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Honors
Josh Kearns, 2008 NWFL Special Teams
MVP
Dustin Hummel, 2007 NWFL Special Teams
MVP
Josh Kearns, 2007 NWFL Special Teams
Rookie of the Year
Ivan McCrae, 2006 NWFL Offensive MVP
Sun Jin Choi, 2006 NWFL Special Teams
Rookie of the Year
Dustin Hummel, 2005 NWFL Defensive
Rookie of the Year
Brent Wismer, 2004 NWFL Special Teams
Rookie of the Year
Fernando Fantroy, 2001 NWFL Offensive
Rookie of the Year
Nathan Buergey, 2000 NWFL Defensive
Rookie of the Year
Calvin Simpkins, 2000 NWFL Offensive
Rookie of the Year
Rod Wilson, 1999 NWFL Offensie Rookie
of the Year
Neil Clasen, 1999 NWFL Defensive MVP
Neil Clasen, 1998 NWFL Defensive MVP
Neil Clasen, 1998 NWFL Defensive
Rookie of the Year
Mike Hasskamp, 1998 NWFL Offensive MVP
Mike Hasskamp, 1998 NWFL MVP
Keynatta Morgan, 1998 NWFL Offensive
Rookie of the Year
Jeff Woods, 1998 NWFL Special Teams Player of the Year
Calvin McKinnis, 1997 NWFL Coach of
the Year
Cavin Griggs, 1997 NWFL Offensive MVP
Calvin Griggs, 1992 NWFL MVP
Paul Saunders (LB), 1991 T-Bolt MVP
Bjarne Jensen (LB), 1991 T-Bolt Defense MVP
Jack Stanley (QB), 1991 T-Bolt Offense MVP
All-League
Marquis Cross, DT (2008 3rd; 2007 HM; 2006 3rd) DE
(2004 2nd; 2003 HM)
DeAngelo Edwards, DE (2008 3rd)
Sione Tuipulota, DE (2008 HM)
Nick Fiegner, DE (2008 1st; 2007 1st)
Keti Taufoouo, LB (2008 HM)
Brad Dennis, LB (2008 2nd; 2007 1st; 2004 HM; 2003
HM)
Marvin Bronson, FS (2008 HM) WR (2008 2nd)
Ivan McCrae, LB (2007 HM) QB (2006 2nd)
Josh Kearns, PK (2008 1st; 2007 2nd)
Antwuan Sherman, RB (2008 HM)
Sean Lugo, OG (2008 HM)
Charlie Willing, PK (2008 HM)
Anthony Nettles, KR (2008 1st)
D McKenzie, WR (2007 HM)
Pete Markus, DT (2007 3rd)
Dustin Hummel, DE (2007 1st; 2006 1st; 2005 1st) TE
(2006 1st)
Ronald Richmond, CB (2007 1st) FS (2006 2nd)
Jimmy Thomas, CB (2007 HM; 2004 HM)
Roy Johnson, WR (2006 2nd)
Cisco Quinonez, OT (2006 2nd; 2005 HM)
Sun Jin Choi, PK (2006 2nd) P (2006 HM)
Brent Wismer, PK (2006 HM; 2005 3rd; 2004 HM)
Cliff Green, CB (2006 2nd; 2004 HM)
Pete Markus, DT (2005 3rd; 2003 HM)
Jason Miller, FS (2005 3rd) P (2005 2nd; 2004 1st)
Fernando Fantroy, RB (2005 HM; 2004 HM; 2001 1st)
Morgan Will, TE (2005 1st)
Tyler Germann, QB (2004 3rd)
Kenny Roberts, WR (2004 1st)
Ali Ahmaz, TE (2004 3rd)
Jason Leiby, C (2004 HM)
Wayne Palmer, OG (2004 3rd)
Gary Dennis, OT (2004 HM)
Michael Dunn, LB (2004 2nd)
Marcus Potter, FB (2003 HM)
Lonnie Bowden, DT (2001 1st)
Justin Messman, DT (2001 1st)
Calvin Armstead, LB (2001 1st)
Antonio Sparrow, S (2001 1st; 1996 3rd)
Gary Clemons, PR (2001 HM) RB (1999 3rd)
Julian Williams, WR (2001 2nd)
Robert Brown, OG (2001 2nd)
Justen Wochnick, OT (2001 1st; 2000 HM)
JIm Snowadski, PK (2001 HM)
Greg Gadbois, DT (2000 2nd)
Aaron Dressler, MLB (2000 2nd)
Andre Harris, PR (2000 HM; 1999 2nd) WR (2000 2nd;
1999 2nd) KR (2000 2nd)
Wade Sparks, QB (2000 2nd)
Calvin Simpkins, RB (2000 2nd)
Glen Bell, FB (2000 3rd)
Rod Wilson, C (2000 1st; 1999 1st)
Matt Mathews, OT (2000 1st)
Josh Lampa, QB (1999 HM)
Glenn Vereen, RB (1999 1st; 1998 1st; 1996 1st)
Keith Evans, FB (1999 1st)
Paul Swingle, OG (1999 HM; 1998 2nd)
Jason Lang, OT (1999 1st; 1998 HM)
Jeff Woods, PK (1999 2nd; 1998 1st) P (1999 2nd; 1998
3rd)
Jeff Schilling, DT (1999 2nd)
Neil Clasen, DE (1999 1st; 1998 1st)
Jeff Thomas, MLB (1999 3rd)
Van Velarde, SS (1999 3rd)
Matt Neal, DE (1998 2nd)
Tyrone Sellers, MLB (1998 3rd)
Dante Lewis, S (1998 3rd)
Wayne Harris, CB (1998 HM)
Mike Hasskamp, QB (1998 1st; 1997 3rd)
DeShawn Fonleroy, RB (1998 3rd)
Danny Jefferson, WR (1998 HM)
Kenyatte Morgan, WR (1998 1st) KR (1998 1st)
Calvin Griggs, WR (1998 1st; 1997 1st; 1996 HM)
Bubba Brown, OG (1998 3rd)
Ina Taletemotu, DE (1997 2nd; 1996 1st; 1989 1st)
Tia Maevaga, DE (1997 HM)
Marquis Thomas, MLB (1997 1st; 1996 1st)
Tim Upshaw, LB (1997 3rd)
James Fuller, S (1997 HM)
Dwight Beverly, FB (1997 2nd)
Alphonso Harris, WR (1997 2nd)
Chris Wolfe, C (1997 3rd)
Dave O'Neil, OG (1997 3rd)
JR Peneueta, OT (1997 3rd)
Antonio Chandler, CB (1996 2nd)
Curtis Delgardo, RB (1996 3rd)
Nate Griffin, FB (1996 1st)
Mike Erickson, PK (1996 3rd)
Van Velarde, KR (1996 1st)
Todde Greenough, QB (1989 1st)
Greg Carradine, DL (1989 1st)
Brad Joelson, WR (1989 1st)
Larry Wiley, DL (1989 1st) LB (1989 1st)
John Weeks, OG (1989 1st)
Roland Aumueller, OT (1989 1st)
Paul Saunders, LB (1989 1st)
Mike Peterson, DB (1989 1st)
Mickial Woods, DB (1989 1st)
Rick Ward, P (1989 1st)
Dave Brannon, DB (1989 1st)
All-America
Antonio Sparrow, FS (2001 AFA 3rd
Team)
Fernando Fantroy, RB (2001 AFA Hon
Men)
Calvin Armstead, LB (2001 AFA Hon Men)
Matt Mathews, OT (2000 AFA 3rd Team)
Calvin Simpkins, RB (2000 AFA Hon Men)
Andre Harris, WR (2000 AFA Hon Men)
Nathan Burgery, DE (2000 AFA Hon Men)
Rod Wilson, C (1999 AFA 1st Team)
Paul Sanders, DB (1990 AFA 2nd Team)
Dave Bannon, S (1990 AFA 2nd Team)
Rick Ward, P (1990 AFA 3rd Team)
Darrin Humphrey, LB (1990 AFA Hon Men)
AFA
Executive of the Year
Dick Seuss, 1989
When it comes to longevity in the
modern era of semi-pro football, the Oregon Thunderbolts are one of the
benchmarks for the Northwest region. One of the most decorated
teams in the region, the T-bolts had 9 out of 11 years with at least one
league MVP award winner from 1997-2008.
Established in 1989 by Dick Seuss, the
Thunderbolts immediately took the reigns as kings of the Northwest
Football League. The T-bolts reclaimed the top spot in 1991 under
new owner Dalroy Connell when Seuss left to work indoors with the PIFL.
The first players signed in 1989 included QB Todd Greenough (Willamette)
OL John Weeks (Linfield College)
OL Rod Losier (Linfield College)
LB Paul Saunders (Oregon State)
S Dave Brannon (Oregon State)
LB Wade Ferguson (Western Oregon)
LB Mike Short (Western Oregon)
S Mike Peterson (Lebanon HS)
DL Pellom McDaniels (Oregon State) played for 3 weeks before signing
with the World League's Birmingham franchise.
* * *
The 1992 Thunderbolts were 9-0 when the NWFL struggled with playoff
formats, which sent Oregon to join the AFA playoffs defeating the
Southern California Storm, before facing the defending National Champion
Fresno Bandits. The T-Bolts would travel without 15 key players
including leading rusher Tim Mitchell, nearly 3 months since their last
NWFL game and two-weeks removed from a previous California trek.
Concerned with Calvin Griggs, the Bandits went after recent San
Francisco 49ers practice squad member John Robert Holland to cover
Griggs. The Fresno Bee also reported wideout Ross Ortega of Nevada
and center Myron Adams of UNLV would be signed prior to the game.
Fresno would win 27-17 with 2 FGs by a then 26-yr old Paul Assad today
nicknamed "The Kick Doctor".
Starting QB Jack Stanley, a 1987 Washington Redskins strike player, was
knocked out by injury after going 2-8 for 4 yards. Mike Hasskamp
came in and connected with Griggs for a 43-yard TD in the 4th Quarter.
In March of 1993, a news article reported the folding of the
Thunderbolts franchise citing economic conditions and lack of support.
A sale of the franchise to a Gresham businessman reportedly fell
through. The Bolts would be resurrected under new management in
May and take the place of the Eugene Blast on the NWFL schedule and
return to winning form.
Heading into the 1995 AFA Playoffs against the California Dolphins, the
Thunderbolts bolstered their roster with 1st Team All-NWFL selections QB
Lance Westerndorf and WR Naamon Archer from the Cavaliers.
Mike Erickson was a placekicker for
the T-bolts in 1996 and would become owner and chief financier of the
organization throughout the late 90's and 2000's winning league and
division championships in 1997 and 1998 finishing 16-1 on the 1998
season.
The team took the 2002 season off to
reorganize following three consecutive seven-win seasons and came back
to a bit of struggle in 2003 when there were 4 teams in the Portland
area.
2007 would be the year the
Thunderbolts finally returned to the NWFL championship game. The
Jaguars mauled the T-bolts 34-0 and in 2008 the Titans (majority of Jags
players) defeated Oregon 7-3 in the final once again.
Late in the spring of 2009 the T-bolts
announced a league change. They would be leaving what was left of
the NWFL behind to start a new venture with the Bellingham Blitz and
Tacoma Cobras called the Professional Developmental Football League.
This league, which was originally supposed to be a "pro" league called
the Next Level Football League announced it would be semi-pro in 2009
but "pro" in 2010.
The Thunderbolts won the inaugural
game by beating the Cobras 12-10 on June 27, 2009. The
Thunderbolts would try the PDFL for one more season finishing 2-5 and
ending one of the longest lasting franchises after 21 seasons of play. |
