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BELLEVUE EXPRESS
(1984)

EASTSIDE EXPRESS
(1986 - 1988)

Bellevue, Washington
Memorial Stadium
Redmond, Washington


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Material Contribution Dave Broussard

Dee Strong, an ex Iowa Hawkeye and Washington County Grizzly player purchased the gear from Grizzly owner Dr. Nash in 1984 and used it to start up the Bellevue Express.  The $15,000 in start up capital was obtained from Charles and Diane Driskell.  In an Aug 29, 1984 Seattle Times article, the Driskells announced they took a 62% controlling stake of the team and Dee Strong was no longer connected with the team.  The article claimed issues "both financially and among the coaching staff" as the reason for the ownership change.  Former Seahawk Richard Harris was head coach with other former Seahawks as coaching assistants.
 
The team adopted "Eastside" prior to the 1985 season.  Long-time NWFL'er Dave Broussard tied a then-NFA record with a  57-yard FG against Spokane.  Ironically, a week later, Spokane's Rik Pearson broke the record with a 59-yard effort.


 
In a 9/13/1986 matchup with the Blue Knights, hard-nosed fullback Daryl Brown smashed in for 2 TD's to lead the Express in a 32-6 victory on 16 carries for 146 yards.  Running Back Kevin "Skip" Delaney set an NFA league record with 1,263 rushing yards on the season.  Delaney, as reported by the NWFL's historian John Phillips accumulated 2,188 yards and 21 touchdowns in three seasons with the Express before leaving for the rival Warhawks in 1987 and Seattle Express in 1989 where injuries limited his playing time.

Former Panther quarterback John Peterman joined the 1987 Express squad.
 
After the Auburn Panthers disbanded, the Northwest Football League reformed from the ashes of the NFA and Eastside finally became top dog of the league.
 
Following the August 27, 1988 game with the Warhawks, Steve Myer and Peter Beer refused to play the Oct 1 return game with the Warhawks.  According to Referee Crew Chief John Gorski, a 23-year veteran wrote a 4-page report stating "Never in my 23-years of refereeing have I encountered such behavior on a football field".  The NWFL ruled the game a forfeit, and would be the only blemish on the Express '88 season.  The Express upset the Pierce County Bengals 13-10 on an AD Stinson to Don Moorehead 53-yard strike with 8 minutes left in the game to remain undefeated. 
 
After winning the NWFL Championship in 1988, Worth Skinner purchased the team and immediately removed it from the NWFL for the newly formed Minor League Football System (MLFS) which attempted to become an NFL feeder league.  The team became the Seattle/Tacoma Express.

 

        


 
18 members of the team along with the San Jose Bandits filmed sessions in the Kingdome for a video game to be called John Madden Football.


 
Steve Myer would coach the Sno-King Blue Knights in 1989 after failing to reach an agreement to continue coaching the Seattle Express owned by Worth Skinner.  Defensive coach and fellow former Seahawk Richard Harris would join Myer along with Express players who were not kept by the new team in the Blue Knights merger.

 


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1985 Players

Jimmy DeWitt (RB), Tedde Jackson (WR), John Adair (K), Larry Jackson (WR), Dan Lee (QB), Thomas Bach (QB), Dave Broussard (K), Jon Council (QB), Milt Crafton (FB), Daryl Brown (RB), Fabian Washington (RB), Kevin Delaney (RB), James Smith (RB), Stan Mason (C), Jerome Johnson (OL), Terry Williams (OL), Brad Burmester (OL), Mike Marshall (OL), Fred Pilon (OL), Doug Thomas (OL), Vic Mason (OL), Mark Hayne (WR), Mel Renas (TE), Mike Haggett (TE), Jeff Kyger (K), Calvin Yarbrough (WR), Scott Greer (WR), Rick Simone (WR), Mike Dawson (TE), Lenardo Bowden (TE), LaWayne Foster (DB), James Brown (DB), George Foster (DB), George Hines (DB), Andre Watson (DB), Derek Gatlin (LB), Matt Reoh (DB), J.R. Gaetaneillo (DB), Tony Bartoli (DB), Jun Yahagi (LB), Greg Larson (LB), Jake Wright (DT), Ken Driscoll (LB), Alan Britten (LB), Danny Ward (LB), Tony Softli (LB), Marcus Wroten (LB), Art DeBoer (DE), Tupou Manaea (DL), Rodger Jackson (DT), Jerry Carter (DE), Bob Couch (DL), Joe Rogers (DE)

1986 Players

Tedde Jackson (WR), Jeff Kyger (P), Larry Jackson (WR), Jim Nettleton (QB), Mike McMahan (QB), LaWayne Foster (DB), James Brown (DB), Dave Broussard (K), George Williams (DB), John Corey (WR), Andre Nelson (DB), Mike Smith (DB), Mike Eckhart (DB), Marv Johnson (RB), Hiroshi Tokumaru (LB), Daryl Brown (RB), Keith Houghton (FB), Kevin Delaney (RB), David Thomas (RB), Timm Garske (TE), Richard White (LB), Jun Yahagi (LB), Darryl Johnson (OL), Stan Mason (C), Jake Wright (DL), Ken Driscoll (LB), Mike Davis (LB), Danny Ward (LB), Tony Softli (LB), Mark Price (OL), Jerome Johnson (OL), Brian Burck (C), Jim Krueger (OL), Wayne Sagiao (OL), Ted Hart (DL), Fred Pilon (OL), Art DeBoer (DE), Bob Couch (DL), Joe Rogers (DE), Greg Smith (WR), Mike Haggett (TE), Paul Burke (TE), Calvin Yarbrough (WR), Scott Greer (WR), William Bankson (DB), Al Taylor (LB), Keith Johnson (K)

 

1987 Players

Larry Jackson (WR), John Peterman (QB), Brian Malo (WR), Ron Jones (QB), Dave Broussard (K), Matt Reoh (DB), James Brown III (DB), Danny Gillihan (QB), A.D. Stinson (QB), Jimi Baker (RB), Conrad Johnson (TE), Michael Green (DB), Eric Vance (DB), Mike McMahan (QB), Marv Johnson (RB), Shawn Hodges (FB), Daryl Brown (FB), Thornton Green (RB), Clement Sheldon (RB), Timm Garske (TE), Brian Burke (LB), Mel Renas (DB), John Price (DB), Mike Davis (LB), Randy Smith (LB), Jake Wright (DT), Jack Rose (DB), Frank Sua (LB), Rodney Swanigan (DT), Jerome Johnson (OL), Larry Rude (DE), Jeff Lewis (OL), Bill Fuller (C), Lunenschloss (C), Ted Hard (OL), Fred Pilon (OL), Darrin Snow (DL), Brian Hopper (OL), Rick Williams (DL), John Peterson (OL), Joe Rogers (DE), John Williams (WR), Ken Goodson (WR), Mike Haggett (TE), Gordon Kenny (TE), Calvin Yarbrough (WR), Mark Swanson (WR), Frank Dashiell (WR), John Grader (DE), Bruce Barnett (WR), Andrew Murphy (C)


1988 Players

Dave Broussard (K), Curt Ammons (DB), Darren Young (DB), Mike McMahan (QB), A.D. Stinson (QB), Matt Reoh-Lloyd (DB), John Estes (DB), Ward Short (LB), Allen Smith (WR), Brad Toland (DB), Tim Thibert (RB), John Jones (FB), Andy Malone (RB), Mark Coyle (RB), Marvin Johnson (RB), Eric Vance (DB), Daryl Brown (RB), Tracy Collins (RB), Kirk Young (RB), Micael Van Leeuwen (OL), Darryl Rieux (DB), Scott McNinch (LB), Kenneth Hasson (LB), Sean Wagner (DB), Frank Sua (LB), Peter Schaaf (LB), Tim Cobb (DT), Darren Overcast (OL), Terry Friese (OL), Theron Hall (DE), Bill Fuller (C), John Skinner (DE), Fred Pilon (OL), Darin Snow (DL), John Grader (DL), Mike Schweitzer (DL), John Peterman (OL), Loren Finn (OL), John Williams (WR), Michael Wagner (WR), Michael Haggett (TE), Timm Garske (TE), Donnie Morehead (WR), Calvin Yarbrough (WR), Greg Adams (WR), Verneska Johnson (TE), Barry Johnston (OL), Dave Iverson (WR), Kim Panton (DE)



1984
Northwest Football Alliance
Record: 7-6
Owner Dee Strong (Jan-July)
Owner Charles & Diane Driskell (August)
Mgr Tony Modica
Coach Richard Harris
Asst Ron Howard, Eddie McMillan, Dave Kraayeveid, Don Testerman, Steve Myer

1985
Northwest Football Alliance
Record: 3-10
President Tony Modica
Mgr Mary Harris
Coach Richard Harris
Asst Ed McMillan, Don Testerman,


1986
Northwest Football Alliance
Record: 8-5
President Lester Clifton
Mgr Tony Softli Sr
Coach Steve Myer
Asst Sherman Smith, Art Kuehn, Doug Long, Ron East, Dennis Boyd



1986 Rushing Champion Kevin Delaney

1986 Awards

Kevin Delaney (RB) All-League 1st Team


1987
Northwest Football Alliance
Record: 5-7
Mgr Tony Modica
Coach Ron Fitzgerald
Def Coord Tony Softli, Off Coord Walt Benz
Asst Bob Couch, Scott Fitzgerald, Pat Fitzgerald


1988
Northwest Football League
Record: 13-0
Owner Tony Modica
President Peter Beer
Mgr Med Broussard
Coach Steve Myer
Off/Def Coord Richard Harris, Wayne Dickens, Greg Mortica

* Northwest Football League Champions *
Schedules and Results
1984 July 14 Spokane Fury 22-13
1984 July 29 Auburn Panthers 6-12 OT
1984 Aug 4 @ Spokane Fury 0-36
1984 Aug 11 West Seattle Warhawks 36-6
1984 Aug 19 Auburn Panthers 30-31
1984 Aug 25 Spokane Fury 8-28
1984 Sep 1 Skagit Valley Raiders 14-26
1984 Sep 9 Snohomish County Blue-Knights 37-7
1984 Sep 22 Peninsula Pioneers 42-20
1984 Sep 29 West Seattle Warhawks 34-0
1984 Oct 6 Seattle Cavaliers 30-8
1984 Oct 13 Clark County Grizzlies 45-11
1984 Oct 27 @ Spokane Fury (Playoff) 16-32
     
     
1985 July 20 Snohomish County Blue-Knights 6-29
1985 July 27 Spokane Fury 10-3
1985 Aug 3 @ Auburn Panthers 0-17
1985 Aug 10 West Seattle Warhawks 6-2
1985 Aug 17 @ Salem Stars 7-25
1985 Aug 24 @ Spokane Fury 7-20
1985 Aug 31 Sno-King Blue Knights 7-38
1985 Sep 15 Seattle Cavaliers 9-0
1985 Sep 21 West Seattle Warhawks 8-27
1985 Sep 28 Auburn Panthers 7-29
1985 Oct 5 Salem Stars 34-49
     
     
1986 July 19 @ Auburn Panthers 14-33
1986 July 26 Snohomish County Blue-Knights 35-0
1986 Aug 3 Seattle Cavaliers 41-0
1986 Aug 16 Salem Stars 26-0
1986 Aug 23 Skagit Valley Raiders 36-27
1986 Aug 30 West Seattle Warhawks 7-6
1986 Sep 6 Auburn Panthers 10-28
1986 Sep 13 Snohomish County Blue-Knights 32-6
1986 Sep 20 @ Seattle Cavaliers 35-3
1986 Oct 4 Salem Stars 36-6
1986 Oct 11 Skagit Valley Raiders 8-42
1986 Oct 18 West Seattle Warhawks 7-10 OT
1986 Oct 25 Auburn Panthers (Playoff) 0-28
     
     
1987 July 18 Snohomish County Blue-Knights 0-16
1987 July 25 @ Auburn Panthers 0-55
1987 Aug 1 @ Seattle Cavaliers 27-0
1987 Aug 8 Southside Warhawks 10-17
1987 Aug 15 Snohomish County Blue-Knights 38-3
1987 Aug 22 Seattle Cavaliers 38-0
1987 Aug 29 Skagit Valley Raiders 18-12 OT
1987 Sep 5 Auburn Panthers 7-42
1987 Sep 12 Southside Warhawks  
1987 Sep 19 Snohomish County Blue-Knights 21-10
1987 Sep 26 @ Seattle Cavaliers 0-7
1987 Oct 3 Skagit Valley Raiders 0-41
1987 Oct 10 @ Auburn Panthers 10-34
     
1988 July 16 Snohomish County Blue-Knights 75-0
1988 July 30 @ Southside Warhawks (Hi-Yu Cup) 34-8
1988 Aug 13 NWFL Jamboree  
1988 Aug 20 @ Snohomish County Blue-Knights 69-0
1988 Aug 27 @ Southside Warhawks 12-7
1988 Sep 3 @ Salem Pioneers  
1988 Sep 10 West Seattle Steelers 28-7
1988 Sep 17 @ Pierce County Bengals 13-10
1988 Sep 24 Snohomish County Blue-Knights  
1988 Oct 1 @ Southside Warhawks L FFT
1988 Oct 8 Salem Pioneers 48-0
1988 Oct 15 West Seattle Steelers  
1988 Oct 22 Pierce County Bengals 17-7
1988 Oct 29 West Seattle Steelers (Playoff) 30-9
1988 Nov 5 Pierce County Bengals * 14-0
  * Northwest League Championship  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
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