Portland Pythons

Portland Pythons
Portland Pythons
Current season
	Established 2018; First season: 2018; Play in and headquartered in The Snake Pit; Portland, Oregon
	Logo
League/conference affiliations
	DSFL (2018–present) DSFL West (2018–2019); DSFL East (2020); DSFL North (2021–present);
	Current uniform
Team colors	Orange, Green
Mascot	Legs the Python
Personnel
General manager	Squirrel Westman
Head coach	Chad Masters
Team history
	Portland Pythons (2018–present);
Championships
	League championships (0); Ultimini championships (5); 2019 (S4) (II), 2022 (S7) (V), 2026 (S11) (IX), 2029 (S14) (XII), 2033 (S18) (XVI);
	Conference championships (11) DSFL West: 2019 (S4); DSFL East: 2020 (S5); DSFL North: 2022 (S7), 2024 (S9), 2025 (S10), 2026 (S11), 2029 (S14), 2030 (S15), 2031 (S16), 2032 (S17), 2033 (S18);
	Division championships (11) DSFL West: 2019 (S4); DSFL East: 2020 (S5); DSFL North: 2021 (S6), 2022 (S7), 2025 (S10), 2026 (S11), 2029 (S14), 2030 (S15), 2031 (S16), 2032 (S17), 2033 (S18);
Playoff appearances (11)
	DSFL: 2019 (S4), 2020 (S5), 2021 (S6), 2022 (S7), 2025 (S10), 2026 (S11), 2029 (S14), 2030 (S15), 2031 (S16), 2032 (S17), 2033 (S18);
Home fields
	The Snake Pit (2018–present);

The Portland Pythons are a professional American football franchise based in Portland, Oregon. The Pythons currently compete in the Developmental Simulation Football League (DSFL) as a member club of the league's Northern Conference which currently only has one division. Their home stadium is The Snake Pit in Portland. Their chief rivals are the Minnesota Grey Ducks, and the Norfolk Seawolves.

The Pythons are one of the most storied franchises in the league, having first won the DSFL Championship in 2019 (S4) against the Grey Ducks (then the San Antonio Marshals). In the history of the franchise, they have won their division 11 times, the conference championship 11 times, and the DSFL Championship five times, second most in the league.

History of the Portland Pythons

2018

The story of the Portland Pythons is the story of the DSFL. One of the founding DSFL teams, along with the Chicago Blues, Norfolk Seawolves, San Antonio Marshals, Kansas City Coyotes, and the Tijuana Luchadores in 2018, the early days of the Pythons were rocky. First playing in the West division with the Seawolves and Blues, the Pythons lost their first two games before their first ever franchise victory came in a 16-14 win at home against the Seawolves. Although fans were ecstatic at the victory, the rest of the season would still be a struggle for the Pythons. The did win three games in a row, before dropping five in a row. The final game of the season was another game against Norfolk, which the Pythons won, 27-21. Although the season ended on a high note, the Pythons amassed a 5-9 record and missed the first playoffs of the DSFL, which saw the San Antonio Marshals win the inaugural Ultimini Championship. The first Pythons was led by quarterback Stars, who threw for 253 completions and 2807 yards, with 11 touchdowns. On the ground, running back Ferrell carried the ball 232 times for 751 yards and three touchdowns. In the air, wide receiver Shaloiko caught 84 balls for 1253 yards and four touchdowns. Shaloiko's efforts made him the second best wide receiver in the league, just a hair behind Norfolk's Mason. On the other side of the ball, linebackers Goodson and Retro contributed 111 and 104 tackles respectively, while defensive end Andreas Waiters contributed with 18 sacks. Although the first Pythons' season ended in disappointed, the team would not be deterred.

2019

The following season would show a complete turn around for the Pythons. Still playing in the West division, the Pythons ripped off two wins in a row before being blown out on the road against the Chicago Blues, 33-3. However, the Pythons would right the ship and finish the regular season on a four win streak and a final record of 11-3, the best in the DSFL. The Pythons earned their first playoff berth and division title, setting up a game against the Norfolk Seawolves for the DSFL West Championship. The Pythons would go on to dominate the game, 31-0, with quarterback Jameis Christ throwing for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Defensive tackle Norman Bagwell had five tackles and two sacks. With their conference championship in hand, the Portland Pythons would go against the San Antonio Marshals, who beat the Tijuana Luchadores in the DSFL East Championship game. The Pythons would win their first ever Ultimini at Ultimini II in Portland, with a final score of 27-14. Quarterback Jameis Christ led the league with 327 completions and 3387 yards, with 19 touchdowns. Running back Goose contributed 273 carries and 919 yards with three touchdowns. Wide receive Watcher led the league with 95 receptions, 1144 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Defensive end Andreas Waiters once again led the league with 18 sacks, while linebacker Parker led the team with 87 tackles. Jameis Christ won league MVP and Offensive MVP. Andreas Waiters won Defensive MVP, as well as Defensive Rookie of the Year.

2020

The 2020 season was a transitional year for the league. The Pythons were transferred to the East Conference, joined by the Norfolk Seawolves and Kansas City Coyotes. Fresh off their Ultimini victory the season before, Portland got off to a slow start. They dropped their first two games to the Seawolves and Coyotes, before achieving their first victory of the season against the new Palm Beach Solar Bears, 24-16. The uneven season would continue for the Pythons, alternating winning and losing games until week nine of the season. Portland would go on to win six games in a row to end the season, amassing a final season total of 10 wins and 4 losses, winning the East division. In the regular season, the Pythons allowed a league leading 177 points, while scoring a second-best 260 points. In the playoffs, Portland met the 6-8 Norfolk Seawolves. The game was closer than many predicted, as Portland scored all their points in the first quarter. Norfolk brought the lead to four by halftime, but a tight defensive battle in the second half the game secured the win and DSF: East Championship for the Pythons. Ultimini III that year would feature the Pythons and the 8-5-1 Palm Beach Solar Bears, who dominated the Tijuana Luchadores 27-3 in the DSFL West Conference Championship. Ultimini III would feature the two strongest teams in the league, and was a close contest. The Pythons struck first off a 31 yard field goal by kicker Adrienne Nugent. Quarterback Austin Roenick would complete a touchdown pass to Blessed Storm, bringing the score to 10-0 for Portland. However, the high-powered Solar Bear offensive awoke and struck in the second quarter. Quarterback Jim McMahon would complete touchdown passes to Emery Moorehead and Willie Gault to go ahead 14-10 at the half. The third quarter featured stout defensive play, before the Pythons managed to claw within one point in the fourth off a 46 yard field goal by Adrienne Nugent. With 2:52 left in the fourth, Solar Bear kicker Kevin Butler scored on a 25 yard field goal, and the lead was never again in doubt. With the final score of 17-13, the season ended in disappointment for the Pythons but there was still cause for optimism. Quarterback Austin Roenick completed 250 passes for a league-leading 3096 yards and 16 touchdowns. Wide receiver Aaron caught a league-leading 82 balls for 1073 yards and seven touchdowns. Linebacker Parker once again had a stellar season with 124 tackles and five sacks.

2021

The start of the 2021 season once again began with a new division, as the Pythons were re-adjusted into the new DSFL North Conference, again with the Kansas City Coyotes and Norfolk Seawolves. However, unlike the previous year, the Pythons got off to a fast start. Portland won its first four games in a row, including a 24-10 win over the Palm Beach Solar Bears to avenge their defeat in Ultimini III. The Pythons would alternate wins and losses before winning the final three games in a row and finishing with a 10-4 record, best in the league. Portland once again finished with the fewest points allowed at 177 and were undefeated at home. They would go on to meet the Kansas City Coyotes, who finished at 8-6, in the conference championship game. The Pythons and Coyotes split their regular season games 1-1, with a combined score of 42-34 in favor of Kansas City. Kansas City started quickly in the championship game, first with a pass from quarterback Mark Strike to DeAndre Green and then a touchdown run by Mark Strike to make the score 14-0 for the Coyotes as the first quarter came to an end. Kansas City kicker Joel Kallems would add a 40 yard field goal before Portland finally got on the board with a 19 yard field goal by Stephon Simpson. At the end of the first half, it was 17-3 in favor of the Coyotes. Portland would close the gap in the third quarter off a Shawn Ariel three yard run, before Kansas City answered with a 40 yard pass to Howard Miller from Mark Strike. Although the Pythons would add a touchdown from a thirteen yard pass from quarterback Cole McCoy to Nash Teller, it wasn't enough and the Pythons were upset, 24-17. The Kansas City Coyotes would go on to lose in Ultimini IV to the San Antonio Marshals, 23-13. Running back Borro Gore would win Offensive MVP honors in the league, with 244 carries and 1241 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, while also adding 10 receptions, 122 yards, and one touchdown through the air. However, the season was viewed as a missed opportunity for the young Pythons.

Logos and uniforms

Season-by-season records

Season	Regular Season Record				Post Season Record
Season	W	L	T	PCT	W	L
2018	5	9	0	.357	0	0
2019	11	3	0	.786	2	0
2020	10	4	0	.714	1	1
2021	10	4	0	.714	0	0
2022	12	2	0	.857	2	0
2023	6	8	0	.429	0	1
2024	8	6	0	.571	1	1
2025	9	5	0	.643	1	1
2026	13	1	0	.929	2	0
2027	9	5	0	.643	0	1
2028	8	6	0	.571	0	1
2029	10	4	0	.714	2	0
2030	7	7	0	.500	1	1
2031	11	3	0	.786	1	1
2032	11	3	0	.786	1	1
2033	11	3	0	.786	2	0
2034	8	6	0	.571	0	1
2035	2	12	0	.143	0	0
2036	8	6	0	.571	0	1
2037	5	9	0	.357	0	0
2038	5	9	0	.357	0	0
Total	179	115	0	.609	16	12

Players of note

Current roster

Portland Pythons roster

Quarterbacks

10 Sam Howitzer

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

33 Blago Kokot

Reserve lists

{{{Reserve Lists}}}

Rookies in italics

Roster updated August 7, 2020
35 Active, {{{PS}}} Send Downs

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