the Pacific Northwest Football Conference, second in the league, Valley is peaking at the right time to make a playoff run.
On Saturday, May 5, the Mustangs made the Northwest Football League’s Washington Cavaliers of Olympia their latest victim in a 55-7 thrashing. The Cavaliers compete in the same league as the Pierce County Bengals, who also play their home games at Sunset Chev.
There is a little overlap between the spring-league Mustangs and summer-league Bengals’ rosters, with JohnRyan Walker, Mitch Johnson, Anthony Montgomery and Tim Reynolds from Valley also suiting up for Pierce County last season.
The Mustangs themselves used to be called Pierce County, with a Knight mascot for their inaugural season before switching this year to avoid confusion with the Bengals.
The Valley roster is made up largely of Federal Way and Auburn residents, with former Puyallup, Rogers, Lakes and Franklin Pierce players sprinkled in. Former Puyallup quarterback Eric Jarvis played much of Saturday’s game and Jameel Releford, a Rogers alum, also suited up.
“We’re trying to turn it into a junior college-type program,” said team owner Brandon Powell of seeking to fill a niche in Washington state, where there are no two-year colleges with a football program.
The Mustangs built a big lead early against the Cavaliers. Ejai Curran caught his first touchdown pass in the first quarter, a 30-yard bomb from Bryan Alexander.
Alexander found Sean Valentin midway through the first period to add to the advantage with an 8-yard scoring strike.
Just a minute and a half into the second, running back Chris Rice carried it in from 5 yards for a 20-7 lead. The Mustangs built their lead to 34-7 before halftime with a pair of touchdowns in a 49-second span as the quarter closed, with a 60-yard pass from Jarvis to Ryan Reynolds and a Tony Tolefree 46-yard interception return.
In the second half, Valley scored on the second play from scrimmage, a Johnson 30-yard pick-six. The rout was well on its way, with a Reynolds 70-yard interception return to the end zone and 35-yard scoring run from Isaac Syph Jr. still to come.
For Jarvis, a 2005 Puyallup grad, playing alongside high school friends and opponents has been a thrill.
“It’s a group of guys I grew up playing ball with but they were on the other teams in the SPSL. They said ‘We know who you are, we’d love you to come out and play with us,’” he said. “Everyone comes out, we have fun. We play to win and we have a lot of different backgrounds.”
Jarvis said teammates range from men just out of high school to 40-somethings who have played the game since kindergarten.
Even if the blowout against the Cavs looked easy, the Mustangs have learned not to overlook anyone.
“We were losing games 14-12 early this season to teams we should have beat. We all know we have to come out and be fired up for every single game now. We get fired up every down,” Jarvis said. “Our motivation is we need to go to the playoffs. Every game is an opportunity to get better.”
