Photo by Nick Henthorn Wheeling Miners wide receiver Isaiah Robinson, a West Liberty alum, eludes a defender during a regular season game against the Michigan Avengers on May 12 at WesBanco Arena.

WHEELING — To say the Wheeling Miners have hit the ground running would be an understatement.

In their first year in existence, the Miners have lapped their competition in the American Arena League 2 (AAL2), going undefeated throughout the regular season and scoring over 55 points a game on average in what the team is considering a successful inaugural season to this point.

“It’s been a great season,” Wheeling head coach Josh Resignalo said. “Anytime you can go undefeated it’s pretty awesome. Every home game has been better and better, and our attendance grows a little bit each time. That’s great, you want to see growth each time.”

ButNow, in a season of firsts, there is another on the horizon for the Miners, who will play their first-ever playoff game inside WesBanco Arena on Saturday against the Jersey Bearcats, the defending league champions, in the North Division Championship at 7 p.m.

The Miners (8-0) have faced the Bearcats (5-3) twice this season, and Jersey has given them two of their closer games to this point, Wheeling winning 42-32 in week two at home, and winning 25-20 in week six on the road.

“The first time we played them here at home it was our very first time in the arena,” Resignalo said. “We had a lot of rookies so it was their very first time in the arena period. Second time, we went there, the venue’s kind of different to be playing in so it limited us in a lot of things. We’ve added some pieces since then and we’re rolling right now. I think it’s going to be a very good experience tomorrow.”

The Miners’ offense has been led by quarterback Grant Russell, who has thrown to a treasure trove of weapons which includes playmakers like Isaiah Robinson, Jeremiah Flores, Andre Thomas-Cobb and Jarvai Flowers. When they go to the ground, West Liberty alum Charles Westbrook has been their top back.

“The biggest thing is to have a team around you that helps make everything as successful as it is,” Resignalo said.

The playoff game comes on the heels of some enormous news for the Miners, who announced Friday both a two-year lease extension at WesBanco and a move to the National Arena League (NAL) next season.

While there are changes on the horizon, the Miners team is staying focused on their game Saturday.

“We checked some boxes,” Resignalo said. “We’re going to be here, we’re playing in a better league. Now for us to last 20-something years and continue to be here, we’ve got to continue support and it’s got to continue to grow with our community and the Ohio Valley. The seats here in WesBanco Arena need to be filled. We’ll do the things that we need to do, help us out and come support us on game nights- specifically tomorrow night, being a big playoff game vs. Jersey for the opportunity to be in the AAL2 championship game July 6.”

It’s been a season of firsts for the Wheeling Miners. Resignalo thinks if they perform like they’re capable of, there could be one more first at the end of the road- a first-ever championship.

“To be in this situation and be in a playoff game for a chance to bring another championship into WesBanco is pretty awesome,” Resignalo said. “The support is crucial for us to be successful on and off the field and to help us be here for a long time. It all goes hand-in-hand.”