The Seattle Cavaliers, one of the most well-known legendary teams of the Pacific Northwest, first appears playing the Fort Lawton Bulldogs in 1955.  The Cavaliers would become the longest continually operating franchise through 36 seasons tying the mark set by the Multnomah Athletic Club Winged M's from 1891-1926, however, the M's did not appear to play consective years in the 1920's.  The Cavaliers also set records for most wins in franchise history (169), that has since been surpassed, however the 307 documented games played is still a Northwest record.  The Cavaliers also became famous for playing multiple games in a day, back-to-back games over weekends, and also playing American rules in one half, while playing Canadian rules in the second half of games when taking on Canadian opponents.  The Cavaliers were also a frequent opponent of Junior College programs and the University of British Columbia varsity and junior varsity teams.

Hall of Famer Elmo Hudgens began organizing the Issaquah town team in February 1956 announcing contact with the University of British Columbia with interest in a home-and-home series in October and November.

James Hooker Hailstone, a former Issaquah Alpines player took up the tackle position for the 1956 Labor Day game between Issaquah and the Cavaliers.
Cavaliers: Walt Hill, Romaine Jacobsen (Game MVP)  Issaquah: Kenny Hampton (Game MVP), Hooker Hailstone

Following the Sep 1, 1956 game with the Issaquah town team, it was decided both teams should merge, with 6 Seattle players joining forces and the team would be called the Issaquah Lions and at times the Cavaliers.

1956 Players: Brothers: Duane, Roger, Romaine (QB) and Odello (DL), Gerald Jacobsen, Don, Jack and Harold Boror, Walt Hill (player of the game 9/1/1956), Jim Stoa (E), Bill Storrie (HB), Kenny Hampton (LB), Jim Coop (DL),  The Jacobsen brothers played for Elmo Hudgens as the 1953 Roosevelt Lions.

1957: On Oct. 6, 1957 against the prison team at Walla Walla, the amateur Cavaliers lost 28-2.  By comparison, the semi-pro Seattle Ramblers arrived at the state pen a week later defeating the "Steelers" 40-0.

Prior to the Nov 16, 1957 game with UBC, the Vancouver Sun reported "The Cavaliers?  They're of unknown calibre playing only exhibition games against teams of equally unknown quality in and around the Seattle area."  Winless in eight games, UBC proceeded to trounce the Cavaliers 40-2.
 
Towards the end of 1958 the Cavs played games on consecutive days, defeating the Bombers from Canada on Saturday, then getting bombed by the Fort Lewis Panthers on Sunday.
 
During the 1959 season, the Seattle Times referred to Hudgen's squad as the "Westlake Chevaliers".
 
Jim Stoa scored a TD and 2-pt PAT, Leon Cooke scored a TD, Carl Jones converted the 2-pointer in the first win over Monroe on Sept 25. Stoa would be one of the Cavaliers top players.  The following week against the SnoCo All Stars, Paul Jones scored 3 TD's and Bob Williams caught a 20-yard score from Bob McCall.

The 1960 game versus the Surrey Rams was played under American rules in the first half and Canadian rules in the second.  The Cavs held a 35-0 advantage at halftime.

In 1967 Stan Kriegel came over to the Cavaliers from the Everett Wildcats after impressing the Cav coaches with a 20-tackle performance against Seattle (1966).   He played until 1982 and retired at the age of 41.  He got his start playing flag football for a local tavern between 1963-66.
 
Former halfback Bob Jarvis (1967) lost both legs and a hand in a 1975 construction accident.

QB Bob Cason threw for 4 TD's against Clackamas Oct 9, 1971. 
 
53-year old Dick Barnes kicked two extra points that proved the difference in the 20-19 victory over the NIFL All-Stars in 1972
 
Ed Softli scored 47+ touchdowns from 1959-1972 in every way possible; rushing, receiving, passing, punt and kick return, INT return as well as scoring a safety and 2-point conversion to go with a kicked PAT.  He was 6-times awarded team honors at the end of a season and began assistant coaching duties from 1966-1982. 

On Oct 14, 1973 the Cavaliers played a doubleheader, losing to UBC under Canadian rules and then defeating the Whatcom County Lakers in Memorial Stadium at Seattle High School following a 15-minute break between games.
 
Stan Kriegel blocked Flyers' Dick Larsen's punt and Joe Warren tackled Larsen in the endzone for 2-0 victory to kick off 1975.  Bob Cason passed for 110-yards in the defensive struggle.
 
Bob Cason was cut by the Seahawks on July 13, 1976 after being signed as a defensive back.
 
The 1980 squad, attempting to stay above the squabbles of the now divided Northwest International League, opted to go Independent.  This proved stable for the team as they still scheduled all of the area teams, while those teams dealt with league forfeits and other internal issues.
 
Sedric Austin (FS) sealed a 10-8 win when he picked off West Seattle and returned the INT 70-yards in the 4th quarter.  The following wek Carlos Warren returned a kickoff 85 yards for a TD in a loss at Yakima Valley College.
 
With things somewhat simmered down and the NIFA virtually aligning up solely against the Pierce County Bengals as a member, the Cavaliers rejoined the league and took the 1981 crown.

Elmo Hudgens passed away in 1982, at that point, his wife Alma along with longtime Cavalier loyalists stepped up to keep the team going for seven more seasons.  Elmo and Alma are currently the only husband-wife combination inducted into the Greater Northwest Hall of Fame for their selfless dedication to over-40 years of providing club football in the Seattle-area.
 
1986  Free Safety Jack Rose returned an INT for a score with 6:31 remaining in overtime to give Seattle a 12-6 win over Salem that ended a 24-game losing streak.   Jim Vapone scooped up a Star fumble and scored from 23-yards out in the first quarter.
 
In the loss to the Stars later in the season, John Skinner took a shot to the sternum that left him unable to move for 5 minutes and needed transport to the Salem hospital.
 
Mike Browne (University of Idaho) kicked a 40-yard FG to lift Seattle to a 3-0 win over the Orange County Rhinos in Anaheim, CA.  Jeff Palmer and Brian Thompson each recored 2 sacks in the game, combining for 19 tackles.

In March of 1990 a Seattle Times article reported:
"Newport's new artificial football turf will become home next season for a local semipro team, the Seattle Cavaliers. This is the team's 51st season. Phil Pompeo returns as head coach after taking 1989 off. The team will hold a minicamp at Newport May 5, then start practices June 11. Paul Roberts, 6-feet-6 290-pound tackle from Mercer Island, is on the roster, Pompeo said. Roberts will compete in track at the University of Washington this spring in the shot and hammer throw. Roy Medley, who quarterbacked the Auburn Panthers to a national playoff victory in 1986, also has joined the squad. The Cavs' schedule has three games in California, one in Wisconsin and one in Alabama."

That schedule would never be achieved as the Cavaliers franchise folded following the victory over the Sno-King Blue Knights.  It would end one of the longest running franchises in minor league history.  Most players would surface with the Eastside Express.  A brief attempt to reorganize as the Bellevue Blitz for the 1990 NWFL season failed as the team seemed to split from within.  Players who wanted to remain an NWFL team and play locally, and those wanting to follow Pompeo's vision of a National powerhouse traveling the country ended up scattered.
Jerry Carson, Sr, a running back for many years and reporter for the Seattle Times, passed away at the age of 55 in Oct, 1999.

GNFA CAVALIER HALL OF FAMERS
Elmo Hudgens	Alma Hudgens	Bob Cason	Dick Barnes	Tony Softli	Phil Pompeo
Owner	Owner	Quarterback	Kicker - Line	Line	GM
Stephen Matychowiak		Stan Kriegel	Ken Conley	Brian Thompson	Rob Diebold
Linebacker		Linebacker	Wide Receiver	Linebacker	Lineman

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