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April 3, 2006
The NorCal Lawmen hosted another rivalry April Fool's Day Saturday night and didn't seem to be in any joking mood. GM Brad Newnham returned to the sidelines for the 1st time in a few weeks and definitely motivated the spirit and determination of the team. DJ Duperrior who would later leave the game with a separated shoulder, took the opening Kickoff at his own 18, and returned it 57 yards before being brought down. After only a few plays QB Scott Burke hit veteran WR Derek Carter with a TD pass and the Lawmen had an early 7-0 lead. The defense set the tone with an inteception by last year's GSAFL interception leader, AB Brown, on the Vipers 4th play at their own 26. The interception was quickly capitalized on two plays later as QB Scott Burke then hit 2nd year WR Antonio Madden across the middle with a 16 yard TD, quickly putting Lawmen up 13-0. The Vipers second possession ended after two plays when team captain LB Paul DeVille caused a fumble that 1st year LB Jim Curuso swiftly recovered at the Viper 25. Again Burke went to work and hit the Lawmen version of "Slash," #10 Justin Paulk, with a 14 yd TD pass in the corner of the end zone to give the Lawmen a quick 20 point first quarter lead.
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The Lawmen and Vipers organizations go back for 13 years when both owners Marc Marcantonio and Boots James plus Lawmen GM Brad Newnham all played together for current Lawmen Head Coach Louie Rocha on the former Northern California Champion East Bay Buccaneers football team. Once the Bucs folded, Marcantonio founded the Oakland Vipers and Lawmen Owner Boots James was set to play for the Vipers until Brad Newnham called with QB coach Bill Carlin (also a former Bucs player) and together the three played against the Oakland Vipers twice in the playoffs and once in a championship game for the three time GCFL Champion Sacramento Stray Dogs owned by Ben Cassinerio (Currently #44 on Lawmen Roster). When the Stray Dogs folded after the 1998 season Boots contacted Marc about again trying to play for the heavily talented Vipers and arrived to do just that, only to find that the Vipers were overloaded with players and Boots introduced himself to then Lawmen Owner and Current GCFL Commissioner Rick Williams about playing with the Lawmen who were short on players. The game was such a blast that three weeks later Rick and Marc agreed to play again and Rick Williams contacted Boots about joining the Lawmen to play against the Vipers again. Boots then contacted his GM Brad Newnham to join him for the game and together they went and played for the Lawmen against the Vipers.
![]() This game set the foundation of the current Lawmen organization as both Brad and Boots helped the Lawmen overcome and defeat their former team, the Stray Dogs for the 1999 GCFL Championship. That season propelled the Lawmen on a 28 game win streak that was broken in the 2001 GCFL Championship game by the Capital City Fury. The Lawmen returned the next year for a fourth straight and final Championship Game to be crowned the 1st GSAFL Champions and later the 2002 California State Champions. It was after this final Championship win did Owner Rick Williams contact LB Boots James and give his ownership of the team to his player. With Brad Newnham and Louie Rocha again at the helm with Boots in their 3rd year of the new management the torch is growing dim and you can see the sense of urgency in their desire to claim another crown and reestablish the Lawmen Dynasty!!
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