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Below are the first ever National Football Newz Rankings (minimum 4 games to qualify)

7/3/08

1- Central Penn Piranha (NAFL)  5-0

2- Puget Sound Titans (NWFL)    8-0

3- South Georgia Warriors (SAFL) 7-0

4- Monroe County Sting  (NFA) 4-0

5-Virginia Ravens (MDFL)  5-0

6- Detroit Black Ravens (MCFL) 5-0

7- Prince William Monarchs (RAFL) 6-1

8- Inglewood Black Hawks (LCFL) 6-0

9- Nashville Storm (NAFL)   5-0

10- New York Predators (RAFL) 4-0

11- Detroit Seminoles (MCFL) 4-0-1

12- Vermont Ice Storm (EFL) 6-0

13- Midwest Titans (NAFL) 4-0

14- St Louis Bulldogs (NAFL) 5-0

15- Philadelphia Braves (RAFL) 5-0

16- Mid Ohio Jets (MOFL)    9-0

17- Bostan Bandits (NEFL)     4-0

18- S. Jersey Lynx (NAFL)   3-1

19- Atlanta Prime (SAFL)      7-1

20- Orange County Jaguars (LCFL) 4-0

Clinton Irish Blizzard: 26 - Charlestown Townies: 21

Brockton Buccaneers: 6 - Randolph Oilers: 14

OTTAWA DEACON DEMONS: 17 - PLATTSBURGH NORTH STARS: 34

WATERTOWN RED & BLACK: 14 - VERMONT ICE STORM: 28

QUEBEC TITANS: 15 - AMSTERDAM ZEPHYRS: 12

A Dominating Win for the Piranha
A majority of Lancaster County was under a severe thunderstorm watch until 8:00 PM on Saturday night. The forecast stated nothing about a "Feeding Frenzy" at Hempfield High School.

The Central Penn Piranha (5-0) put on a scoring clinic, as they devoured the Lancaster Lightning (0-3) by a score of 61-14 in a Pennsylvania Division match-up.

The Piranha offense had a three-and-out to start the game, and it appeared as if the Lancaster Lightning were poised to make this a game. That all changed on the Lightning's very first offensive play.

Following a career-best 57-yard punt by Butch Derr, the Lightning had to start from their own 7-yard line. Rookie defensive tackle Shelton Bynum (University of North Carolina) tackled Lancaster quarterback Ray Lewis, and forced a fumble. Another rookie, strong safety Chris Pollard (University of Massachusetts), scooped-up the football and walked 7 yards into the end zone.

The next two offensive possessions for the Piranha were highlighted by wide receiver Troy Ham (2-103 yards, 2 TD). "Shake-n-Bake" caught a couple of touchdown passes from Mark Jarmon (3-8, 124 yards, 2 TD / INT). The first one was 40 yards, and the second one covered 63 yards. The 63-yard score was set-up by excellent downfield blocking by Ryan Van Noy. Ham caught Jarmon's pass near midfield, and darted to the sideline. Van Noy shielded Ham from a would-be tackler for about 20 yards until Ham raced by him for the score.

On the evening, the Piranha receivers were busy displaying their downfield blocking prowess. In addition to Van Noy, Steve Johnson had numerous blocks to provide extra yardage for Piranha ball carriers, and Troy Ham took out two Lancaster defenders downfield to clear the way on a 61-yard touchdown run by Terrance Trogden. There's no substitute for hustle, and there was plenty of it in the Piranha receiving corps.

With a little over four minutes left in first half, the Piranha went on a "Scoring Frenzy". Fullback Sean Slaven (3-29 yards, TD) rumbled over Lightning defenders on a 9-yard score. On the next series, the aforementioned Terrance Trogden scored on a 61-yard burst, courtesy of blocks by Troy Ham. And right before the half, "Agent Zero" left his mark on the Lightning.

Cornerback Kharleef Ham picked-off Ray Lewis, and followed a convoy of blockers 40 yards into the end zone. After 30 minutes of action, the Piranha held a commanding 40-0 lead.

Despite the score, the Lighting kept plugging away, and finally struck the scoreboard. Ray Lewis (10-22, 97 yards, TD / INT) dumped off a short pass to running back Derrick Gardner. At the time it seemed harmless, but that was until the poor tackling efforts by the Piranha secondary surfaced. Gardner broke a couple of tackles, and then out-ran everyone 54 yards for a touchdown. That score was significant, as it was the first points of the year scored by Lancaster. That was just the beginning.

On the next offensive series for the Piranha, the Lightning defense made a big play when they sacked Mark Jarmon and forced a fumble. Defensive Back Ed Williams (3 tackles, sack, interception ? 30 yards, fumble recovery, TD) returned the fumble 58 yards for another Lightning touchdown. After going 163 minutes and 45 seconds without a score, all of a sudden the Lancaster Lightning had scored twice in a span of 5 minutes and 37 seconds. What a way to break the drought.

The Piranha had seen enough. Maurice Walker returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards, and a 15-yard face mask penalty was added to the end of the return. On the very next play from scrimmage, Emne'ko Sweeney (9-71 yards, TD) took it 24 yards to the house. On their next possession, the Piranha had another one play scoring drive. This time it was a 51-yard run by the aforementioned Maurice Walker (3-62 yards, TD).

Roosevelt Turner finished the scoring with a 1-yard run on the game's final play. Worth of noting is that the Piranha scored a touchdown in the second quarter that was disallowed. One of the Lightning receivers caught a pass, and made a football move while taking three steps. Free safety Terrence Miles jarred the football loose, and cornerback Mike Baldwin picked-up the football and returned it 15 yards for an apparent score. One of the officials ruled that it was an incomplete pass, and Lancaster retained possession.

The Piranha defense was led by strong safety Chris Pollard (3 tackles, 2 passes defended, fumble recovery ? 7 yards, TD), linebacker Brian Smith (2 tackles, 2 sacks), and defensive tackle Shelton Bynum (3 tackles, sack).

The Piranha ground game was in full force all night long, racking-up 355 yards rushing. Head coach / offensive line coach, Ron Kerr, was very pleased with the effort turned in by the Central Penn offensive line and fullbacks. In fact, of the seven ball carriers, four of them gained at least 62 yards (Ali Johnson 104, Emne'ko Sweeney 71, Terrance Trogden 63, Maurice Walker 62).   

Here are the NAFL scores;

Baton Rouge Pride 36  Louisiana Soldiers 7

Bay Area Pearland Gamblers 2  San Antonio Wolves 0

Central Penn Piranha 61  Lancaster Lightning 14

Connecticut Giants 20  Philadelphia Panthers 6

Dakota Law Dogs 24  Nebraska Wildcats 23

D.C. Explosion 14  Maryland Marauders 6

Georgia Generals 13  Georgia Mustangs 12

Georgia Ragin' Bulls 47  Macon Tiger Cats 8

Glens Falls Greenjackets 29  W. NY Cougars 6

Hampton Road Hurricanes 27  Virginia Crimson Cardinals 0

Hudson Valley Highlanders 50  Finger Lakes Dragons 30

London Silverbacks 42  Lapeer County Lions 6

Nashville Storm 19  Arkansas Rhinos 12

St. Louis Bulldogs 6  Indiana Warriors 0

York Hawghead Razorbacks 37  Keystone Gladiators 6

The RAFL completed its 4th week of the season with some things expected, and some things not expected. On the expected side, the New York Predators (4-0) continued to roll with a 35-12 victory over the Hudson County Bounty Hunters (1-3), The Brooklyn Mariners (3-1)defeated a fiesty Long Island Raven squad (2-2) 10-7, The surging New Jersey Wolves (3-0) easily handled the Long Island Seahawks (0-4) 31-0, and the Prince William Monarchs (4-0) coasted by the Waldorf Warriors (0-4) 30-0. Also in action, the Metro Nemesis (4-0) took out the VA Cowboys (0-4) 42-0, the NEPA Miners (2-1-1) survived a late comeback by the struggling New Jersey Warriors (0-4) 25-18, and in a battle of undefeateds the Philadelphia Braves (4-0) slipped by the suprising New Jersey Spartans (3-1) by a count of 14-6. Here are all of the RAFL scores;

BK MARINERS   10          LI RAVENS   3
BK JAZZ     16            NY DEMON KNIGHTS     7
MD NEMESIS     42              VA COWBOYS     0
LI PITBULLS     41              HC STARS     0
NY PREDATORS     35            HC BOUNTY HUNTERS     12
PW MONARCHS     30            WALDORF WARRIORS      0
NE KNIGHTS      28            HV COWBOYS   12
SHORE BULLDOGS   6     NJ LIONS   0
BK BLUE DEVILS    26      BK BULLDAWGS   8
NJ WOLVES     31        LI SEAHAWKS     0
PHILLY BRAVES    14          NJ SPARTANS      6
PHILLY MUSTANGS     35         DELAWARE BISON      6
BALTIMORE BRONCOS    19       ROSEDALE COLTS       14
NEPA MINERS     25         NJ WARRIORS     18

NY REBELS     36          NY SYN     0

NY BANDITS      30         WESTCHESTER STEELERS     6

IRVINGTON KNIGHTS      19         MID STATE MARAUDERS     0

BK SEMINOLES     49          NY HUSTLERS      6