Lightning Football News...

The #4 ranked Lightning (7-5, 5-0) traveled to Palm Springs, CA. Friday, Dec. 5th to take on the #2 ranked Desert Chapel Eagles (12-0, 5-0) in the CIF 8-Man Division II Championship. One of the biggest turnouts in 8-Man football history surrounded the field as 2500 spectators looked on to see two of the most successful football programs of this decade having been to nine 8-man Championships between them; the Eagles are 3-1 and the Lightning are 1-4.

The Lightning came out on fire driving down the field under the leadership of Junior QB Zack Ontiveros and drew first blood when Tyler Carlisle ran it in from 8 yds out putting the Lightning up 6-0; the conversion failed. The Eagles answered with a strong drive of their own scoring on a 9yd pass play and picked up the 2 pt conversion making it 8-6, Eagles. The Lightning struggled at times on offense but had another nice drive scoring on a Carlisle 1 yd dive. The Lightning failed again on the 2pt conversion but took the lead 12-8. If there was any momentum building for the Lightning it went away on the next play when Corey Smith of the Eagles ran the Kick off back for a TD and the Eagles went ahead 14-12.

The 2nd quarter started great for the Lightning as Cole Roberts scored on a 1 yd run from scrimmage making it 20-12, when Roberts picked up the 2pt conversion too. The Eagles would score two more times in this quarter making the score at the half 28-20, when Smith of the Eagles got lose for a 56 yd reception. The Lightning went to the locker room down, but not out!

The 2nd half found the Lightning driving down the field only to have drives stop by fumbles, 60 yds in penalties and weird calls by the officials. The Lightning would not score again and could not find an answer to the passing game of the Eagles. The Eagles went on to win the game 48-20 and pick up their 3rd championship in seven years.

The Lightning were disappointed with the loss but were very happy that they played well enough in the 2nd half of the season to even make it to the championship. There are not many teams that can lose 11 starting seniors from a team and be as competitive as this year's team was, for that, they should be very proud. It was a sad time for the seniors at the end of the game, but then each of them can still look at last year's championship ring!

Tops in offense were Ontiveros who was 13 of 28 for 205 yds and had 8 rushes for 32 yds, Roberts who had 32 carries for 149 yds and a TD as well as 5 catches for 50 yds, Carlisle who had 5 carries for 39 yds and 2 TDs as well as 3 catches for 37 yds, Josh Leichtner who had 3 catches for 51 yds and Denzell Dobbins who had 2 catches for 67 yds.

Tops in defense were Steven Henderson who had 15 tackles, 1 for a loss, Leichtner who had 11 tackles, 1 for a loss, Carlisle who had 8 tackles, 1 for a loss and a pass defense, Erik McClay who had 7 tackles, 1 for a loss and an Interception returned for 34 yds, Dobbins who had 6 tackles and a QB hurry and Roberts who had 5 tackles.

We want to congratulate coach Roberts, his assistant coaches and the entire team for a another great season. Lightning football Rocks!