Years of Operation: 2020-2022

Overall Record:  10-11

First Game: Feb 29, 2020 vs South Sound Nighthawks

First Win: May 15, 2021 vs Everett Royals

Final Game: Aug 13, 2022 vs Washington Warriors

League Affiliation:  

Pacific Northwest Football League (2020)

Washington State Football League (2021)

Gridiron Developmental League (2022)

Team Headquarters:

Tacoma, Washington

Colors: Black w/Gold, White

Sponsor: Zach Nixon

General Manager:

Coaches: William Conrad (HC/OC 2021); Craig Mulligan (Asst HC/DC); Andre Bonaparte (WR/LB); Kamu Taulelei (DL/RB); Eddie Casado (HC 2022), Mitch Johnson (DC 2022)

Home Field(s):

Titles Won: 

None

A surprise entrant to the Oregon-based PNFL, the Sabers were the only team located in Washington to be slated to play a league schedule for 2020. 

The Sabers jumped into the fire with a February match-up with area Top Dog South Sound Nighthawks and played a solid game succumbing in the fourth quarter to the 2019 #2 ranked team in the region 35-31.

Covid-19 scare shut down the PNFL season a couple of weeks later and the Sabers season was ended.

With 2021 reopening for Washington but not Oregon, the Rose City Swarm, yet to play an official league game in the PNFL, snuck into Tacoma and shocked the region with a 9-6 victory to start the Sabers WSFL season.  Tacoma would log its first franchise victory two weeks later with a 40-12 effort over the rookie Everett Royals franchise.  Going on to post six victories in seven outings and sporting offensive firepower, the Sabers earned a #1 seed and first round bye in the 2021 WSFL playoffs.  Meeting the Hurricanes for third time of the season, Tacoma knocked Northwest out of the playoffs and set a date with the Seminoles.  Tacoma had the ball inside the 5-yard line and instead of kicking a FG for the win, lofted a jump ball in the endzone that was knocked away to end the game.  Earlier, a pooch punt from their own endzone was blocked for a safety, South Sound winning 24-22.

The team would be fractured going into the 2022 season, Eddie Casado coming from the Seminoles to be head coach, while the rest of the staff and many players splintered into the Grit City Knights and the West Sound Rebels of the GDFL.

The Sabers joined the GDFL after it became apparent the WSFL would not return and would battle for the distant 3rd spot in the league behind the alpha dogs Rebels and Warriors.

Struggling to a 3-7 record, the Sabers did not return for the 2023 season replaced in the GDFL by a returning Seminoles franchise.

2020 Schedule/Results (0-1):

Photos

Sabers 2022