It’s almost unthinkable that the 2017 high school football season will mark Wilber Valdez’s 15th year as a head coach.
“It’s crazy,” said Valdez, the former Hoboken High School great who went on to play at the University of Miami, then was the head coach at Ferris for seven years and now begins his eighth as head coach at Union City. “Time sure flies.”
Ever since Valdez took over the Soaring Eagles’ program, the team has been a consistent winner, like last year, when they posted a 9-2 record.
“We’ve been consistently in the hunt,” Valdez said. “The expectations are there. The kids all expect us to be there at the end. We just have to get it done in the big games. But we’ve been consistently in the hunt.”
Valdez points out that Union City has been in the semifinals of the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group V playoffs in six of the last seven seasons. But there is still no state championship banner to hang.
“We need to do more to get past the teams like Montclair and Passaic [County] Tech,” Valdez said.
If it’s going to turn around in 2017, then it will have to happen with a roster that has been turned upside down by graduation.
“We have a big turnaround,” Valdez said. “Our mentality is ‘next man up.’ We’re not going to shy away from competition.”
It’s the reason why the Soaring Eagles are facing the nationally ranked Marauders in the first game of the season.
“It’s this team’s turn,” Valdez said. “They were backups in the past. It’s only natural that they develop into starters this year. These kids are hungry and enthusiastic. They know what the kids before them did and want to do more.”
Valdez promised one thing.
“We have some kids who are scary with the ball in their hands,” Valdez said.
One of the main returnees is Izayah Reyes (5-11, 180), who can line up as a running back or a slot receiver.
“I have a whole lot of confidence in him and he has a lot of confidence,” Valdez said of the senior Reyes, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season. “He leads by example. He’s smooth with the ball. I really don’t have to showcase him. He missed two games last year and still scored 18 touchdowns. I think this year we will be able to use him in a lot of ways and that’s a good problem to have.”
Junior Jean Alvarez (5-10, 200) is another weapon in the Soaring Eagles’ backfield.
The fullback brigade features junior Neurys Ortiz (5-11, 205), senior Josean Diaz (5-11, 215) and sophomore Devin Gonzalez (5-7, 185), who led the freshman team in rushing last year.
“He’s an explosive downhill runner,” Valdez said of Gonzalez.
Juniors Joel Jimenez (5-10, 170) and Jeremy Colon (5-7, 160) highlight a receiving corps that Valdez calls “the best receiving corps I’ve ever had…they’re deep and talented.”
Look for two guys named Berroa to steal the spotlight this fall in junior Darvin Berroa (5-11, 175) and sophomore Yerardi Berroa (6-0, 170).
“Darvin is going to be all over the place for us,” Valdez said. “Yerardi has so much potential and I think he’s going to be Division I.”
The quarterback is junior Alain Diaz (5-10, 165), who may throw the ball more than any Soaring Eagle quarterback.
“He has all the skills,” Valdez said. “He definitely can spin it.”
The offensive line is led by returning senior starting tackle Jose Tavares (6-4, 275), who is getting looks from Monmouth, William & Mary, Army and Delaware State.
Senior Elijah Ynoa (6-1, 270) was a center last year, but has been moved to tackle this season.
The guards are senior Heraldo Nolasco (5-10, 270) and junior Zavien Guitian (5-10, 265).
Valdez has two players battling for time at center, namely senior Kristan Romero (5-9, 260) and sophomore Jake Genao (6-0, 270). Senior Lawrence Santana (6-1, 240) and junior Jaime Rodriguez (6-0, 225) share the duties at tight end.
Defensively, the Eagles play a 4-4 front, with Tavares, Santana and sophomore Richard Tavares (6-1, 250) sharing time. The Tavareses are not related.
At defensive tackle, the Eagles will use Nolasco, Genao and junior Eddy Coronado (5-11, 255) and sophomore Eneurys Rosario (6-0, 255).
The linebackers are Diaz and senior Bryan Feliz (5-10, 210), with the middle linebackers among junior Juan Geraldo (5-9, 180), Alvarez and Ortiz.
The cornerbacks are Darvin Berroa, Colon and Jimenez, with Reyes at safety, along with seniors
Mohamed Thiam (6-2, 170) and Edgar Fuentes (5-10, 170).
After opening with the Marauders, the Soaring Eagles take on West Orange and then Dickinson.
“The kids work hard,” Valdez said. “I think the progression is inevitable. They’re doing the right things. I’m just waiting for them to mature. I feel good about them right now. I know that we’ll get better.” – Jim Hague.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.
