The Oklahoma City Lightning, the city’s entry into the NWFA (National Women’s Football Association) and in its fourth season of competition, played its second home game of the season against the 2-1 Dallas Rage at Taft Stadium, beginning at 7:05 p.m., Saturday, May 21st by a score of 47-6. Lead singer Pinkie of local band Pinkie and the SnakeShakers sang the national anthem as well as attended the game. The band has performed in ten states, with the last tour being in Colorado. In the past, they’ve shared the bill with such well-known performers as Delbert McClinton, Leon Russell, Pat Travers, Robin Trower and Canned Heat. In the blues circles, the band has gotten rave reviews and are preparing for their third album release. Their web site can be checked out at www.snakeshakers.com.
The Oklahoma City Lightning dominated the Dallas Rage both offensively and defensively on May 21st, which gives them a 4-0 record and once again proved why it should remain at the top of the Southern Conference standings. Running back #33 Illiana Calderon, all purpose player #88 LaMeshia Roland, WR #21 Christie Williams, TE #87 Lacey Shulz and QB #4 Kim Mitchell gave plenty of spark to the Lightning offense. Also, the strong and potent OKC defense remained stingy to the Dallas defense from such players as LB #1 Nacole Pennon, DB #7 Oriana Vick, DB #13 Jessie Worthy, DB #19 Tammy Raiber, DB #26 Kristie Smith, DB #28 Ericka Briseno, LB #36 Shannon ‘Shay’ Ford, LB Amy Freitrick, LB/DE #50 Dani Leonard, DL/DE #51 Shonna Jones and #98 DL Jamye Mason.
Last year, Oklahoma City beat Dallas both times that they played them during the regular season by scores of 49-18 at Dallas and 62-22 at home. This year thus far, the Dallas Rage won by scores of 40-38 against the Austin Outlaws and 58-0 versus against close rival the Denton Stampede. On May 14th, Dallas was beaten by the Austin Outlaws there by a score of 39-24. The Oklahoma City Lightning kept the Dallas Rage scoring at bay, allowing them only six points on a 15-yard intereception for a TD from QB Kim Mitchell on the Lightning’s own 15 yard line. As of this game, the OKC Lightning has allowed 13 points this year on defense, 7 points to the Austin Outlaws when they beat them at home 69-7 and to the Dallas Rage in their 47-6 victory. Once again, the Oklahoma City Lightning has not been beaten on its own home field at Taft Stadium the past two seasons (2003 and 2004), nor have they been beaten this year.
As said before, thus far, the Rage are 2-1 after coming off of a 39-24 loss against the Austin Outlaws in Austin on May 14th. Therefore, Dallas came to OKC with blood in their eyes after not only that devastating loss, but by the humiliating before mentioned losses their team incurred last year to the Lightning. Once again, OKC held the Dallas ground game to under 50 yards and forced their left-handed QB to turn time and time again to her TE and WRs. This was a most interesting game indeed, not only to see what the Rage had their sleeve for the Lightning, but also because OKC has not been beaten at home the past 11 games. With that said, the talented OKC squad marched down the field time after time on nifty passing and running plays by the as-yet-unbeaten Lightning offense. TE #85 Lacey Shulz scored on an 85-yard pass from QB #4 Kim Mitchell. WR/RB #88 LaMeshia Roland scored on a 55-yard pass as well as #21 WR Christie Williams scoring on a 60-yard pass from QB Mitchell. RB #33 Illiana Calderon scored running TDs on at least two different occasions. QB Kim Mitchell passed for over 280 yards in the game.
On defense, the stingy OKC squad held the Dallas team to a mere fifty yards, while forcing their QB to pass to her TE and WRs. Dallas threatened twice on opening possessions of the ball, but the talented and frugal OKC defense stepped to meet the challenging onslaught of the Dallas Rage offense, by breaking up passes, intercepting passes, turning the ball over on downs and rushing the QB numerous times. The OKC Lightning now stands at 4-0, while the Dallas Rage is now 2-2. So, once again for the third time in a row, the OKC Lightning proved that OU is not the only superior team north of the Red River.
This year, the Lighting returns the league’s leading rusher and scorer, #33 Illiana Calderon, and #88 LaMeshia Roland will be involved in both running and passing plays. In addition, sure-footed kicker #87 Lacey Schulz who will also play defensive end returns as well as one of the top quarterbacks in the league, #4 Kim Mitchell. The offensive line is bigger this year, averaging almost 300 lbs. per player and the defense is still as potent as it was last year, if better. The team has more depth this year and has thrown in many new defensive and offensive plays and formations that has already set the opponents back on their heels. These new wrinkles defensively and offensively in Lightning football in 2005 have proven thus far to be what it takes to repeat as the Southern Conference Champions of the NWFA. The Oklahoma City Lightning’s opponents this year are the Austin Outlaws, the Dallas Rage, the Denton Stampede and the Kansas City Krunch.
Last season, the Oklahoma City Lightning went on to win the Southwest Division of the NWFA that included the St. Louis Slam, the Dallas Dragons (now the Dallas Rage), the Austin Outlaws and the Denton Stampede by overwhelming margins to claim the number one seed and home field advantage in the 2004 playoffs, culminating with a 21-7 win over the Kansas City Krunch and a 37-13 win over the Pensacola Power to win the Southern Conference and a berth to play the Northern Conference Champions, the Detroit Demolition in the NWFA National Championship at Papa John’s Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky coming home after a disappointing loss with the NWFA National Runner-Up Champion trophy. The NWFA 2005 National Championship will once again be played at Papa John’s Stadium (home of the University of Louisville Cardinals) in Louisville. In 2004, Oklahoma City ended their season at 11-1, which was one game better than in 2003, when they ended their season at 9-2, as Midwest Division Champions and Southern Conference Runner-Up Champions.
The National Women’s Football Association is the largest full contact football league in the world for women. Thirty-six teams will compete in the 2005 season, compared to 32 teams in 2004. This year the league has put the teams into two conferences, the Northern and the Southern (of which Oklahoma City is a member) rather than divisions.
The NWFA has been featured in more than 250 major publications and TV networks including the CBS Evening News, the NBC Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the NBC Today Show, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, Inside Edition, SPIKE TV, the Lifetime Channel, BET’s MADD Sports, the New York Times, the LA Times, Nickelodeon, the Boston Globe, the Washington Post and many, many local and regional networks and publications.
The NWFA is a sponsor of CHIC SPORTS RADIO, heard on Sports By Line and SIRIUS Channel 122, and the Armed Forces Radio Network. CHIC SPORTS RADIO airs Fridays at 9 p.m. EST.
Ticket prices for the Oklahoma City Lightning is $8.00 for adults per game and $25.00 for a season ticket for adults (which includes 4 home games). Children’s prices (ages 12-18) are $5.00 per game and season tickets are $15.00. They may be purchased at IPGI at 2720 N. May Ave, at Taft Stadium or by calling Lightning GM Tammy Raiber at 405-314-0334 or by contacting her at GM@okclightning.com. The team may be visited any time at www.okclightning.com and the league (NWFA) at www.womensfootballcentral.com.