Union City Soaring Eagles
NJTCC Division 4
North 1, Group IV
2008: 5-5
Playoffs: None
Head Coach:
Joe Rotondi
10th year (43-46)
Returning Starters
Offense: 2
Defense: 4
Offense: Wing-T
Defense: 4-4
2009 Schedule
9/11 vs Eastside 7 p.m.
9/18 vs Dickinson 7 p.m.
9/25 vs Ferris 7 p.m.
10/2 vs North Bergen 7 p.m.
10/9 vs St. Peter’s Prep 7 p.m.
10/16 vs Fair Lawn 7 p.m.
10/24 at Teaneck 7 p.m.
10/30 at Bayonne 7 p.m.
11/6 at West Milford 7 p.m.
Football Preview Guide
Team Previews
Bayonne
Dickinson
Ferris
Harrison
Hoboken
Hudson Catholic
Kearny
Lincoln
Marist
Memorial
North Bergen
St. Anthony
St. Peter’s Prep
Secaucus
Snyder
Union City
Weehawken
Take 2 for Union City
New QB Pedro Aragon (left) should make Union City a passing threat.
Click Here for more photos from Union City's football practice.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
UNION CITY – Expectations were high for the Soaring Eagles last year, their first after the merger of rivals Union Hill and Emerson. The transition was not as smooth as originally hoped as Union City dropped four of their first six en route to a disappointing 5-5 record.
“We’ve been through the transition phase of getting the two high schools to come into one,” head coach Joe Rotondi said. “The team unity and sense is a lot better.”
For year two of the merger, the roster has undergone a significant overhaul as just six of starters from a season ago return for 2009. Even with a lineup that will rely heavy on juniors, Rotondi thinks the talent is there to compete.
“I think there’s a lot more comradery, there’s more trust within themselves and I think that makes for a better team,” he said. “Whether that turns into wins or losses? We’ll see. The talent is there in some spots. We have some talented juniors.”
Offensive Overview:
At 6-foot-1, Mike Carrasco provides a big target in the passing game.
Rotondi’s offense has undergone a major transformation this season with nine projected new starters. The biggest change will come at quarterback with Pedro Aragon. The senior has impressed early on with his confidence and arm strength and will give the Soaring Eagles an added dimension to their Wing-T offense.
“It will be a little more diverse,” Rotondi said. “I think we’ll be able to throw the ball better and check plays at the line of scrimmage. Things we weren’t able to do last year.”
Senior TE Frank Vidal and 6-foot-1 wideout Mike Carrasco (left) will provide big targets for Aragon in the passing game.
Ricky Ramos and Dominik Montanez will be asked to split the carries for Union City after spending most of last season on the sidelines. Rotondi believes the two will complement each other well as Ramos is a slasher between the tackles while Montanez has the speed to create big plays on the outside. The quartet of Chris Hernandez, Ed Ayala, Joel Roman and Yorwin Iberra will fight for time at fullback.
Whether it’s through the air or on the ground, the Soaring Eagles will rely heavily upon left tackle Josue Matias. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound earned his way into the starting lineup as a sophomore and appears poised to stake his claim as one of the state’s top linemen.
Defensive Overview:
Isaac Flores is a returning starter for the Soaring Eagles at DE.
If an opponent thought they were seeing double when looking at the inside linebacking tandem of Ayala and Hernandez, it’d be hard to blame them. The duo provides Rotondi with a pair of 230-pound thumpers in the middle.
“Chris is one of those guys that likes to run tackle to tackle and knock your block off,” Rotondi said. “They’re both very, very similar, it’s hard to describe differences between them.”
Ayala, a three-year starter is the speed backer while Hernandez commands the MIKE spot in Union City’s 4-4 defensive scheme.
Matias provides size at defensive tackle and will be joined on the line by junior end Isaac Flores. The 210-pound junior is one of four returning starter on D and is the team’s top pass rusher.
Senior Geo Cruz shifts over from cornerback to free safety to lead the secondary.
Star Spotlight: Josue Matias, LT/DT
Josue Matias broke into the starting lineup midway through his sophomore year.
With so many new faces, the status of some positions are up in the air entering the season. With returning junior Josue Matias, left tackle certainly isn’t one of them. At 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, the 16-year-old Matias appears poised to be a top lineman in the state and a Division I tackle. Matias’ footwork and 70+ inch wingspan reminds Rotondi of one of his former players, former Union Hill and Rutgers standout Pedro Sosa.
“He’s a very talented, talented individual,” Rotondi said about Matias. “He’s very much a carbon copy of Pedro Sosa. He looks like him, he plays like he did as an underclassman. They’re very similar in that respect and hopefully he can progress like Pedro did.”
Last year Matias forced his way into the left tackle position on a veteran line. As the only returning starter on the line he knows there will be larger expectations on his shoulders.
“This year I think I have more responsibility as a starter,” Matias said. “I’ve got to remember the plays. There’s nobody there (to help me). Last year I could look over at the guy next to me last year and he could teach me, but this year it has to be me being the leader.”