Donations Sought To Honor Zion Football League Hall of Famer Kirk Gifford!

(Springdale, Utah)_Even though Kirk Gifford hasn't been seen in Dillyhollar in over 16 years his memory lives on. Rockville resident Shirley Ballard recently purchased a $800.00 headstone for Kirk and his family in the scenic Springdale cemetery. Located under the massive and protective cliffs of Zion National Park, Kirk's final resting place has been without a permanent stone marker for years.

Friends of the Gifford family are asked to open up their hearts and contribute a small amount to this worthy cause. Donations may be made to Shirley at the Springdale Chevron. Please check with ZFL Commissioner Mike for contact information.

Kirk's Ravens flew high over the Zion Football League in the 1980's and 90's. His Ravens are still perched in a lofty fourth place of the all-time tournament standings with ten ZFL championships. The Ravens won the first ever (and only one of two) Utah State Championship in Junction, Utah, held on September 12, 1987 with a 27-20 championship win over Tom's Steelers. Kirk's big birds won an impressive 10 Zion Football League championships in an all-to-short career that soared over the Zion Football League from 1985 to 1995.

Kirk was inducted into the Zion Football League Hall of Fame in 1996.

ZFL Commissioner Mike Exchanges Vows With Susan Jane on December 15th in Hurricane!

(Hurricane, Utah)_The Zion Football League is happy announce that ZFL Commissioner Mike Large married his best friend, Susan Jane, on December 15. The happy couple will initially make their new home at the Oak Creek cabin inside beautiful Zion National Park and plan on moving to a "large" home in the future.

Mike was also blessed when his grandson Jax visited in mid December. Jax not only reprogrammed all of grandpa's electronic devices, he also had a fun time in Zion National Park and enjoyed a great afternoon visiting with Sophia, Afton, Tyron and Tayden at friendly Spendlove Place in Hurricane. 

 Happy New Year from The Zion Football League!

Tim's Hurricane Heat Wins Holiday Bowl XX With Exciting 44-41 Win Over Mike's Posse!

(St. George, Utah)_In a fitting finish to a excellent year of exciting Zion Football League football, the championship game of the 20th annual Holiday Bowl showcased the ZFL's two best 2011 armchair football teams, Tim's Heat and Mike's Posse, on December 18th at Beau and O's Dixie holiday home.

In a high scoring title tilt slugfest that wasn't decided until late in the game the Heat melted down the clock, including the final six plays of the game, to win a barnburner 44-41 after two quick 4th quarter touchdown strikes by the Posse, The Holiday Bowl XX Championship lifts the Heat into six place in the all-time ZFL tournament standings with a total of seven ZFL Crowns and seven second place finishes. By virtue of their second place finish the Posse ended up with the best overall tournament record in the Zion Football League in 2011, winning three crowns in four ZFL championship game appearances.

Jenny, Beau and Candi were Santa's helpers as they opened their festive home, providing good food, good times and love while hosting the festive 13 team tournament.

Holiday Bowl Notes
The Heat scored two late touchdowns to burn Shawn's Assassins 42-37 in the semi-finals…The Posse rushed for four touchdowns in their 38-21 semi-final win over Preston's Blue Devils…John's Nighthawks waged yet another great defensive battle against the Heat, losing 22-20 in quarter-final action…After trailing 24-7 in the late in the first half to Travis' Tigers, the Blue Devils scored 31 points in the second half to pull out a 38-31 quarter-final victory…Shawn's Assassins rolled a 91 yard TD Punt Return and a 100 yard TD Kick Return in their 37-21 quarter-final victory over Tony's Air Nat...The Blue Devils kicked a 8 yard Field Goal on the last of the game to edge Doug's Parowan 17-14 in the opening round...The blistering Hurricane Heat defense sacked Cowboy quarterback Beaumo on the last play of their opening round game to escape with a 40-38 win over the home team...Travis' Tigers won their first ZFL tournament game, a 42-21 whupping of Helen's Mynx in the tournament opener...

Zion Football League Celebrates 20 Holiday Bowls!

(St. George, Utah)_The Zion Football League is happy to announce that Holiday Bowl XX will be held at Beau and O's festive home on Sunday, December 18, 2011. The Fisher Nation will once again open their beautiful home to the ZFL, providing holiday stuffed noodles and spaghetti. Fans are asked to bring salads, deserts and other treats. Activities will kick-off at 9 am, come rain, snow or shine.

Going into the final tournament of the ZFL season, Mike's powerful Posse is poised to capture the title as the armchair football league's best 2011 tournament team. Only Tim's Hurricane Heat can surpass the league leading Posse, and they would have to win the Holiday Bowl outright to claim the best record in the final 2011 ZFL standings.

Holiday Bowl Notes
Host Beau's Cowboys ride tall in the saddle into this year's Holiday Bowl, after capturing last month's Harvest Bowl at Spendlove Place…Doug's powerful Parowan arrested Kellie's Criminals 63-35 in last year's Holiday Bowl XIX championship game…Shawn's Assassins slayed Tony's Stoners 50-7 to claim 2009's Holiday Bowl XVIII…2008's Holiday Bowl XVII was the largest ZFL tournament ever held (18 teams) and was rounded up by Mike's Posse... 

Third Place Games Abound as Zion Football League Teams Seek Higher Ground!

(Zion National Park, Utah)_As the 2011 Zion Football League season climaxes to a thundering finish, armchair football teams throughout southern Utah are scrambling to move up in the final ZFL standings. Unfinished business was the theme of the weekend of as five ZFL Tournament Third Place games were decided.

On December 4th, Zion National Park was invaded by the ZFL masses who enjoyed watching Jim's 27-17 Gold Miner Riffian Invitational Third Place win over Doug's Parowan that highlighted a hot dog afternoon. Preston's Blue Devils ripped Tony's Stoners 56-10, capturing Harvest Bowl IX Third Place honors. In the thrilling Canadian Football League nightcap Tony's Toronto Tweakers awoke to toss seven touchdown strikes to dump Doug's Thunder 54-40 and capture the 2011 Molson Cup Third Place game.

On December 2nd Tim's Hurricane Heat burnt Beau's Cowboys 41-24 in St. George to postion themselves for a shot as the Zion Football League's best 2011 tournament team. Only the blazing hot Heat can
surpass Mike's hard riding Posse as the ZFL's best tourney team in 2011 and this third place win could be the tiebreaker that gives the Heat 2011 ZFL glory.

Preston’s Blue Devils kicked off the evening in fine fashion as they committed no turnovers while capturing the Southern Utah Championship XVIII Third Place Game with an exciting 31-24 victory over the tough Cowboys. The win solidifies the Blue Devil's grip on fifth place in the ZFL standings going into the league's annual holiday festivus.

Cowboys Host ZFL Third Place Brawl, Fall to Heat and Blue Devils!

(St. George, Utah)
As the 2011 Zion Football League season climaxes to a thundering finish, armchair football teams are scrambling to move up in the final standings. With that very thought in mind, Tim’s Heat and Preston’s Blue Devils both descended upon Beau and O’s Dixie home on December 2nd and ran amok, combining to sweep the powerful Cowboys and capturing two ZFL tournament Third Place finishes in exciting ZFL doubleheader action.

Tim’s 41-24 victory over Beau’s Cowboys in the Southern Utah Classic V Third Place Game nightcap assured that the Hurricane Heat are guaranteed at least a second place finish in the final 2011 Zion Football League standings, no matter how they fare in Holiday Bowl XX (also held in Fisherville on December 18th). Should Tim’s Heat capture the prestigious holiday classic, this Third Place win will vault them past Mike’s awesome Posse to the title of the Zion Football League’s best 2011 tournament team.

Preston’s Blue Devils kicked off the evening in fine fashion as they committed no turnovers while capturing the Southern Utah Championship XVIII Third Place Game with an exciting 31-24 victory over the tough Cowboys. The win solidifies the Blue Devil's grip on fifth place in the ZFL standings going into the league's annual holiday festivus.