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NEPA Miners set to open season Saturday against Coal Crackers

Article published 06/29/2007, The Times-Tribune

The region’s newest professional sports team takes to the field for the first time Saturday night as the NEPA Miners take on the Schuylkill County Coal Crackers in the inaugural Anthracite Classic at Scranton Memorial Stadium. The winner will take home the Coal Miners Cup trophy.

The Miners, members of the North American Football League’s Pennsylvania Division, are coached by former Scranton Eagle mentor Dan LaMagna.

The Coal Crackers, members of the Colonial Football Alliance, will also be making their season debut. The team posted a 6-5 record last season, losing to the Lehigh Valley Steelers, 13-0, in the first round of the CFA playoffs. Schuylkill County is coached by Tony Siminitus.

Among the players to watch include another former Eagle, running back Donnie Jackson-Bey. Jackson-Bey, who ran for 1,337 yards last year for the Hudson Valley Saints, comes into the season with 14,966 career yards on the ground, just 336 short of the national semi-pro record currently held by Scranton’s Frank Yanik.

Also on the offensive side of the ball is former King’s running back Damon Saxon.

“Donnie and Damon really complement each other in our backfield,” LaMagna said. “Donnie likes to run people over while Damon will use his speed and moves to get the job done.”

Quarterbacks J.P. Antosh and David Blakney will have some targets to throw to as well. Five-time Empire Football League all-star Javon Garcia and George Graham, a two-time EFL all-star, lead the receiving corps along with rookie Matthew Pfancook.

The offensive line will be anchored by 37-year old former Coal Cracker Ziggy Wisniewski.

Defensively, LaMagna will rely on fourth-year pro Malcolm Singleton and Old Forge product Chris Hoover across the line. The linebacker corps is led by former Eagle Lati Woodruff and Kendell Thomas while the defensive backfield will be anchored by veteran Kenneth Brooks.

“Graham is a big target with a lot of upside,” LaMagna said. “We also feel that Hoover is going to make a big impact for us this year.”

The NAFL was created in 1999 and currently consists of more than 120 teams in 32 divisions across the country.

The divisions are divided into eight geographical regions. The Miners play in the Atlantic Region of the NAFL.

Other teams in the Miners’ division include three-time NAFL national champion Central Penn Piranha, Cumberland Valley Cardinals, Lancaster Lightning and the South Central Yard Dawgs.

The Miners’ 10-game regular season schedule includes five home games, with two scheduled to be played at Scranton Memorial Stadium and two scheduled for Lake-Lehman’s Edward Edwards Stadium. The final home game of the season, Sept. 22 against the Lancaster Lightning, will be played at a site to be announced.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for kids under the age of four at the gate and kickoff is 7:05 p.m.

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