Coach Spendlove directs aerial assault as CFL All Stars geld Stallions 45-15 in Birthday Bowl XXXII!

(Zion National Park, Utah)_Doug Spendlove made Birthday Bowl history, and amazed the Zion Football League, coaching a rag-tag outfit of CFL All Stars, and lifting them to a brilliant 45-15 romp over Mike's Molson Cup Champion Stallions in Birthday Bowl XXXII held on January 18th at Stallion Stadium inside sunny Zion National Park.
Under the leadership of Coach Spendlove the CFL All Stars started fast, scoring on six of their first seven possessions. Barb Kippen of the Chippewa led a balanced CFL All Star offense, throwing two touchdown passes. Her second TD pass came immediately after the Stallions had scored on a thrilling 117 yard TD Missed Field Goal Return early in the third quarter. Barb's TD Pass dimmed any hope that the Stallions had of winning the thirty-second Birthday Bowl game. Hall of Famer Helen Fitzgerald also added to the CFL All Star aerial assault with her 88 yard TD long pass in the middle of the second quarter, launching the CFL All Stars to a 20-0 lead. All Stars Shawn Spendlove (Assassins) and Jim Cantrell (Gold Miners), each added a touchdown pass and field goal running up the score, much to the delight of the crowd at Mike's packed cabin in Zion National Park.

At halftime, Tony Iverson and Giovanni Cecala were inducted into the Zion Football League Hall of Fame. Both of these fine coaches have played in the ZFL since the 80's and have set a high standard for armchair football fans everywhere. With good food and great friends, combined with exciting armchair football action, Birthday Bowl XXXII was very much a resounding success for the Zion Football League, celebrating 32 years of exciting ZFL Football!

Stallion Coach Mike Large reacts to another one of his nine interceptions, and yields his worst Birthday Bowl loss ever.










Shawn Spendlove of the Assassins rolls big dice for the Canadian Football League All Stars in Birthday Bowl XXXII.












Zion Football League Hall of Famer, Helen Fitzgerald, threw a 88 yard long touchdown pass to stun the Stallions. Helen's scoring strike was the second longest in the thirty-two year history of the Birthday Bowl.

Mike's Stallions set to host CFL All Stars in Birthday Bowl XXXII at Zion National Park on January 18th!

(Zion National Park, Utah)_As the Zion Football League enters it's 32nd year, it's oldest annual contest- the Birthday Bowl- will proudly showcase in 2009 the ZFL's best CFL players versus the league's founding CFL coach. Mike Large's Stallions will proudly host the 2009 Canadian Football League All Stars at Stallion Stadium in Birthday Bowl XXXII on January 18, 2008. Pre-game activities begin at 1 pm. Mike will provide pizza, green chili, and spanish rice. Please bring your usual great treats.

The CFL All Stars will be coached by Doug Spendlove of the Thunder. Doug and his CFL coaching staff will have their hands full preparing their Canadian All Stars against the high-scoring Stallions, who won the prestigious Molson Cup last June. Mike's Stallions ran up two eight game winning streaks in 2008, including that roll through the largest Molson Cup tournament in history that was climaxed with an exciting 41-33 shoot out over the Thunder in the championship game.

Birthday Bowl Notes_This year's Birthday Bowl will use a Canadian rules format for only the third time in history...The last Canadian rules Birthday Bowl was in 2005...In that game Mike's Stampeders missed a late extra point in a tough 24-23 loss to Tim Andreen's Tiger-Cats in Birthday Bowl 28 ...Two CFL All Star teams faced off in 2004's Birthday Bowl 27...That game proved to be one of the most exciting Birthday Bowls ever played...In that high scoring game Denise Taylor of the Eskimos put on one of the best performances in armchair football history...Denise rolled for two touchdowns and an onside kick in the last three plays of game to lead the CFL North Stars to an thrilling 42-41 win over the CFL South All Stars...Tony Iverson, Doug Spendlove and Helen Fitzgerald will play in their 6th Birthday Bowl game...Preston Bowling led the Spendlove All Stars to a 19-14 upset over the powerful Zion Football League All Stars in last year's Birthday Bowl...