 .JPG)
Lightning RB Jerome Smith(#4) breaks tackles as the
Lightning become the
first Charestlon-area team to win a National
Championship in 13 years
Photo courtesy of Chris Dorst from the Sunday
Gazette-Mail
West Virginia Lightning
National Champions!
The West Virginia Lightning and Northeast
Missouri Cyclones squared off at Laidly Field last
Saturday night, each team knowing very little about the
other. What each team did know was that their opponent
was undefeated during the 2008 season with a record of
13-0, had won their respective leagues, and a National
Championship Title was on the line. About 200+
spectators braved the December cold and wind to watch
the American Football News(AFN) and National Football
Events(NFE) sanctioned championship game. The Cyclones
represented the Great Midwest Football League (GMFL),
while the first-year Lightning represented the 32 team
power-house United States Football Alliance (USFA).
The Cyclones started off the scoring when QB Mike
McMullen hit WR Shannon Lightfoot for a 40 yard
touchdown to take a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter,
but the Lightning didn't take long to answer. Just as
they had many times during the 2008 season, QB Lucas
Wright hooked up WR Kenny Davis for an 81 yard touchdown
reception with 51 seconds remaining in the first
quarter. After the Lightning failed to convert on the
extra-point try, the score at the end of the first
quarter was 7-6 Cyclones. The Lightning defense, as
usual, was very stingy. After stopping the Cyclones on a
3rd down and short, Cyclones kicker Will Rodriguez
failed to hit on a 30-yard field goal attempt, and again
later missed 49-yard attempt. After another big
defensive stand, and a 36 yard Mark Littlejohn punt
return, the Lightning offense got back on track as QB
Lucas Wright connected with another one of his All-Star
group of receivers. USFA league-leading WR Steve Jones
made a fantastic catch in the corner of the end zone for
a 21 yard TD pass. Another failed extra-point try made
the score 12-7 at the half.
The Lightning started the second half eating the clock
behind the power running game of First-Team USFA league
All Star RB Jerome Smith. After a scoreless 3rd quarter,
Lucas Wright once again found Steve Jones on an 8 yard
touchdown pass with 4:20 remaining in the game. Former
Capital High School standout, WVU alumni, and former NFL
defensive back Ricky Sherrod intercepted a Mike McMullen
pass late in the game, and seemed to seal the Lightning
victory. But as the Lightning tried to kill the clock,
the Cyclone defense rose to the occasion by forcing and
recovering a fumble. With two minutes remaining in the
game, Cyclones' RB Keenan Miller rushed in for a 1 yard
TD, and after the successful 2-point try, the Lightning
lead was cut to 18-15. The Cyclones then attempted an
on-side kick which was recovered by Lightning WR Steve
Jones. With no timeouts remaining, the Lightning went
into victory formation and would kneel the ball to drain
the clock. Lightning quarterback Lucas Wright finished
the game going 14-24 for 269 yards with 3 TDs and no
interceptions. Cyclones quarterback Mike McMullen
completed 18-of-31 passes for 216 yards and 1
interception.
The Lightning organization would like to thank the
Northeast Missouri Cyclones for making the
trip to Charleston, WV. We would also like to thank all
of our sponsors who made this game, and the 2008 season
possible. Please be sure to visit our sponsors' page.
Support those who support the Lightning!
Click here to see an article in the
Sunday Gazette-Mail.
Click here to see the recorded live
webcast.
| Team |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Tot |
| WV Lightning |
6 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
18 |
| NEMO Cyclones |
7 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
15 |
|
|
|
