TEAM PREVIEW: Union City
2016 In Review: The Soaring Eagles were 9-2, losing to Passaic Tech in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 5 semi-finals after beating Clifton. They scored 404 points for a 33.73 average, while allowing 83 points for a 7.55 average, including six shutouts. Wins included Montclair, West Orange, and North Bergen, while their other loss was also to Passaic Tech.
Departures: OL Eleyzer Oliviery - Pace, QB/DB Harrison Fernandez - Pace, LB Fernando Breton - Pace, TE/DE Jacob Gonzalez - Fork Union MA (Va.), DB Jahsiah Negron - Kean, DT Leonardo Cruz - Kean, WR/DB Andrew Liverman - Hudson Valley JC (NY), DT Josue Collazo - Hudson Valley JC (NY)
Offense: Union City runs a spread Wing-T and returns five starters. The quarterback will be junior Alain Diaz (5-foot-10, 165). Returning at the halfbacks are senior Izayah Reyes (5-foot-11, 180) and junior Jean Alvarez (5-foot-10, 200), who started the last 6-7 games. The fullback will be junior Neo Ortiz (6-foot-0, 205), while senior Josean Diaz (5-foot-11, 225) and sophomore Devin Gonzalez (5-foot-8, 180) will vie for time in the backfield.
Wide receiver will have a committee of junior Joel Jimenez (5-foot-10, 165), junior Jeremy Colon (5-foot-8, 170), junior Darvin Berroa (5-foot-11, 180), and sophomore Yerandi Berroa (6-foot-0, 170). The tight end will see both senior Lawrence Santana (6-foot-1, 240) and junior Jaime Rodriguez (6-foot-0,230) getting action.
Three starters return to the line, led by three-year starter Jose Taveras (6-foot-4, 280) at left tackle, moving from guard. The other returnees are senior right tackle Elijah Inoa (6-foot-1, 275), who moves from center, and senior left guard Heraldo Nolasco (5-foot-11, 280). The right guard will be junior Zavien Guitian (6-foot-0, 265) and sophomore Jalen Genoa (6-foot-0, 270) will play center.
Defense: The Soaring Eagles run a 4-3 and return two starters and two others who started several games. Jose Taveras returns at end, where he will be in a rotation here and at tackle. The other ends will be Santana, sophomore Ricardo Taveras (6-foot-1, 250), and Rodriguez. The tackles include Jose Taveras, Nolasco, Genao, junior Eddy Coronado (5-foot-11, 245), and sophomore Enuerys Rosario (6-foot-0, 260), and senior Kris Romero (5-foot-10, 265).
The middle linebacker will be Diaz, where he is backed up by senior Bryan Feliz (5-foot-10, 200). The outside linebackers ae Alvarez and junior Juan Giraldo (5-foot-10, 180), with Ortiz in reserve.
The secondary has experience with Reyes moving to strong safety from cornerback, where he will team with senior free safety Mohamet Thiam (6-foot-2, 170) after starting the last five games. At cornerback, Darvin Berroa started a few games and he will be paired with Jimenez. Backing up Jimenez will be Colon.
Special Teams: Giraldo will be the kicker and punter, while Reyes, Colon, Darvin Berroa, and Jimenez will be the return men.
Schedule:
Friday, 9/1, at St. Peter’s Prep, 7 PM
Friday, 9/8, West Orange at home, 7 PM
Saturday, 9/15, at Dickinson, 3 PM
Friday, 9/22, Passaic Tech at home, 7 PM
Thursday, 9/28, Montclair at Montclair State, 7 PM
10/6-7, Bye Week
Thursday, 10/12, at Memorial, 7 PM
Friday, 10/20, Bayonne at home, 7 PM
Friday, 10/27, at North Bergen, 7 PM
Friday, 11/3, Kearny, 7 PM
Concerns: Inexperience. It has been an eventful pre-season with scrimmages against St. Joe’s (Montvale) and DePaul. Head Coach Wilbur Valdez has seen improvement as the weeks pass.
Recruits: Jose Taveras committed to Army. Reyes, Thiam, and Nolasco are 1-AA/D2 candidates and the others can go D3 with a good senior season.
Among the underclassmen, the most promising is the sophomore, Yerandi Berroa, a long athlete with good hands, speed, and body control. The others have to prove it.
Coach’s Comments: “We were devastated by graduation, but the way we run the program, it’s next man up. The players are hard workers and they are gaining experience every day.” - Head Coach Wilbur Valdez
