| North Pacific Football League | |
| Sport: | Football |
| Founded: | 1963 |
| Teams: | Varied (4 to 10) |
| Country: | United States Canada |
| Champion: | Seattle Ramblers |
| Most Champs: | Edmonds Warriors (2) |
| Folded: | 1966 |
| Fame: | The 2nd football league to operate teams in both the United States and Canada |
| Related Comps: | Continental Football League |
The North Pacific Football League is the collaboration name for two separate but related minor American football leagues - the Pacific Football League and Northern California League - that operated in the Pacific Northwest region, between 1963 and 1966. The leagues published combined all-star team every year, but there was no inter-league or playoff play, except the 1966 season, when both league champions played for the "Pacific Coast Championship".[1]
The leagues supplied five of the seven members of the Continental Football League "Pacific Division", resulting in leagues disbandment after the 1966 season. It was the second football league (after the United Football League) to operate teams in both the United States and Canada.[2] [3]
The Pacific Football League had a special "8-Point rule", stated that if a team was trailing by eight or more points, they could receive a kickoff from their opponent rather than kickoff. The league commissioner was former Hollywood Stars player Joe Huston with involvement of Frank Leahy Jr. during the 1966 season.[4]
The North Pacific Football League featured some notable names, including former Washington Redskins WR Hugh Smith, future Oakland Raiders Chon Gallegos (1965 NCL MVP), Grey Cup champion Pete Ohler, Kermit Jorgensen (two-time league MVP), former Oregon Ducks stars Mike Brundage and Paul Burleson, Raye Renfro and future Humboldt State Lumberjacks football head coach Mike Dolby.
After the 1966 season Eugene Bombers,[5] Sacramento Lancers, San Jose Apaches, Seattle Ramblers[6] [7] and Victoria Steelers[8] joined the newly formed Continental Football League "Pacific Division". Portland Thunderbirds declined an opportunity to join the CoFL due to financial concerns.[1]
| North Pacific Football League | ||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct. | PF | PA | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Tyees | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 163 | 83 | Declared Champions[9] | |
| Edmonds Warriors | 3 | 5 | 0 | .375 | 100 | 116 | ||
| Portland Thunderbirds | 2 | 5 | 0 | .285 | 104 | 96 | ||
| 2 | 5 | 0 | .285 | 54 | 127 | |||
The Bellingham Jets dropped out of the league mid-season and forfeited the last four games.[10]
| North Pacific Football League | ||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct. | PF | PA | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonds Warriors | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 265 | 42 | Declared Champions[11] | |
| Tacoma Tyees | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | 240 | 82 | ||
| Portland Thunderbirds | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 189 | 134 | ||
| Forth Lewis Rangers[12] | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | 193 | 99 | ||
| Seattle Ramblers | 2 | 6 | 0 | .250 | 40 | 157 | ||
| Spokane Volunteers[13] | 1 | 8 | 0 | .111 | 20 | 312 | ||
| Bellingham Jets | 0 | 8 | 0 | .000 | 20 | 134 | Folded | |
It was the first year that two leagues coexist. Edmonds Warriors finished first in the PFL and San Jose Apaches won NCL title after beating Redwood City Ramblers in the league final. Kermit Jorgensen (RB, Edmonds) and Chon Gallegos (QB, San Jose) won their respective league MVP titles.[1] Frank Leahy Jr., son of the former Notre Dame coach, was appointed head coach for Lake Oswego Thunderbirds.
The North Pacific Football League changed its name to Northwest International Football League after adding Canada's Vancouver Kats. Alas, the Kats disbanded mid-season failing to score in any league games, became Rugby club and forfeited the last four games.[2]
| Northwest International Football League | ||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct. | PF | PA | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonds Warriors | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 238 | 46 | Declared Champions | |
| Lake Oswego Thunderbirds | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 227 | 87 | ||
| Tacoma Tyees | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 53 | 167 | ||
| Vancouver Kats | 0 | 9 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 216 | Disbanded | |
| Northern California League | |||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct. | PF | PA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose Apaches | 9 | 1 | 0 | .900 | 271 | 65 | |
| Redwood City Ramblers | 9 | 1 | 0 | .900 | 298 | 90 | |
| Sacramento Lancers | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | 161 | 197 | |
| Oroville Beavers | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | 118 | 201 | |
| Hayward Hawks | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | 171 | 286 | |
| Eureka Foresters | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | 130 | 312 | |
Portland Thunderbirds signed a working agreement with the Denver Broncos for players development.[14]
| Pacific Football League | ||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct. | PF | PA | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Ramblers | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 216 | 60 | Declared Champions* | |
| Eugene Bombers | 7 | 3 | 0 | .778 | 271 | 153 | ||
| Portland Thunderbirds | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 133 | 135 | ||
| Tacoma Tyees | 2 | 6 | 1 | .250 | 95 | 214 | ||
| Edmonds Warriors | 2 | 6 | 1 | .250 | 120 | 143 | ||
| Victoria Steelers | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | 132 | 237 | ||
| Northern California League | ||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct. | PF | PA | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose Apaches | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 238 | 46 | Declared Champions | |
| Hayward Hawks | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 227 | 87 | ||
| Sacramento Lancers | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 53 | 167 | ||
| Oroville Beavers | 0 | 9 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 216 | ||