WELCOME to the Mason-Dixon League for the 2018 season. The League has been in continuous operation since 1978 and was reclassified from Class AA to Class AAA in 1988. Games are played under modified NFL rules using officials who have received special training in those rules.
The present teams represent four states. By seniority they are:
1. Arbutus "Big Red", Arbutus (Baltimore), MD. – Thirty-Ninth Year
2. Virginia Crusaders, Hampton, VA. - Founteenth Year
3. Palmetto Hurricanes, Columbia, SC. - Tenth Year
4. Virginia Titans, Richmond, VA – Seventh Year
5. Carolina Stallions – Rocky Mount, NC – Seventh Year
6. New Jersey Broncos - Vorhees, NJ - Sisth Year
7. Chambersburg Phoenix - Chambersburg, PA - First Year
8. Carolina Punishers - Littleton, NC - First Year
As a group they represent one of the stronger memberships of any active minor league organization. Located just outside of Baltimore, the Arbutus "Big Red" have played since 1926, making them one of the oldest teams in the country. In 1996, one of our former teams was named AFA National Champion and in 1997, the Virginia Ravens played the Marlboro, Mass. Shamrocks for the AFA National title.
Our players have received national recognition such as being selected All-American by the American Football Association (AFA). Ron Meehan, former quarterback for the Big Red, was selected the AFA Player of the Year in 1991. In 1994, Darryl Dugger, center for the Virginia Ravens, was selected AFA Offensive Lineman of the Year. Rodney Baylor, Hampton Roads Sharks, was named the 1995 AFA Defensive Lineman of the Year. In 1997, Charles Allen, Offensive Guard for the Virginia Ravens, was named the AFA Offensive Lineman of the Year. Eight MDFL players were named 1998 1st & 2nd team AFA All-Americans, in 1999, five players were named and in 2002, the League had seven players named as 1st & 2nd team All-Americans. Joe Hand of the Jacksonville Raiders was named the AFA’s 2002 Gold Ball winner as Special Teams Player of the Year. The Virginia Mutiny were recognized as the AFA’s 2002 State and MidEast Regional winner and the Jacksonville (NC) Raiders were named the AFA’s North Carolina State Champions. The National Football Events named a total of 20 MDFL players to their 2002 All-American teams. The AFA end-of-season rankings listed the Raiders as # 8 and the Mutiny at # 11. In 2003, the AFA recognized 57 MDFL players as All-Americans. Minor League Football News honored several of our members with the following awards: 2003 Outstanding League of the Year; Comeback Team of the Year - NJ Broncos; GM of the Year - Sharon Jacobs - Cumberland Valley Cardinals; Woman of the Year - Mary Lockhart - Virginia Ravens. National Football Events recognized 11 MDFL players as 2003 All-Americans. The Minor League Football News again honored the MDFL with several team and individual awards during the 2004 season: Assistant Coach of the Year - Rep Lampman (Storm); GM of the Year - Ray Scott (Monarchs); Running Back of the Year - Jawarren Cowles (Ravens); Owners of the Year - Hal & Mary Lockhart (Ravens); Come Back Team of the Year - Ravens and fourteen players from the League were named MLFN All-Americans. National Football Events recognized two MDFL teams in their end-of-year rankings - the Virginia Ravens were #7 in the national poll and # 2 in the Southeast Region while the PW Monarchs were ranked # 8 in the Southeast Region! In 2005, the MLFN recognized 8 MDFL players as All-Americans. National Football Events final rankings had the Ravens at # 7 nationally and # 1 in the Southeast Region while the PW Monarchs were ranked # 29 nationally and # 5 in the Southeast Region. In 2006, fifteen players were named as MLFN All-Americans. National Football Events end-of-year rankings had the Monachs at # 21 nationally and # 5 in the Southeast while the Heat was ranked # 8 in the Southeast. MLFN ranked the Monarchs # 21 nationally and # 7 in the Eastern region while the Heat was ranked # 43 nationally and # 11 in the Southern region. In 2007, nineteen players were named as MLFN All-Americans. National Football Events end-of-year rankings had the Virginia Ravens ranked # 12 nationally and # 2 in the Southeast while the Virginia Crusaders were ranked # 13 in the Southeast. MLFN ranked the Ravens # 21 and the Crusaders # 44 in their Top 50. In 2008, 11 Crusader players were named MLFN All –Americans. The Crusaders were ranked # 16 in the MLFN Top 50; # 3 in the National Football Events Southeast Region and # 11 in the National NFE.
In 2011 National Football Events ranked the Rivermen # 19 in the Top 30 and # 3 in the Southeast, the Crusaders # 25 in the Top 30 and # 5 in the Southeast and the Big Red were ranked # 13 in the Southeast. MLFN ranked the Crusaders # 14 and the Rivermen # 39. There were seven MDFL players participating in the Casino Bowl – 6 from Arbutus and 1 from the Palmetto SC Hurricanes. Charles Kirby (Arbutus) was named MVP for the 4th time – 3rd in a row! The Crusaders won the USA D1 National Championship in Daytona Beach, FL. Isaiah Wigfall was named MVP of the game. The Crusaders again won the USA Bowl National Championship in Daytona Beach, FL and were crowned the 2012 Fall/Winter National Champions. John Washington was named MVP of the game. They were ranked # 8 in the National Football Events Poll. In
2013, the Virginia Crusaders won their third USA Bowl National Championship in Daytona Beach, FL, and were ranked # 5 in the USA Bowl and # 3 in National Football Events. The Crusaders repeated as USA Bowl National Champions (their fourth!) in 2014.
In 2002 the MDFL (16 teams) joined with the United (16 teams), Southern (10 teams), South Atlantic Minor (6 teams) and Appalachian (4 teams) Leagues to form the Eastern Football Alliance Tournament. League Champions would advance as well as the next 3 teams with the top power rankings. Playoffs began in November with three MDFL teams invited: the Virginia Mutiny, the Jacksonville Raiders and the Raleigh/Durham Wolverines. In December of 2002, the Jacksonville Raiders won the inaugural championship game which was hosted by the United League in Richmond, VA, and were named the Eastern National Semi-Pro Football Champions. Kendrick Pollock, QB for the Raiders, was named as the MVP for the game.
In 2003 the MDFL had two teams competing in the tournament (Broncos & Ravens). The Middle Georgia Stallions of the Southern Football League were crowned the 2003 EFA Champions. The MDFL will serve as the host League for the 2004 Championship. The Cumberland (MD) Cougars will host the game in Cumberland, MD on December 4.
In 2004, the MDFL again had two teams in the EFA tournament (PW Monarchs and the Virginia Ravens). The Ravens won the EFA title and their running back, Jawarren Cowles, was named game MVP.
In 2005, three MDFL teams qualified for the EFA tournament (Ravens, Monarchs and Heat). The Ravens again advanced to the championship game but lost to the Conshohocken PA Steelers. Raven running back, Jawarren Cowles, was named as the Offensive MVP of the game.
In 2006, four MDFL teams participated in the EFA tournament (Monarchs, Ravens, Heat and Storm). The Heat (ranked # 1) advanced to the EFA Championship but lost to the Conshohocken PA Steelers. Willie Harris was named the Heat MVP.
In 2007, two teams participated (Jacksonville Raiders and Virginia Ravens). The Ravens advanced to the championship round, losing 17-20 to the Atlanta Prime. Jawarren Cowles was named Offensive MVP for the Ravens.
Taking a look back, here are our former League Champions:
1978 - Franklin County Minutemen (Chambersburg, PA)
1979 - Fredericksburg (VA) Rebels
1980 - Virginia Chargers (Manassas, VA)
1981 - Richmond (VA) Bruins
1982 - Richmond (VA) Bruins
1983 - Arbutus (MD) Big Red
1984 - Arbutus (MD) Big Red
1985 - Chesapeake Bay Neptunes (Va. Beach, VA)
1986 - Triangle Cardinals (Durham, NC)
1987 - Baltimore (MD) Bears
1988 - Peninsula Pirates (Hampton/Newport News, VA)
1989 - Washington (DC) Stonewalls**
1990 - Tidewater Sharks (Norfolk, VA)
1991 - Baltimore (MD) Bears
1992 - Peninsula Poseidons (Hampton/Newport News, VA)
1993 - Metro Bulls (Washington, DC)
1994 - Charlotte (NC) Blast
1995 - Fredericksburg (VA) Generals
1996 - Fredericksburg (VA) Generals
1997 - Richmond (VA) Ravens **
1998 - Arbutus "Big Red"
1999 - West Deptford, NJ Broncos
2000 - West Deptford, NJ Broncos
2001 - Prince Willliam Monarchs
2002 - Virginia Mutiny
2003 - New Jersey Broncos
2004 - Virginia Ravens
2005 - Virginia Ravens
2006 - Prince William Monarchs
2007 - Virginia Ravens
2008 – Virginia Crusaders
2009 – Arbutus Big Red
2010 – Virginia Crusaders
2011 – Northern Neck Rivermen
2012 – Virginia Crusaders
2013 – Virginia Crusaders
2014 – Virginia Crusaders
2015 - DMV Elite
2016 - Virginia Crusaders
2017 - Virginia Crusaders
2018 - Palmetto SC Hurricanes
** Indicates team played for AFA National Championship
