Middle Tennessee Football League: History
HISTORY OF THE MTFL2001
The MTFL's inaugural year of 2001 was successful. Games were played at Donelson Middle School and though the league only had 3 member teams, the completion of the 2001 season affirmed interest in adult full-contact football.
Year one saw the Hitmen go undefeated (2-0-2) through the regular season to earn a playoff bye and automatic berth in the Championship Game. The Knights (2-1-1) defeated the Infernos (0-3-1) in the playoff game and faced the Hitmen for the title. The game was close and in the end the Hitmen prevailed 14-12 to seal the book on an undefeated, championship season at 3-0-2. The Knights would finish 3-2-1 overall and the Infernos 0-4-1.
*********************************************************************
2002
Again a success, the 2002 season saw the MTFL grow from 3 teams to 5 as we went from 8-man to 9-man football and went to a regulation 11-man field at Isaac Litton Middle School. The level of play increased as did the success of offensive football.
The league champion was again undefeated at 5-0-1 as the Rutherford County Stingrays averaged 32.5 points per game and capped their season with a 30-6 victory over 2001 title holders the Lebanon Hitmen in the Championship game.
FINAL STANDINGS (Team W-L-T-PF-PA)
Rutherford Co. Stingrays 5-0-1-195-42
Lebanon Hitmen 3-2-1-83-58
White House Bruisers 3-2-0-85-83
Goodlettsville Infernos 1-4-0-16-115
Mt. Juliet Knights 1-5-0-13-93
*********************************************************************
2003
The 2003 MTFL was even bigger and better. The number of teams in the MTFL remained at five but adult recreational football became more popular as the number of teams playing in the area grew to nine with one of last season's teams spawning another league in Middle Tennessee.
Nine-man football was still the game and offenses again did well. Quality improvements were due in large part to the games being hosted by Charlie Daniels Park in Mt. Juliet, allowing us to play several night games. In the charged night game atmosphere and before arguably the largest MTFL crowd ever, the Green Machine (7-1) defeated the White House Bruisers (7-1) by a final score of 22-19 to take the championship.
The MTFL also experienced the end of an era. At the conclusion of the 2003 season league founders Lynn and Mike Shaw passed MTFL on to commitee governance. Each of the teams remaining in good standing at the end of the 2003 season received an opportunity to participate on the committee that will decide the future of the MTFL.
2003 FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
Bruisers 6-0
Green Machine 5-1
Knights 3-3
LawDawgs 1-5
Devil Dogs 0-6
PLAYOFF RESULTS
Green Machine 30, Knights 6
Bruisers 27, LawDawgs 0
*********************************************************************
2004
The 2004 MTFL season had to have been the most competitive year to date. The league remained at 5 teams but had close games day in and day out. The seeding for the playoffs could have went several ways in the last week of the regular season since 3 teams were tied at 4-3 going into the final week.
The MTFL Championship Game was once again played under the lights this time at Lebanon High School. The crowd was in sprit as it was a rematch of the 2003 Championship Game between the Green Machine (8-2) & Bruisers (7-3). Giving up 178 points in the regular season the Bruisers defense stepped up and only gave up 7 points in the playoffs and gained a shut out in the Championship Game over the Green Machine 24 0.
Year number 4 even under committee governance was a successful one. The MTFL is inviting all teams back for 2005.
2004 FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
TEAM (W-L-PF-PA)
Green Machine (7-1-212-130)
Bruisers (5-3-249-178)
Irish (4-4-154-125)
LawDawgs (4-4-200-152)
Knights (0-8-28-258)
Playoff Results
Green Machine vs. LawDawgs (13-0)
Bruisers vs. Irish (42-7)