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MISSOULA PHOENIX
(2007 - 2013)

Missoula, Montana
Washington Grizzly Stadium




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Michael Connelly - Contributor

Missoula semi-pro football players, prompted by the frustration that peaked during a playoff loss in June 2006, decided a new start for Missoula football was in order. That change manifested itself in the formation of a completely new and separate team from the Missoula Raptors which had played from 2004-2005 in the Rocky Mountain League.  The new team would have new management, a new color scheme, a new logo and a fitting new name: The Missoula Phoenix LLC.

Along with that new look came a new attitude and a new way of advancing the business side of Semi-Pro football in Montana. The team was made up of many of the same players already familiar to Missoula fans, and was aided by spirited new additions.  The new management team consisted of Dr. Mike Johnson, Mr. John Velk Esq., Mr Todd Mackey, and Mr. Chip Bush.  This blend of old and new promised to make the Phoenix a formidable foe.  The 2007 Missoula Phoenix would prove to be entertaining while exhibiting the Pride and Poise which has become the trademark of Missoula football.

Despite bumps along the way, including the abrupt resignation of the head coach after a mid-season win, The Phoenix rallied around new head coach Bill Funke.  He was assisted immeasurably by Offensive Coordinator Mike Swann and Defensive Coordinator Ciche Pitcher.  The Phoenix excelled on and off the field.  The Phoenix embraced community service and assisted with many charitable functions throughout the Missoula community. 

On the field, The Phoenix played extremely well and made the playoffs in their first season.  Finishing second in the tough Northern AA, the Phoenix hosted the Great Falls Gladiators and prevailed in the first round of the playoffs.  Despite the fact that no Missoula team had ever won a road playoff victory in Utah, hopes were high going into the semi-finals.  The Phoenix travelled to Davis, Utah to take on the Southern AA champion, the undefeated Davis Vipers.  Though no one gave the Phoenix a chance, the score was knotted up midway through the fourth quarter after the Vipers scored.  On the ensuing kickoff, Tony Sanderson darted up the middle and then shot outside behind an impenetrable wall of blockers, untouched to the endzone.  The point after, however, was botched and the Vipers had plenty of time for their high powered offense to score the winning touchdown.  The mighty Phoenix defense bent all the way to their own red zone, but stopped the Vipers on fourth down only inches from a first down.  The celebration silenced the Vipers faithful and history was re-written for the Phoenix.

The Blaze had done their part to set up an all Montana championship and the Phoenix had a chance to avenge their only two losses of the season.  An off night on offense, due in no small part to the Blaze's strong defense, sealed the Phoenix's fate and the Blaze captured the 2007 championship. 

The promise of the 2007 Phoenix had grown even stronger in 2008.  Former New York Jets draft pick (1979) Willie Beamon became coach of Missoula after his son convinced him to leave Southern California and move to Montana.  Having moved up to AAA, Missoula's games would be against much tougher competition.  The Phoenix believed it had assembled an even stronger cast of players and was confident of bringing its exciting brand of football to the upper division of the RMFL in 2008.  

The Phoenix started the 2008 season with some big changes.  Though not required to by the league, the team and management decided to take a huge step up to play AAA football.  Missoula semi-pro football's first venture into AAA in four years yielded a victory in the first game against their arch-rival the Bitterroot Blaze.  Marking the first time the Phoenix beat the Blaze in the record books bolstered the team's credibility and gave them a new found swagger.  This momentum propelled the Phoenix to victory in their next game over the league's oldest franchise the Idaho Falls Mustangs.  Buoyed with confidence after those wins, the Phoenix travelled to Bear River to take on the Rockets.  In a forty mile an hour wind, the Phoenix passed and ran their way to their first ever AAA road victory.

The season progressed well and culminated with a playoff seed and first round game again facing the Idaho Falls Mustangs.  In a see-saw game the Phoenix found themselves down 2-points with the ball on the Mustang three yard line with under a minute to go.  Shockingly, an audible led to a fade pattern instead of the anticipated run play and an interception broke the hearts of the Phoenix and their fans.  So close to advancing, the Phoenix were gutted by the loss and had only to look forward to building on their success in 2009.

With the scars of the 2008 fresh in its memory, the Phoenix campaign of 2009 seemed shaky from the start.  New coaches, a new QB and many new faces led to a rough transition for the team.  The resignation of the OC weeks before the season ultimately put the Phoenix too far behind the eight ball.  Though competing well in many games, the Phoenix were unable to break through in the win column and would ultimately be returning to AA play.  A high point of the season that signaled the strong foundation of the team was having 40 players travel on their own dime to Idaho Falls for the last game of the year.  A meaningless game in terms of the upcoming playoffs and the Phoenix record, the Phoenix played inspired football and led the playoff bound Mustangs until deep in the 4th Quarter.  Only a costly miscue kept the Phoenix from getting their first win of the season.  However, the team unity boded well for the 2010 season and hopefully signaled another rise from the ashes for the Phoenix.

The team spent 2010 playing "Jeckle & Hyde" football going 4-4 losing and winning close games.

2011 featured future GNFA Hall of Famer Shane Jurasek at quarterback as the Phoenix returned to playoff form but bookend losses to the Great Falls Gladiators, eventual undefeated RMFL AA Champions.

The following season, the Phoenix improved to 8-2, starting the season 0-1 before rolling to 8-0 going into the semi-final round of the 2012 playoffs.  The Idaho Matadors snuck out with a 16-12 win to end Missoula's season.

Coming off one of the best seasons in franchise history, Head Coach Willie Beamon and former player Dave Garza as offensive coordinator, hopes were high for 2013.  Reverting back to the 2010 "Jeckle & Hyde" form, the Phoenix would finish 4-4 in what turned out to be the end of the Phoenix franchise.  With the shut down of the Phoenix, plans were immediately undertaken to keep Missoula in the RMFL and the Montana Blaze were born.


Missoula Phoenix and Dance Team 2012

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GNFA Hall of Fame QB Shane Jurasek

17-year RMFL QB, Career Regional Passing Records

 












2007
Rocky Mountain Football League
Record: 8-3
Sponsor: Missoula Phoenix LLC
Dr. Mike Johnson, John Velk, Todd Mackey, Chip Bush
Coach Matt Softich
Asst Mike Swann, Ciche Pitcher

2007 Awards

Ja'Ton Simpson (TE) All-League AA 1st Team
Dave Garza (WR) All-League AA 1st Team
Jeff Hecht (DT) All-League AA 1st Team
Stephen Schreibeis (DB) All-League AA 1st Team



2008
Rocky Mountain Football League
Record: 5-4
Sponsor: Missoula Phoenix LLC
Dr. Mike Johnson, John Velk, Todd Mackey, Chip Bush
Coach Willie Beamon
Asst Cody Steele, Charlie Pollock, Tim Parks, Stephan Barras

2008 Awards

Andrew Leichtnam (DT) All-League 1st Team
Nick Lumpkin (WR) All-League 2nd Team
Cody New (OL) All-League 2nd Team
Nick Arnold (WR) All-League 3rd Team
Jeff Hecht (DT) All-League 3rd Team



2009
Rocky Mountain Football League
Record: 0-8
Sponsor: Missoula Phoenix LLC
Dr. Mike Johnson, John Velk, Todd Mackey, Chip Bush
Coach Willie Beamon
Asst Cody Steele, Charlie Pollock, Tim Parks, Stephan Barras


2009 Awards

Jaton Simpson (TE) All-League 2nd Team
Jason Howard (OL) All-League 3rd Team
Nick Lumpkin (WR) All-League 3rd Team
Jorge Watson (LB) All-League 3rd Team
Max MacCracken (DB) All-League 3rd Team
Jeff Maynard (LB) All-League Hon Mention




2010
Rocky Mountain Football League
Record: 4-4
Sponsor: Missoula Phoenix LLC
Dr. Mike Johnson, John Velk, Todd Mackey, Chip Bush
Coach Willie Beamon
Asst Cody Steele, Charlie Pollock, Tim Parks, Stephan Barras



2011
Rocky Mountain Football League
Record: 6-4
Sponsor: Missoula Phoenix LLC
Dr. Mike Johnson, John Velk, Todd Mackey, Chip Bush
Coach Willie Beamon
Asst Cody Steele, Charlie Pollock, Tim Parks, Stephan Barras

2011 Awards

Shane Jurasek (QB) All-League AA 1st Team
Shane Byers (WR) All-League AA 1st Team
Max McCracken (SS) All-League AA 1st Team
Ja'Ton Simpson (DT) All-League AA 2nd Team
James Decoteau (LB) All-League AA 2nd Team



2012
Rocky Mountain Football League
Record: 8-2
Sponsor: Missoula Phoenix LLC
Dr. Mike Johnson, John Velk, Todd Mackey, Chip Bush
Coach Willie Beamon
Asst Cody Steele, Charlie Pollock, Tim Parks, Stephan Barras





2013
Rocky Mountain Football League
Record: 4-4
Sponsor: Missoula Phoenix LLC
Dr. Mike Johnson, John Velk, Todd Mackey, Chip Bush
Coach Willie Beamon
Asst Cody Steele, Charlie Pollock, Tim Parks, Stephan Barras





Schedules and Results
Date Opponent Score
2007 Apr 14 Helena Titans 34-12
2007 Apr 21 @ Great Falls Gladiators 28-7
2007 Apr 28 Glacier Knights 49-0
2007 May 12 @ Helena Titans 29-0
2007 May 19 @ Bitterroot Blaze 0-6
2007 May 26 Great Falls Gladiators 21-7
2007 June 2 Bitterroot Blaze 0-6
2007 June 9 @ Glacier Knights 44-0
2007 June 16 Great Falls Gladiators (Playoff) 46-15
2007 June 23 @ Davis Vipers (Playoff) 34-28
2007 June 30 @ Bitterroot Blaze (Championship) 0-15
     
     
2008 Apr 5 Bitterroot Blaze 16-10
2008 Apr 12 Idaho Falls Mustangs 3-0
2008 Apr 19 Bear River Valley Rockets 24-6
2008 May 3 Utah Wolverines 15-35
2008 May 10 Pocatello Predators 14-23
2008 May 17 Davis Vipers 59-21
2008 May 31 Salt Lake Seminoles 54-0
2008 June 7 @ Bitterroot Blaze 6-41
2008 June 14 Idaho Falls Mustangs (Playoff) 7-9
     
     
2009 Apr 4 Utah Shock 14-24
2009 Apr 11 Bitterroot Blaze 13-61
2009 Apr 18 @ Utah Wolverines 17-19
2009 Apr 24 @ Bitterroot Blaze 6-29
2009 May 9 Eastern Idaho Lionz 18-21
2009 May 16 @ Boise Bombers 12-47
2009 May 30 Pocatello Predators 9-10
2009 June 6 @ Idaho Falls Mustangs 18-22
     
     
2010 Apr 3 Bitterroot Blaze 6-22
2010 Apr 10 Glacier Knights 18-13
2010 Apr 17 Gallatin Valley Snow Devils 53-8
2010 May 1 Great Falls Gladiators 0-14
2010 May 8 Arco Anarchy 13-12
2010 May 15 Idaho Matadors 0-14
2010 May 29 Helena Titans 25-8
2010 June 12 Clark Fork Rush  
     
     
2011 Apr 9 Great Falls Gladiators 14-21
2011 Apr 16 Bitterroot Blaze 7-19
2011 Apr 23 @ Gallatin Valley Snow Devils 54-0
2011 Apr 30 Idaho Matadors 18-26
2011 May 7 @ Clark Fork Rush 0-25
2011 May 21 @ Davis Vipers 6-34
2011 June 4 @ Helena Bearcats 25-0
2011 June 11 @ Glacier Knights 46-14
2011 June 18 @ Bitterroot Blaze (Playoff) 14-13
2011 June 25 Great Falls Gladiators (Playoff) 6-10
     
     
2012 Apr 7 Bitterroot Blaze 0-23
2012 Apr 14 @ Helena Bearcats 46-6
2012 Apr 28 @ Billings Bullets 40-17
2012 May 5 @ Gallatin Valley Snow Devils 28-0
2012 May 19 @ Billings Bullets 35-6
2012 May 25 @ Bitterroot Blaze 14-6
2012 June 2 @ Helena Bearcats 43-0
2012 June 9 Gallatin Valley Snow Devils 27-0
2012 June 16 Arco Anarchy (Playoff) 24-18
2012 June 23 Idaho Matadors (Playoff) 12-16
     
     
2013 Apr 6  @ Glacier Knights 33-0
2013 Apr 13 @ Great Falls Gladiators 7-18
2013 Apr 27 Billings Bullets 0-43
2013 May 4 @ Gallatin Valley Snow Devils 16-0
2013 May 11 @ Glacier Knights 42-6
2013 May 25 Billings Bullets 6-26
2013 June 1 @ Gallatin Valley Snow Devils 15-0
2013 June 8 Great Falls Gladiators 0-32
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
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