Wheeling, W. Va. - In their inaugural season, the Wheeling Miners took the American Arena League 2 (AAL2) by storm, going a perfect 9-0 during the regular season. On Saturday, the team played against the Peach State Cats in the AAL2 Championship game and completed the historic run with a 61-14 victory to claim the AAL2 Championship. Three former Wheeling Football players and two coaches were a part of the championship run, helping the team set a strong foundation for the future.
Early on, it was a tight game between the two teams, as they traded the first two touchdowns to tie the score at 7-7. Peach State would get the lead at 14-13 at the 6:51 mark in the first quarter before the Miner's defense shut things down. Those 14 points were all that the Cats would get the rest of the way, with Wheeling outscoring them 48-0. When all was said and done, the Miners picked up the 61-14 victory to claim the title. After completing the perfect season, the Miners will look to continue their success in year two, as they get set for a move to the National Arena League (NAL) for the 2025 season. In total, four different players found the endzone on offense, with seven different players finishing with at least one catch.
However, the Cardinal's biggest impact on the day would come on the defensive side of the ball. Leading the defensive unit was Wheeling Football defensive coordinator Mott Gaymon, who helped lead his defense to three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and nine total sacks. Former Cardinal Aaron Finch came through with a fumble recovery in the third quarter and added an interception of his own in the fourth to secure the victory. Former Cardinal Zay Lewis was also in on the action, picking up one of the team's nine sacks on the day. Lewis was named the team's Defensive Lineman of the Year during the regular season and continued that success into the championship game.
The Wheeling University Athletic Department congratulates the Wheeling Miners on their championship success and congratulates all of our former Cardinals who were part of the run.
