2015 In Review: The Soaring Eagles were 6-4, losing to Montclair in the first round of the North Jersey Section 1 Group 5 playoffs. They scored 312 points for a 31.20 average, while allowing 177 for a 17.7 average. Wins included Montclair, North Bergen, and bayonne, while losses included St. Peter’s Prep, Seton Hall Prep, and Lincoln.

Departures: OL/DL Ulysses DeLos Santos - Delaware State, RB Raven Josiah - Avila U (KC, Mo. NAIA), WR/DB Isais Alberto - Avila U (KC, Mo. NAIA), TE/DE Keven DeLaCruz - Avila U (KC, Mo. NAIA), RB/DE Jeremy Torres - Montclair State

Offense: Union City runs a multiple Wing-T and returns three starters. Senior Harrison Fernandez (6-foot-1, 180) returns at quarterback, and his backfield mates will be junior Izayah Reyes (5-foot-10, 170) and senior Kevin Paul (5-foot-8, 185) at the halfbacks and senior Fernando Breton (5-foot-10, 215). Bretton was a defensive starter, Paul is a Pope John transfer who saw action, and Reyes saw time. Also pushing for time are senior Jahsiah Negron (5-foot-9, 165), sophomore Jean Alvarez (5-foot-10, 188), and junior Josean Diaz (5-foot-11, 225).

At the receiver positions, there will be a committee of four at split end. Junior Mohamet Thiam (6-foot-1, 160), senior Andrew Liverman (5-foot-9, 150), sophomore Darvin Berroa (5-foot-10, 170), and sophomore Joel Jimenez (5-foot-10, 165). Tight end will be senior Jacob Gonzalez (6-foot-3, 250), a transfer from Pennsylvania, where he started.

Two starter return to the line in senior left tackle Elyezer Oliviery (6-foot-4, 255) and junior right tackle/guard Jose Taveras (6-foot-4, 265). Left guard has junior Heraldo Nolasco (5-foot-10, 262) and the center is senior Elijah Inoa (5-foot-11, 270). The right side has a battle between seniors Andy Gonzalez (6-foot-2, 245) at guard and Marcus Heredia (6-foot-4, 260) at tackle. Taveras started at guard, but may move to tackle, depending on who wins the battle.

Defense: The Soaring Eagles run a 4-3 and return two starters, three who played, and another who started on offense. End will have a three-man rotation of Jacob Gonzalez, Taveras, and junior Lawrence Santana (6-foot-2, 235), with Taveras starting a handful of games. The tackles are seniors Leo Cruz (5-foot-11, 245) and Josue Collazo (5-foot-10, 265) - Collazo started on offense and will play only defense, while Cruz saw a lot of action.

Bretton is a returning starter, moving from outside to the middle. The outside linebackers will be senior Ryan Feliz (6-foot-0, 185) and sophomore Charles Gordon (5-foot-10, 190), as Feliz played often. Rotating in will be Diaz and sophomore Neurys Ortiz (6-foot-0, 190).

In the secondary, Fernandez is back, moving from outside linebacker to strong safety. The free safety will be Negron, who is being pushed by Paul and Alvarez. The corners are Liverman and Reyes, with support from Thiam and senior Jefferson Manzanillo (5-foot-11, 162).

Special Teams: The kicker is sophomore Jose Camilo and Hernandez will punt. The return men are Reyes, Liverman, and Paul.

Schedule:

Friday, 9/9, at West Orange, 7PM

Friday, 9/16, Dickinson at home, 7PM

Friday, 9/23, at Passaic Tech, 7PM

Friday, 9/30, Montclair at home, 7PM

Friday, 10/7, at East Side, 7PM

Friday, 10/14, Memorial at home, 7PM

Saturday, 10/22, at Bayonne, 1PM

Friday, 10/29, North Bergen at home, 7PM

Friday, 11/4, Kearny at home, 7PM

Concerns: Inexperience. Players have paid their dues and waited their turn; they need to mature and improve.

Recruits: Olivery committed to Delaware State. Fernandez has an offer from Monmouth and interest from Villanova, New Hampshire, and Army. Jacob Gonzalez has a Monmouth offer and interest from Delaware State, Villanova, and New Hampshire. Bretton can by Ivy League or NESCAC.

In the junior class, Taveras has a Delaware State offer and interest from Rutgers, boston College, and Penn State.

Coach’s Comments: “We’re always optimistic. There are questions to answer and holes to fill. There are young guys who have been in the program and we’re eager to see what they have. They’ve worked hard and it’s the next man up.” - Head Coach Wilbur Valdez