1994-2003

Quarterback / Place Kicker

When the millennium turned, the Washington semi-pro scene was dominated by the "super teams" and if you wanted to be one of those teams you needed Lance Westendorf under center.  A standout athlete in high school, Lance went to college as a basketball player for Southwest Oklahoma State, but his legend in the Northwest was as the quarterback of the Puget Sound Jets and Eastside Hawks, both appearing in AFA National Championship games.

But it didn't start there.  Westendorf debuted in southern Washington in 1994 with the Cowlitz County Cavaliers were he earned spots on the All-NWFL teams despite the Cavs losing record.  Westendorf showed his all-around athleticism rushing and receiving touchdowns as well as kicking extra points and field goals with a long from 47-yards out in 1995.  His 6'6" 230lb frame was also put to work on the offensive line when the Cavaliers were short-handed.  Following the 1995 regular season, Lance was picked up by the Oregon Thunderbolts on their California trip to take on the Dolphins in the AFA Playoffs.

 The Pierce County Bengals were able to lure Lance back home, Westendorf played high school ball in Auburn, for the 1997-1998 seasons where he earned back-to-back All-America honors (honorable mention) after 9-win seasons.  Following the 1997 season, Westendorf signed to play for the Les Moussquetares (Musketeers) in Paris, France where he would serve as quarterback, place kicker and offensive coordinator.  After the spring season concluded, Lance was back with the Bengals for the 1998 summer season.  Former Bengal assistant coach Ken Austin would coax Westendorf to the Puget Sound Jets in 1999 when the franchise resumed after taking '98 off, and a record-setting run ensued.  For seven-consecutive years, Westendorf starred on teams that won at least 8-games per season, with a 69-10 overall record from 1998-2003 (11.5 wins per season average).

2000 dawned the era of the "Superteam" when the Puget Sound Jets were able to put together a team of talent from around the area among those being Westendorf who led the team to a 16-0 season and his first of three MVP awards.  He led the 2002 team again to an undefeated 11-0 season and the AFA National Crown and his own AFA Most Valuable Player award and consensus All-America honors.  When the Jets folded after that win, Westendorf and many of his teammates went to the Eastside Hawks who made it to the National Championship game in Florida only to come up short against the Kane County Eagles. 

Westendorf would step away from the game following a 10-year run as one of the most decorated quarterbacks in NWFL history.  Westendorf still holds many NWFL records and can be found in a number of GNFA Regional categories for all-time records including a then-record 9 TD passes in a game.

Semi Pro Honors