The Assassins - The ZFL's Hottest Team - Looks to Repeat as Champs in the 17th Southern Utah Championship

(St. George, Utah)_The Zion Football League is proud to announce that the 17th Southern Utah Championship will be held on Sunday, February 28th at Helen's artistic and warm home at Dixie Downs. Pre-game activities will begin at 10 am. Helen will make a special chili as well as her famous stuffed jalapenos. She is also planning a apple pie festivus for the league's hearty appetites. Nightie John Denney has also promised to offer up his famous cornbread. ZFL fans are asked to bring something that will compliment this tasty Dixie Downs buffet. Helen may be reached 24 hours a day at 674-9972 for more information.
Shawn's Assassins won last year's exciting Southern Utah Championship with a 46-28 romp over Tony's Stoners in the title game. The Assassins used that Southern Utah Crown to launch their record-setting roll through the colorful 2009 tournaments of the Zion Football League.
Helen and Tony Natalie have hosted the Southern Utah Championship for the past eight years.

Southern Utah Championship Notes
Last year's Southern Utah Championship featured 13 teams…In 2008 Doug's Parowan Rams edged Dustin's Big Daddys 31-30 to capture the Southern Utah Championship XV…Parowan edged Tony's Stoners 35-34 in two overtimes in the semi-finals of that same 2008 Southern Utah Championship…Parowan also won the Southern Utah title in 2007, when they blasted John's rookie Nighthawks 48-14 in the championship game…Tony Natalie's Air Nat captured the Southern Utah Championship V in 1993 with a 52-24 victory over the Darklords in the title tilt…Helen's Mynx won the first Southern Utah Championship, ruining Mike's Riffians 51-35 for the crown in 1986…

Mike's CFL Stallions Rolling High In February Furlough Festivus!

(Zion National Park, Utah) Even though Mike's two-timin' Molson Cup Champion Stallions were upset 32-26 by Jim's powerful Gold Miners in the opening round of last month's Zion Cup I tournament, the Zion Park-based CFL armchair football squad has proved to be unstoppable ever since.
On January 30th the big, bad, and blue Stallions rolled over Preston's Zion Cup Champion Canadian Pimp Wagon by the score of 64-35 at the awesome Thunderdome in dusty road-construction-challenged Hurricane. The following week the Stallions roared into the sleepy hamlet of Virgin and crushed Shawn's always tough CFL Assassins 56-38. Continuing to enjoy his furlough, Mike flew his mighty CFL team into St. George on February 11th. There the hot Stallions faced off against their bitter rivals, Tony's Toronto Tweakers. In a classic CFL armchair game, the Stallions sacked the Tweak's late two-point conversion pass attempt to escape Dixie with an heart-stopping 58-56 win.
At the conclusion of the victory over the always tough Tweakers, Stallion Coach Mike Large invited any CFL armchair football powers or wannabes to Zion National Park to play his Molson Cup Champs at scenic Stallion Stadium. "Problem is" Large noted "Is that my Stallions are always very strong at home, and it's usually a pretty rowdy crowd". The Stallions have won 16 out of their last 20 games.

Nighthawk's John Denney named Zion Football League's 2009 Most Improved Player

(St. George, Utah) The Zion Football League is proud to announce that for the first time ever a special award has been created to honor one of the league's brightest new stars, John Denney. The Head Coach of the Nighthawks has been named as the Zion Football League's Most Improved Player in 2009.

John led his team to the Southern Utah Classic III title at Oak Grove last August and his powerful Nighthawks fought to their way to the third best record in 2009 ZFL tournaments (8-7). In addition, John has also created a great line of spectacular ZFL paintings that he has generously shared with the league's best players and coaches, spreading the love throughout Southern Utah and the Zion Football League.

Shawn's Mighty Assassins Romp Over ZFL All Stars 45-24 in Impressive Birthday Bowl XXXIII Victory!

(Hurricane, Utah) Coach Shawn Spendlove showed that his Assassins were ready to rumble when they marched 85 yards in the first twelve plays to grab a quick 7-0 lead in Birthday Bowl XXXIII, held on Sunday January 31st at warm and friendly Spendlove Place. The well prepared Assassins continued to roll good and played tough defense rolling out to a 21-0 halftime lead over Couch Doug Spendlove's Zion Football League All Stars. In the second half the ZFL All Stars, led by Stoner Star Tony Iverson, started to roll a comeback. Tony rolled for a 85 yard TD kick-off return and threw a 38 yard TD short pass to pull the ZFL All Stars to within 35-24 in the middle of the fourth quarter. The Assassins then stormed to two scores in the final six plays to seal the historic win.
Kathy and Doug were again gracious hosts and provided a most excellent feast of red and green enchiladas. In addition to all the great food, Little Hussy Stadium was decked out for ZFL glory, with posterboards, ribbons, and other sweet decorations creating an exciting venue for the league's oldest annual contest. Indeed a large appreciative crowd enjoyed a beautiful sunny day at welcoming Spendlove Place.
Birthday Bowl Notes
The Assassins rushed for four touchdowns, the second best in the Birthday Bowl's 33 year history*…Stoner Star Tony Iverson gained over 200 return yards in the second half…Shawn's Assassins rolled for 31 first downs compared to 16 for the Zion Football League All Stars…Tony's 85 yard TD kick-off return ties him with ZFL legend Kirk Gifford (Ravens) for the 5th longest TD Kick-off return in Birthday Bowl history …* The most rushing touchdowns in a Birthday Bowl came in 2004 when the CFL North Stars ran for five touchdowns in their 42-41 meltdown of the CFL South Stars in Birthday Bowl XXVII…