The Electric City Chargers are preparing to begin their inaugural season in 2008. Many of the players and coaches were members of the Scranton Eagles. These players have a few seasons playing together and have added many valuable rookies to the team.

Offensively, quarterback Ted Wallingford will lead the Chargers. Wallingford, the 2007 Empire Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year, threw for 1,381 yds and 8 TD’s for the Eagles in 2007. Wallingford will be joined in the backfield by tailback Phil Ross and fullback Gary Visnofsky. In 2007 Ross tallied 417 yds and 3 TD’s while Visnofsky ran for 225 and 1 TD before both were hampered with injuries. First team all-star Louis Verdetto will anchor the receiving corps. Verdetto had 28 catches for 400 yds and 5 scores in 9 games in 2007. Cory Champi, Christian Grandzol, will join Verdetto and tight end Matt Williams who combined for a total of 50 catches, 645 yds and 3 TD’s in ’07. The offensive line will be anchored by returning 1 st team all-star Jeremy Schaffer at center. Returnees T.J. Conserette, T.J. Edwards, Dave Drake, Brian McClure and newcomer Chris Jenkins, will join him.

Defensively the Chargers will be led by returning all-star and captain linebacker Nick Parlanti. Parlanti was second on the Eagles in tackles last year with 84 and also added an interception and fumble recovery. Joining Parlanti at linebacker will be another returning all-star Jim Schaffer, who added 70 tackles, an interception and fumble recovery of his own in ’07. Cory Champi who led the EFL in interceptions in ‘07 with 4 and also added 50 tackles will lead the secondary. Joining him in the secondary this year will be Victor Rivero, Paul Shanaman, and rookie Rob Getz. The defensive line will be anchored by veterans Neil McMahon, and Andy Minnick.

Leading the Chargers this season will be Mike Arcure. Arcure is entering his second season as a head coach. Assistant coaches will be Mark Arcure, Ron Tomko, Rob Wehner and former NFL Pro-Bowler Ron Solt. When asked for his outlook on the ’08 season Coach Arcure said, “we are confident in our players and coaches and believe that we can come into the colonial league and prove ourselves as a competitive team and hopefully contend for a title.”