Last week the Minor League Football News released its 2008 All American Team and nine members of the Pensacola Lightning were honored, three of which were named to the first team.

Center Ryan Vandervort, linebacker Donald Tharpe, Jr., and kicker Jacob Matlock were all named to the first team from the Lightning, who in 2008 won back-to-back NAFL South Championships.

Also honored by the Minor League Football News were tackle Kenny McGhee, running back DeMarcus Blount, defensive tackle Morgan Marshall, as well as middle linebacker Dillon Cleckler who were named to the second team.

Honorable mention honors went to wide receiver Dustin Cleckler and safety JaMarcus Watkins.

The Lightning started making preparations for 2009 with an open tryout this past Saturday at the Brent Sports Complex.

For more information on the Lightning go to www.pensacolalightning.com.

The Pensacola Lightning claimed the NAFL South championship Saturday night with a 21-7 win over the St Louis Bulldogs.
It might have been cool in St. Louis, but the Lightning heated things up as DeMarcus Blount got the first score of the game with a two-yard run.
Pace graduate Seth Cumbie then iced the game for what would be the winning touchdown by returning an interception 52 yards for the second score of the game.
Blount would add one more touchdown as he rumbled 61 yards for Pensacola's final score of the game.
Now the Lightning (13-1) have earned a berth in the NAFL Final Four.
Accoridng to Bruce and Sue Hall, owners of the Lightning, the future of this season could be in doubt.
"A higher finish may be in doubt as the last playoff game, prior to the national championship game in Atlanta, is currently scheduled to be played in Milford, Conn," according to the Halls in an e-mail. "As yet, we have no idea how, or if, we will be able to get a team there.  It's possible we may be able to meet them, at a neutral site, somewhere in between. 
"We are currently looking for support to help us continue. The community rallied behind us, this past week, to get us to St. Louis."

The Pensacola Lightning is looking to win their second consecutive Southern Division Championship in the NAFL.
On Saturday the Lightning (12-1) defeated the previously unbeaten Nashville Storm 19-14 and in doing so advancing on to the Elite 8 of the North American Football League National Championship.
Special teams were the key for the Lightning in this low scoring affair.
Seth Cumbie, a former Pace Patriot who played college ball at Southern Miss, and John Joiner returned blocked field goal attempts for touchdowns.
Jacob Matlock, another former Eagle, who plays for the Lightning added two field goals for the win.
Next up for the Lightning will be the St. Louis Bulldogs and a potential berth in the National Final Four of the NAFL.
The other games in the Elite 8 are the Central Penn Piranha and the Connecticut Giants, the St. Paul Pioneers and the Indianapolis Tornados, and the British Columbia Spartans and the San Diego Thunder.
If the Lightning defeats the Bulldogs they will face the winner of the St. Paul and Indianapolis game at site to be determined, with a chance to go to the National Championship to be played in Atlanta, Ga.

The Pensacola Lightning will continue on the road in their quest for the NAFL National Title.

Up next for the Lightning (11-1) will be the undefeated Nashville Storm.

This past Saturday Pensacola needed double overtime before they could corral the Georgia Mustangs in Atlanta 17-14.

To stay alive in the playoffs the Lightning's JaMarcus Watkins and Morgan Marshall blocked what could have been game winning field goals by the Mustangs.

Then when presented with their opportunity, Pensacola's Jacob Matlock booted a 48-yard field goal to win the game.

During regulation the Lightning scored on a Don Rich pass to Dusty Cleckler followed by a touchdown run by Raymond Lymon.

This Saturday's game between the Lightning and the Storm will be a rematch of last season's Southern Championship won by the Lightning 31-24.

Ironically this was the last game the Storm has lost and dethroned the defending South Division title holders in the North American Football League (NAFL).

Last week the Storm issued their own warning by defeating the Georgia Generals 13-7.

Heading into the contest the Generals were averaging over 27 points a game.

The winner of Saturday's contest set to kickoff at 7 p.m.  at Stratford High School's Buster Boguskie Stadium will be a date with the St. Louis Bulldogs for the NAFL South Championship.