House passes short-term spending measure as talks falter

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Pair facing charges after allegedly driving tractor trailer drunk with kids in vehicle

<p>SCRANTON &#8212; Coach Mark Duda&#8217;s second-ranked Lackawanna College football team will play for the National Junior College Athletic Association championship on Dec. 5, in Pittsburg, Kansas, against top-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.</p><p>Duda, 58, is a graduate of Wyoming Valley West High School and the University of Maryland. He went on to play five seasons for the NFL&#8217;s St. Louis Cardinals.</p><p>&#8220;The Lackawanna College Football program is honored to accept an invitation to the 2019 National Championship Game,&#8221; Duda said. &#8220;The hard work of our players, coaches and staff has made this goal a reality. We look forward to a fantastic game vs an undefeated Mississippi Gulf Coast team.&#8221;</p><p>The game will be played at Carnie Smith Stadium and will be televised live on CBS Sports Network. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m..</p><p>&#8220;I am unbelievably proud and happy for Coach Duda, his coaches and their entire football program,&#8221; said Lackawanna College Athletic Director, Joya Whittington. &#8220;Coach is an incredible leader, and it is a true honor to work with him every day. His program once again raises the bar for Lackawanna College athletics.&#8221;</p><p>This will be the first appearance in the national championship game for Lackawanna College after finishing the regular season undefeated with a record of 10-0. This is also the second season in a row Coach Duda&#8217;s Falcons have finished undefeated, and they are currently on a 22 consecutive game winning streak.</p><p>Duda said over the years he had opportunities to coach elsewhere, but he wanted to stay home and help the players he recruits. He said they have come in with some academic issues, but they work hard and he said they get through.</p><p>&#8220;I really feel that I have done more good here than if I had gone someplace else,&#8221; Duda said. &#8220;We help our players academically and they get an education. It&#8217;s been our ultimate goal to play in a national championship game and now we finally have that opportunity.&#8221;</p><p>Lackawanna College has won back to back Northeast Football Conference Championships, claiming the title in 2018 and 2019.</p><p>Duda has been a member of the football staff at Lackawanna College since the introduction of the sport in 1993. After one season as defensive coordinator, Duda was promoted to head coach and has since compiled an impressive record of 177-78 while elevating the program to a position of national prominence.</p><p>In his tenure at the college, Duda has produced more than 400 Division I scholarship athletes and has had 20 players sign with NFL teams. Duda has won Northeast Football Conference Coach of the Year honors on four different occasions.</p><p>Duda played his college ball at the University of Maryland where he still holds the school&#8217;s record for sacks in a season with 13. After starting for 4 years for the Terrapins, Duda was selected in the in the fourth round, 96th pick overall, in the 1983 NFL draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He went on to play in 55 games, starting 34 of them, registering 9.5 sacks from his debut in 1983 to his retirement in 1987.</p><p>Duda was inducted into the University of Maryland Wall of Fame in 1994 and a year later was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sport Hall of Fame. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Education by East Stroudsburg University in 1991. In 2005 he was awarded a Master of Arts in Professional Studies from Thomas Edison College.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Coach Mark Duda </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_MARK-DUDA.jpg</photo0><caption0>Coach Mark Duda </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_LACKAWANNA-COLLEGE-TEAM-PHOTO.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lackawanna College Falcons will play for the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship on Dec. 5. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_LACKAWANNA-COLLEGE-TEAM-PHOTO.jpg</photo1><caption1>Lackawanna College Falcons will play for the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship on Dec. 5. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Duda’s Lackawanna College team to play for NJCCA national title Dec. 5