Portland beats Bellingham in PFL title game, 54-34
July 21, 2012 / By Cliff Pfenning, oregonsports.com
HILLSBORO - It was a year late, but the Portland Monarchs became champions of the Pacific Football League Saturday at Hare Field with a decisive 54-34 victory over the Bellingham Bulldogs.
Russell Schneider threw for 439 yards and six touchdowns and the Portland defense came up with five turnovers to finish the season at 8-0.
Bellingham scored on its first two possessions for a 10-0 lead and reached the Portland 21 with its drive when the Portland defense stiffened and took pressure off of Schneider.
Schneider completed just three of his first 11 passes, but threw a pair of scores in the second quarter to put Portland ahead 14-10. Bellingham reached the Portland 14 in the final minute of the half, but lost yardage on fourth-and-1.
"I think I was just a l ittle too hyped for the game," Schneider said. "I missed some guys early, but once I settled down we played like we're capable.
"This is a big win for our team."
Portland was primed to win the Southern Division of the PFL last year, and earn a spot in the title game, but lost to Springfield in the first round of the playoffs in one of the biggest upsets in the recent history of minor league teams from Oregon.
The Monarchs are the second team to hold the PFL Championship trophy after the Kitsap Bears won the inaugural title game last year over the Southern Oregon Renegades.
Nick Bodeman caught four touchdowns in Saturday's game.
Cody Oakes rallied the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter with three touchdown passes that led to two-point conversions, but the Monarchs recovered a pair of onsides kicks and closed out the game.
