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OKANOGAN COUNTY COMMANDOS
(2005 - 2013)

Omak, Washington
Omak High, Okanogan High



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Mark Meadows $5/Annually
Created as an independent team for the 2005 season by Malcolm and Kelly Townsend, the Okanogan County Commandos rallied one of the best fan bases any team could desire coming from a smaller community.  With an intimate field and fans lined up sitting on pickup tailgates behind the visiting bench, Okanogan was heralded as one of the most fun teams to visit by opponents who also knew they were in for a tough game week-in and week-out.

During a short six-game inaugural season, the Commandos wasted no time going into the deep waters scheduling a two-game set with the Tri City Knights.  The Knights, playing under the Rattlers banner in the Inland Northwest League in 2004, were 11-0 and INWFL champions.  After starting the season 1-1, Okanogan took the Knights to the wire at home in a 20-13 loss, proving they would be no push-over.  Next up, would be a two-game set with fellow independent start-up from the west side of the state in the South Sound Shockers.  The teams would split home-and-home wins ahead of the Knights rematch.  The Commandos fell 28-6 in Pasco as the Knights went on to win the Evergreen League with a 13-2 record.  Okanogan had built a base to work from.

The Commandos would improve to 6-4 as full-fledged members of the Evergree League in 2007 and would be in the mix of the Top Four teams in the league.  The Knights would knock Okanogan out of the playoffs in the first round to end the season.

The record for 2007 on paper shows 1-7, but that does not tell the story of the season.  The season started off with a canceled game by the Riverhawks, before a string of tight losses by 13-points to the 2006 league runners-up on the road, two-consecutive 3-point losses, two consecutive 14-point losses, but at 0-5, the Commandos upset the defending champion Knights 14-7.  The season closed out with a one-point loss and a seven point loss.  The Commandos just needed a couple breaks their way.

Those breaks would come through in 2008, though it would be tough sledding starting off the season with three road games.  Opening with a 31-point loss on the road, the Commandos bounced back to take an overtime win in Idaho, before traveling across the mountains to the west for a game with the Shockers that ended in a 25-point loss.  From there, Okanogan reeled off five straight league wins and a home field playoff game against the Shockers.  Once again, the Commandos defended the home turf against South Sound avenging the earlier loss with a 21-15 win over the former 2007 Pacific Northwest Conference champions, sending the Shockers out of the playoffs.  Yakima would end the season in like fashion in a 16-13 slugfest as the Mavericks punched their own ticket to the EFL Championship.  Malcolm Townsend would be named GNFA Regional Coach of the Year for the massive turnaround from 1-7 to 7-3 in a few short months.

The 2009 and 2010 seasons were struggles for the small county team, Okanogan County boasts a mere 43,000+ residents in total, while "nearby" rival Wenatchee (93 miles away) itself is home to 35,000 and hosted a junior college.  A 4-5 2009 season was derailed by a 6-0 loss to defending champion Blue Mountain, a 12-6 loss to Yakima, and 19-13 overtime loss to Wenatchee.  The final nail in the Commandos playoff hopes were crushed by the Shockers 31-0.  That frustration was taken out in a 37-0 smashing of Hells Canyon in the finale.

2010 was a similar template as close losses to Yakima in overtime and Wenatchee by one-point led Okanogan into another showdown with the Shockers in Lacey, Washington.  Both teams clinging to near .500 football.  The Commandos left the west with a 26-23 victory, but the team from Hell's Canyon had to forfeit the following week, and with the league playoff draws, the Shockers were in and the Commandos were left out.  Hell's Canyon would combine it's few remaining players with remnants of the collapsing North Sound Sting for an "exhibition" game against Okanogan with the Commandos winning going away 37-7 to end the season.

In 2011, the Spokane Wolfpack had the Commandos number.  Opening the season with a road loss in Spokane 16-6, the teams would meet again five weeks later, and again the Wolfpack would take away a 28-7 victory.  The rest of the league had a problem though.  The Commandos had acquired a star wide receiver in Steve Stockton, a former two-sport star from Whitworth University.  Few would guess this star who smashed the regional record for receptions in a season with 86 and wrote his name into other receiving categories with 1,309 yards and 14 touchdowns wa the nephew of NBA Legend John Stockton.  The Commandos rode his play-making and game-breaking ability to the Washington Football League championship, where they expected the Wolfpack to await them.  However, it was Wenatchee who pulled the upset and sent Spokane out.  The Commandos survived a 15-14 playoff scare from the Hurricanes, then won their only league title in franchise history with a 16-10 win over the Rams to complete a 10-2 season.  Stockton would be named GNFA Player of the Year for his record-setting performance in 2011.

2011 Washington Football League Champions

As the league faced new hurdles, the Commandos were once again looking for luck in tight games. The 2012 season, shortened with the departure of league teams to just six games, came within 8-points of starting out 5-0.  But, at 3-2, the Commandos and Rams would meet again, with the Rams taking the playoff win, sending Okanogan home at 3-3 on the seaon.  The spread got a little wider in 2013 as the Commandos finished how they started in 2005 with a 2-4 record and a playoff ouster at the hands of Wenatchee.

That would be the final game for the Commandos on the field after nearly a decade of giving the Okanogan area a community event like no other.  As much as the community supported the team, the team in turn supported the community with various events throughout the years, fund-raising to help families during hardships and being a bright spot on the semi-pro football scene, a one the community was proud of.


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Commandos at Sting 2010




Commandos 2010



2013




Pickup row behind the Visitor's bench



Multi-Award Winner Shawn Townsend
2006 EFL Defensive Player of the Year
2005
Indepedent
Record: 2-4
Sponsor/GM: Malcolm Townsend
Coach Malcolm Townsend



2006
Evergreen Football League
Record: 6-4
Sponsor/GM: Malcolm Townsend
Coach Malcolm Townsend

2006 Awards

Shawn Townsend (LB) Evergreen League Defensive MVP


2007
Evergreen Football League
Record: 1-7
Sponsor/GM: Malcolm Townsend
Coach Malcolm Townsend


2007 Awards

Shawn Townsend (LB) GNFA All-Region 2nd Team



2008
Evergreen Football League
Record: 7-3
Sponsor/GM: Malcolm Townsend
Coach Malcolm Townsend


2008 Awards

Malcolm Townsend - GNFA Coach of the Year
Justin Koepke (DL) GNFA All-Region 1st Team
Shawn Townsend (DB) GNFA All-Region 1st Team
Tom Cox (P) GNFA All-Region 2nd Team


2009
Washington Football League
Record: 4-5
Sponsor/GM: Malcolm Townsend
Coach Malcolm Townsend


2009 Awards

Shawn Townsend (LB) GNFA All-Region 2nd Team
Brad Timm (OL) GNFA All-Region Hon Mention
Justin Koepke (DL) GNFA All-Region Hon Mention
Shawn Townsend (OLB) All-League 1st Team
Iain Ashley (QB) All-League 2nd Team
Carson Mills (RB) All-League 2nd Team
Brad Timm (G) All-League 2nd Team
Justin Koepke (DE) All-League 2nd Team
John Daniels (WR) All-League Hon Mention
Taylor Horner (TE) All-League Hon Mention
Robby Bradshaw (CB) All-League Hon Mention


2010
Washington Football League
Record: 4-3
Sponsor/GM: Malcolm Townsend
Coach Malcolm Townsend

2010 Awards

Shawn Townsend (All-Purpose) GNFA All-Region 1st Team
Michael Gates (C) GNFA All-Region 2nd Team
Iain Ashley (QB) GNFA All-Region 2nd Team
Ryan Cate (RB) GNFA All-Region 2nd Team
Justin Koepke (LB) GNFA All-Region Hon Mention
Shawn Townsend (LB) GNFA All-Region Hon Mention


2011
Washington Football League
Record: 10-2
Sponsor/GM: Malcolm Townsend
Coach Malcolm Townsend

* Washington Football League Champions *

2011 Awards

Steve Stockton (WR) GNFA Player of the Year



Steve Stockton (WR) GNFA All-Region 1st Team
Randy Reed (C) GNFA All-Region 2nd Team
CJ Lockwood (Ath) GNFA All-Region 2nd Team
Carson Mills (LB) GNFA All-Region 2nd Team
Ryan Anderson (LB) GNFA All-Region 2nd Team
Garry Colbert (LB) GNFA All-Region 2nd Team
Robby Bradshaw (DB) GNFA All-Region 2nd Team
Iain Ashley (QB) GNFA All-Region Hon Mention
Taylor Horner (DL) GNFA All-Region Hon Mention




2012
Washington Football League
Record: 3-3
Sponsor/GM: Malcolm Townsend
Coach Malcolm Townsend


2012 Awards

Shawn Townsend (Ath) GNFA All-Region 2nd Team



2013
Washington Football League
Record: 2-4
Sponsor/GM: Malcolm Townsend
Coach Malcolm Townsend
Schedules and Results
Date Opponent Score
2005 Mar 12 @ Wenatchee Valley Rams 0-20
2005 Mar 19 Columbia Basin Bulls 7-6
2005 Mar 26 Tri City Knights 13-20
2005 Apr 24 @ South Sound Shockers 20-23
2005 Apr 30 South Sound Shockers 17-31
2005 May 7 @ Tri City Knights 6-28
     
     
2006 Mar 18 Columbia Basin Riverhawks 36-6
2006 Apr 1 Spokane SaberCats 21-13
2006 Apr 8 Blue Mountain Stars 7-40
2006 Apr 15 @ Tri City Knights 6-34
2006 Apr 22 Palouse Thunder 27-13
2006 Apr 29 Yakima Mavericks 17-14 OT
2006 May 6 @ Wenatchee Valley Rams 12-27
2006 May 13 State Line Miners 24-12
2006 May 20 State Line Miners 18-13
2006 June 4 @ Tri City Knights (Playoff) 12-42
     
     
2007 Mar 17 @ Columbia Basin Riverhawks Cancel
2007 Mar 31 @ Blue Mountain Stars 0-13
2007 Apr 7 Spokane SaberCats 21-24
2007 Apr 14 @ Palouse Thunder 25-28
2007 Apr 21 State Line Miners 7-21
2007 Apr 28 @ Yakima Mavericks 14-28
2007 May 12 Tri City Knights 14-7
2007 May 19 @ Columbia Basin Riverhawks 25-26
2007 May 26 Wenatchee Valley Rams 13-20
     
     
2008 Mar 15 @ Wenatchee Valley Rams 6-37
2008 Mar 29 @ Palouse Thunder 10-7 OT
2008 Apr 12 @ South Sound Shockers 3-28
2008 Apr 19 State Line Miners 17-0
2008 Apr 26 @ Spokane SaberCats 13-6
2008 May 10 @ Columbia Basin Riverhawks 15-7
2008 May 17 Skagit Valley Lightning 55-14
2008 May 24 @ Bellingham Bulldogs 22-9
2008 June 7 South Sound Shockers (Playoff) 21-15
2008 June 14 @ Yakima Mavericks (Playoff) 13-16
     
     
2009 Mar 21 Wenatchee Valley Rams 32-50
2009 Apr 4 North Sound Sting 43-12
2009 Apr 18 @ Blue Mountain Stars 0-6
2009 Apr 25 @ Spokane Wolfpack 7-6
2009 May 2 Yakima Mavericks 6-12
2009 May 9 Wenatchee Valley Rams 13-19 OT
2009 May 16 @ Columbia Basin Riverhawks 14-13
2009 May 23 South Sound Shockers 0-31
2009 May 30 @ Hells Canyon Thunder 37-0
     
     
2010 Mar 20 @ North Sound Sting 25-20
2010 Apr 3 Hermiston Hurricanes 6-21
2010 Apr 10 Spokane Wolfpack 10-7
2010 Apr 24 @ Yakima Mavericks 23-26 OT
2010 May 1 @ Wenatchee Valley Rams 12-13
2010 May 8 Columbia Basin Riverhawks 45-24
2010 May 15 @ South Sound Shockers 26-23
2010 May 22 Palouse Thunder W FFT
2010 May 22 "Thunder-Sting" Exhibition 37-7
     
     
2011 Mar 20 @ Spokane Wolfpack 6-16
2011 Mar 26 @ Palouse Thunder 20-13
2011 Apr 2 Wenatchee Valley Rams 18-14
2011 Apr 9 Columbia Basin Riverhawks 30-6
2011 Apr 16 @ Hermiston Hurricanes 27-16
2011 Apr 23 Spokane Wolfpack 7-28
2011 Apr 30 Palouse Thunder 38-8
2011 May 7 @ Wenatchee Valley Rams 21-17
2011 May 14 Columbia Basin Riverhawks 12-2
2011 May 21 Hermiston Hurricanes 27-15
2011 June 4 Hermiston Hurricanes (Playoff) 15-14
2011 June 11 Wenatchee Valley Rams (Championship) 16-10
     
     
2012 Mar 24 Palouse Thunder 12-6
2012 Apr 7 @ Wenatchee Valley Rams 14-15
2012 Apr 14 Spokane Wolfpack 6-13
2012 Apr 21 Pierce County Bengals Cancel
2012 Apr 28 Palouse Thunder 20-14
2012 May 5 @ Washington Cavaliers Cancel
2012 May 12 Columbia Basin Riverhawks 61-6
2012 May 19 Wenatchee Valley Rams (Playoff) 8-36
     
     
2013 Apr 6 Palouse Thunder 20-7
2013 Apr 13 Wenatchee Valley Rams 14-35
2013 Apr 20 @ Snohomish County Vikings 28-25
2013 May 11 @ Spokane Wolfpack 12-17
2013 May 25 Waitsburg Elite 6-27
2013 June 8 @ Wenatchee Valley Rams (Playoff) 14-30
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
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