History of the Lions

The Leyden Lions are a full-contact Minor League Football organization based in western Cook County, about 10 miles west of Chicago, Illinois.

Established in 2004, the Lions have experienced a great deal of success by winning the 2004 Tri-State Football League Championship with an undefeated league record of 11-0 and an overall record of 15-4.

The Lions had continued success in their second season by advancing to the Mid-States Football League Semi-Finals.

Dedicated to the seriousness of the sport, as well as team spirit in all events, the Lions aim to provide a fun, family oriented atmosphere for their games.  In addition, the team enjoys providing inexpensive athletic entertainment for its local and neighboring communities.

2004 Record:

15 Wins, 4 losses, 0 ties

---TSFL Champions---

Pre-Season

Lions   0      Chicago Thunder 27

Lions  0       KC Eagles  28         ( NAFL )

Lions  27     Chicago Titans 13

Lions  0       Illinois Firehawks 12

Regular Season

Lions   19     Kenosha Vikings    0

Lions   13    Bollingbrook Buccaneers   8

Lions   30    NW Indiana Hitmen   6

Lions   25    Milwaukee RoughRiders    0

Lions   17    Kenosha Vikings    14

Lions   23    Forest City Gladiators 17  ( NAFL )

Lions   16    Milwaukee Rage     0

Lions   21    Chicago Bruisers    0   (game called at halftime )

Lions   21    Bollingbrrok Buccaneers  16

Lions   16    NW Indiana Hitmen  8

Playoffs

Lions    2     NW Indiana Hitmen   0   ( Forfeit )

Lions   16    Milwaukee Rage  14      ( Tri-States Championship  )

National Tournament

Lions     3    Roscoe Rush         0

Lions   31    Force of Illinois     6

Lions   10    Belleville Justice   21

2005 Record:

7 Wins, 6 losses, 0 ties

---MSFL Semi-Finals---

Pre-Season

Lions  6       KC Eagles  28  ( NAFL )

Lions  24     Illinois Firehawks  12

Lions  13     Chicago falcons  0

Regular Season

Lions   16    Force of Illinois  18

Lions   14    Indiana Titans  20

Lions   17    Bolingbrook Stallions  14

Lions    0     Chicago Thunder  27

Lions   43    Bolingbrook Bucccaneers  0

Lions   26    Lake County Chiefs  13

Lions    7     Roscoe Rush  10

Lions   45    Chicago Wolverines  12

Playoffs

Lions   22    Roscoe Rush  14

Lions    7     Chicago Thunder   35 

2006 Record:

6 Wins, 7 losses, 0 ties

---MSFL 1st Round Playoffs---

Pre-Season

Lions  10       CPD Enforcers 16

Lions  12     Illinois Firehawks  0

Lions  0       KC Eagles  52

Lions  W      Chicago Wolverines  L

Regular Season

Lions   33    Bolingbrook Bucccaneers  0

Lions   10    Indiana Titans  8

Lions   16    Joliet Stallions  6

Lions    0     Chicago Thunder  25

Lions    5     Indianapolis Sabers  0

Lions   11    Lake County Chiefs  14

Lions   12    Lafayette Lions   21

Lions    6     MidState Steel   41

Playoffs

Lions    13   Chicago Thunder   35 

2007 Record:

10 Wins, 3 losses, 0 ties

---MSFL 1st Round Playoffs---

Pre-Season

Lions  21, Horsemen  6

Lions  47, Hawks  6

Lions    0, Eagles  26

Lions 35, Firehawks 12

Regular Season

Lions 48,  Cowboys  0     

Lions 2 ,   Force  0              

Lions 36,  Bucs  13

Lions 46,  Steelers  0

Lions 29,  Threat  28

Lions 2 ,   Flyers  0

Lions 35   Steel 13

Lions 17 , Thunder 21

Playoffs

Lions   27, Threat 30

2008 Record:

11 Wins, 3 losses, 0 ties

---MSFL Runner Up---

Pre-Season

Lions  34     Chicago Falcons 20

Lions  19     Indiana Titans 18

Lions  12     Burlington Blue Devils 13

Regular Season

Lions   32    Lake County Steelers 12

Lions   21    Racine Threat  14

Lions   48    Bolingbrook Buccaneers 0

Lions   47    MidState Steel  0

Lions   28    Twin City Dawz  14

Lions   30    Kankakee Plowmen  24

Lions   3      Chicago Thunder  10

Lions   51    NI Cowboys  6

Playoffs

Lions   47    MidState Steel  0

Lions   38    Racine Threat  12

2008 MSFL Championship

Lions   21    Chicago Thunder  26

Lions History at a Glance

2009 Record:

8 Wins, 4 losses, 0 ties

---MSFL Runner Up---

Pre-Season

Lions  34     Kankakee Plowmen 12

Lions  10     Racine Raiders  34

Lions  16     Twin City Dawgz 20

Regular Season

Lions   26    Indiana Titans 12

Lions   45    Northern Illinois Cowboys  25

Lions   50    McHenry Pirates  30

Lions   35    Chicago Mustangs  6

Lions   28    Indianapolis Stampede  8

Lions   35    Racine Threat   28

Lions   16    Chicago Thunder  40

Lions   43    Dane County Hawks  6

Playoffs

Lions   14    Racine Threat  27