Lakeland Thunderbolts

The Lakeland Thunderbolts are a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the American Indoor Football Association. They play their home games at the Lakeland Center.

History

The Lakeland Thunderbolts began in 2005 as an expansion member of the National Indoor Football League, finishing their inaugural season with a 6-8 record and losing in the first round of playoffs to the Rome Renegades with a score of 53 to 7.

Lakeland's 2006 season ended with a 44-18 loss to the Fayetteville Guard, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, during the second round of the NIFL playoffs. The Thunderbolts finished the regular season fourth overall (third in the Atlantic Conference) with a 12-2 record.

After the 2006 season ended, the 'Bolts decided to move to the American Indoor Football Association. Perhaps the team's biggest victory so far is their 39-36 win over the defending champion Canton Legends on March 11, 2007, ending their 12-game winning streak dating back from the previous season (The previous team to defeat Canton was the Reading Express on April 23, 2006 at the Canton Memorial Civic Center by a score of 56-18). Lakeland secured the 2007 Southern Division Championship after an 84-62 win over the Mississippi Mudcats on June 16 2007. On June 23, they would win AIFA Championship Bowl I at the Florence Civic Center, defeating the Reading Express by a score of 54-49.

On Saturday, October 20 2007, it was announced that the Thunderbolts had declined on rejoining the AIFA for 2008. [http://www.aifaprofootball.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=114&Itemid=1]

On Tuesday December 4 2007, the AIFA announced they have reached an agreement with the Lakeland Center, and the Thunderbolts will return in 2009. [http://www.aifaprofootball.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=126&Itemid=1]

Season-By-Season

-
colspan="6" align="center" | Lakeland Thunderbolts (NIFL)
-
2005 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 3rd Atlantic South || Lost AC Quarterfinal (Rome)
-
2006 || 12 || 2 || 0 || 1st Atlantic South || Won AC Quarterfinal (M. Maulers)
Lost AC Semifinal (Fayetteville)
-
colspan="6" align="center" | Lakeland Thunderbolts (AIFA)
-
2007 || 11 || 2 || 0 || 1st Southern || Won Round 1 (Carolina)
Won SD Championship (Mississippi)
Won Championship Bowl I (Reading)
-
2008 || rowspan="1" colspan="5" style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |"Did Not Play"
-
2009 || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
-!Totals || 33 || 14 || 0
colspan="2"| (including NIFL and AIFA playoffs)
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2007 Season Schedule

External links

* [http://www.lakelandthunderbolts.com/index.asp Lakeland Thunderbolts' official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/lakelandtbolts Lakeland Thunderbolts' official myspace]
* [http://www.thestatguys.com/AIFA/2007/LAK.HTM Thunderbolts' 2007 Stats]