2016 Mini Cassia Diggers

 

Idaho lost three more teams to either the ICFL or reasons beyond the league in the off-season, 

including the Idaho Matadors and the Magic Valley Bulldawgs.  Despite these losses, the Mini 

Cassia Diggers of Burley are one of the three Idaho teams that have returned for the 2016 RMFL 

season.  The Diggers finished the 2015 season with a 6-2 record and fought in the post-season to become the AA Champions in Ogden with a victory over the Nevada Warriors.

 

Miguel Simental looks to continue more of that success for the Diggers leading into 2016 as the 

team’s owner for his second season.  Simental is also one of the team’s impact athletes on the 

field as well.  “Our approach on offense will be to run the ball,” said Simental of the team’s 

outlook for the 2016 season.  “We feel like we have a good and strong running back that can run 

the ball so we are going to focus on a running mentality.”  

 

There are multiple players looking to help and continue the Diggers’ success this season, 

including the 2015 RMFL AA MVP A.J. Hunter, who plays quarterback and has the ability to 

run the ball as a versatile athlete in the backfield.  Last season, Hunter led the team as the leading rusher and passer.  With his use of the pocket, Hunter completed 72 of 139 pass attempts for 1,198 yards and 12 touchdowns.  As the leading rush threat, Hunter ran for 255 yards and 3 

touchdowns on 66 total carries.  He also played in the defensive backfield and led the team with 

3 interceptions, which included one for a touchdown.

 

The Diggers also expect to have Angel Anguiano to return at receiver this season to help Hunter 

in passing situations.  “He was the second leading receiver last season and is very fast,” said 

Simental of Anguiano’s abilities.  As stated by Simental, Anguiano was the second leading 

receiver for the Diggers in 2015 with 440 yards receiving on 20 receptions and 4 touchdowns 

just behind Carson Hawker, who will not be joining the team for 2016.  “Hawker was 

everywhere on the field and our leader in catches and yards,” said Simental on the impact of 

losing Hawker.  “He was also our starting Free Safety, place holder for PATs, as well as our 

kicker and punt returner.”  The 2015 season was led by Hawker’s abilities, as he amounted to 

478 yards on 21 receptions and 5 touchdowns; 22.5 tackles, 2 pass deflections, 1 blocked kick; 8 

kick returns for 261 yards; and 8 punt returns for 182 yards and a touchdown.

 

Additionally, the Digger’s offense acquired three new receivers in the off-season to help 

Anguiano for the 2016 season.  Heyden Thacker, former Magic Valley Bulldawg receiver, joins 

the Digger receiving corps and is expected to be a lead target for Hunter this season with some 

much needed RMFL experience.  In 2015, Thacker was the Bulldawg’s second lead receiver 

with 264 receiving yards on 20 receptions and 3 touchdowns.  Also, joining the Diggers in their 

first seasons in the RMFL are Jake Nava and Taylor Seaton at the receiver position.  “Nava and 

Seaton are quick, can catch the ball, and are very reliable,” said Simental of his new receivers.  

The addition of Dylan Cortles on the offensive line will be one to watch for the Diggers in 2016.  

“Dylan is a good run blocking lineman who can also play linebacker,” said Simental of his new 

lineman.  In 2015, Cortles was responsible for 20 tackles as a linebacker.

 

The Digger defense looks to return many familiar faces from last season’s championship 

organization.  “Our strategy on defense will be to play our game,” said Simental on his plans for 

the Digger defense in 2016.  “We feel like we have a lot of playmakers on defense and as long as 

we do what we usually do we should be a smart and physical defense.”  Defensive end Calvin Pruett, Defensive Player of the Year in 2015, returns to the starting line-up for the Diggers in 2016.  Last season, Pruett led the defense with 39 tackles and 10 sacks.  “He can rush the quarterback and also drop back in coverage,” said Simental.  Defensive end Brogan Thoren and defensive tackle John Walker also join Pruett on the line for yet another season.  Walker and Thoren both had 3 sacks apiece in 2015.  “Walker is a very fast and strong athlete who has a motor to get after the quarterback all game long, and Thoren is big but also quick and smart enough to be in your head all game long,” said Simental.

 

Also, the Diggers return their corps linebackers from 2015 in Gerriuh Nay and team owner 

Miguel Simental, as well as Dan Cortles as the rising star on defense this off-season.  Nay was 

the most valuable player of the RMFL AA Championship game against the Warriors and had 13 

tackles in 2015.  “Nay can also be a ball hawk playing free safety with his intelligence on the 

field.”  Simental is a 4-time RMFL All-Star that is returning after being limited to one game due 

to injury in 2015.  Cortles returns for another season as he finished the 2015 season with 16 

tackles at the linebacker position.  “Dan played well for us last year and has been to every 

practice this off-season, and is in good shape,” said Simental.  “He has shown he can also cover.”

Furthermore, the Diggers’ secondary looks to return two of their impact starters from last season.  

Mark Olmos, the team’s star corner, brings experience and talent to the Digger defense.  Olmos 

had 20 tackles, an interception, and led the team with 11 pass deflections in 2015.  “Mark is a 

shut-down cover corner who is smart, quick, and can cover short or deep,” said Simental.  Also 

joining Olmos is Luis Miramontes in the defensive backfield.  “Luis is a speedy player who can 

run from sideline to sideline and deliver devastating hits,” said Simental.  “He will return this 

season after missing last year due to personal reasons.”

 

On Saturday, April 2, the Mini Cassia Diggers will travel to the Flathead Valley to face the 

Flathead Monsters in Western Montana to open the 2016 RMFL season.  “It is a long trip for our 

team, but will get our new players a taste of what the game is like,” said Simental of their 

opening quest for the 2016 season.  The Diggers enter the season as the defending champions 

and will look to continue their success in a league that has increased in the amount of teams and 

talent compared to the five-team AA from last season.  “Our team goals are to be the best we can be and to play for each other,” said Simental in regards to the team’s expectations for 2016.