Union head football coach Brian Sheridan is pumped up about his Farmer defense, which has plenty of outstanding individuals as team looks forward to 2010 season. (Photo by Todd Mundt)

Union’s Defense Already First-Rate
As Farmers Look For ‘O’ To Hit Stride
By JR Parachini
For sidelinechatter.com

UNION – There will come a time in the season where the Farmers find their stride offensively.

Head coach Brian Sheridan, now in his fourth year at the helm, hopes that crisp execution arrives sooner than later.

However, at the moment, Sheridan is very high on the performance of his team’s defense.

“On defense I feel like we might have five, first team, all county kids in our front seven,” Sheridan said.

Those players the coach lauds are senior tackle Dan Laguerre (6-3, 280), senior end Eric Simonson (6-3, 225), senior nose guard Drake Harris (6-1, 260), senior middle linebacker Everett Johnson (5-10, 215) and junior strong linebacker Taylor Graves (6-2, 210).

Laguerre is a two-year starter who will be seeking to play on defense at the next level as well.

“He spent his sophomore year going up against Robert Lisowski (who is now playing at Toledo), which made him a great player,” Sheridan said. “He’s such a strong athlete. In the weight room he’s over 1,100 pounds in ¾ lifts, which is something you don’t see until you get to college.

“He’s coachable, very intelligent and has a 3.5 GPA. When you coach him he absorbs things.”

Simonson is also a returning starter.

“He’s as good as anybody at end right now and he had a couple of sacks tonight,” Sheridan said after his Farmers hosted North Bergen, Paterson Kennedy and Shabazz in a quad scrimmage Wednesday night at Cooke Memorial Field.

“We feel like Harris is one of those guys because of his presence on the inside and his strength levels,” Sheridan said. “Because of the way he’s progressed this year, we think Graves has a shot.”

Johnson, a three-year starter, will continue playing football in the Ivy League at Yale University.

“ Everett is as good as anybody, I think, in the county at linebacker because he has three years of experience,” Sheridan said. “He’s fast and he’s explosive and he’s another bright kid.

“He’s going to Yale. He has a 5.0 GPA. He speaks German fluently.

“He could have gone to Harvard. He could have gone to Columbia, but chose Yale. He made his decision in the summer, so we’re excited about that.

“He’s accepted at Yale and has a roster spot waiting for him. We’re just hoping he’s the Valedictorian this year.

“On the field he’s like having another coach. He also had some other 1-AA interest and some of the higher academic 1-A schools come in.”

Union ’s 7-0 start last year saw the Farmers give up only 65 points and shut out three opponents. Laguerre, Simonson, Johnson and Graves started on that defensive unit.

“We’re going to rely on our defense early on in the season until we can really identify who we are offensively,” Sheridan said.

Succeeding James Daniels at quarterback is senior Chris Foreman.

“Chris is more in the mold of Dion Nesmith from two years ago, where he’s athletic, he can make plays with his feet, he can attack teams on the edge and he can throw the football,” Sheridan said. “He’s another basketball player that we have playing quarterback for us.”

Backing him up is sophomore Doug Carter, who showed poise and confidence in throwing two touchdown passes against Shabazz during one session of Union’s first scrimmage.

“He did a good job last year on JV and we’re excited to get him out here and see how he progresses as the year goes along,” Sheridan said.

Last year Union had the senior threat of Daniels throwing the ball to standout end Elijah Lee, who is now at Grambling.

“When you have James, who could throw the ball 60 yards through the air and Elijah, who was fast enough to catch it, you become more of a vertical pass team,” Sheridan said. “We’re not sure if we’re that team yet. We’ll see as we progress throughout the summer.

“That deep strike and threat we had with Elijah Lee is gone and it’s tough to replace that.”

Will that mean that Union will pound the ball more with its running game?

“Johnson will be the featured back,” Sheridan said.

Another key young player on the squad is freshman tailback Jamauri Bogan.

“He will also be our punt returner and will do some things with us in the pass game,” Sheridan said. “He will get his touches. We’re looking for 10-12 a game in whatever way, shape or form.”

Bogan, who stands 5-9 and weighs 165, can turn on the jets.

“He’s our fastest player and I’m not afraid to say that,” Sheridan said. “He’s a track guy.

“He hasn’t attended a high school class yet and he’s out here competing with our guys and he’s overwhelming some of them with his athleticism and we think we’re a pretty athletic program.

“We’re excited to have him. He’s one of our hardest workers and he’s very coachable. We just know the future’s bright when we have kids like that in the program.”

Despite the loss of talented seniors to graduation such as Daniels, Lee and two-way lineman Terence Gavin, Sheridan is high on this year’s squad and even higher on the future.

“With our younger kids in the program – our juniors, sophomores and freshmen – I think we’re really set up for a run here, I really do,” Sheridan said.

Sheridan was a big part of the last run Union had, which is nearing 20 years ago. Sheridan helped lead Union to back-to-back 11-0 records and North 2, Group 4 state championships his junior and senior seasons of 1991 and 1992. Union then won its record 10 th playoff crown in N2, G4 in 1993, which is still its last.

“This year we feel like we have a chance to be very good,” Sheridan said. “Looking down the line, I just see player after player doing the right thing now and they’re all my kids, finally.

“They only know us and the staff and it’s been a lot easier here. It’s almost like – at times – the ship can steer itself. The kids know what to expect and where they’re supposed to be and there’s no confusion on anything.

“If the kids miss, for whatever reason, the parents call. If they don’t call, they suffer the consequences of the situation. That’s just one example of how things changed.”

At 7-0 last year and about to host conference rival Westfield on the state playoff cutoff date weekend, Union was on a roll. The Farmers were 7-0 for the first time since 1999 and seeking to go 8-0 for the first time since 1992.

Then Westfield came to town and thumped Union 35-14, with Union senior running back Isaiah McLean, who rushed for nearly 1,500 yards last season, suffering a collarbone injury in the game that would sideline him for the rest of the year.

Union still earned the top seed for the North 2, Group 4 playoffs, but was taken out by eighth-seeded Woodbridge 23-14 at home. The Farmers were downed at Linden 26-20 the night before Thanksgiving in the season finale for both, with Linden snapping a five-game losing streak and finishing 5-5 and Union ending the season with a three-game losing streak and concluding at 7-3.

“It was tough,” Sheridan said. “I haven’t been doing this 50 years, I’m only going on year four. It was the first time I’ve ever been a coach on any level and been 7-0. It’s a learning process, no doubt.

“I lost my feature player (McLean) on offense – if you will – at the worst time. But you want to know something we lost to a heck of a football team in Westfield. I’m not shocked about that at all.

“ Woodbridge was hot and they caught us at the right time. The Linden game is the thing that disappoints me. We just didn’t have it that night and we came up flat.

“It motivated us in the off season and we’ve learned from it.”

Sheridan on the Mid-State 39 Conference’s East A Division, which includes favorite Immaculata, Union, Elizabeth, Westfield, Linden, Plainfield and Watchung Hills this season: “Immaculata is Immaculata and you have a heavyweight in your division that you’ll play every year now.”

Union ’s home-opener is against the Somerset County parochial school on Sept. 24.

“We know we’ll be an underdog that night at home (against Immaculata) and that’s a challenge in itself. We’re focused about Montgomery ( Union’s first opponent) right now.

“It’s going to be interesting and it’s going to be fun. There’s new coaches and some very talented coaches coming into the division.”

They include Marc Crisafi at Watchung Hills, Bill Nyers at Plainfield and John Quinn at Elizabeth. Crisafi was an assistant coach and then a head coach at Union, while Quinn and Nyers served as assistant coaches at Union.

“With the resources at Elizabeth and Plainfield, you know they’re not going to be 1-9 and 2-8 teams for very long. I’m thinking the next couple of years this can be possibly the premier division in the state, as good as anybody.”

Sheridan on North 2, Group 4, which this year features as many heavyweights as it ever has, including defending champion Phillipsburg, Piscataway, Hunterdon Central and East Orange Campus: “Just to make the playoffs is going to be tough because there are so many teams. Whoever survives is truly a state champion in my mind.

“Hopefully one day we can play down to one group champion which is something that I would, personally, love to see. This year the champion from North 2, Group 4 is going to be as good as any public school team in the state, without a doubt.”

NOTES: Captains include Everett Johnson, Dan Laguerre, Jimmy Lee and Eric Simonson.

Sheridan is not expecting senior Marcus Allen to be able to play this season after Allen suffered an ACL injury in June right before a visit he was going to take to Georgetown.

Allen was a key performer in the secondary for Union last season and ranked as one of the top senior players in Union County for the upcoming season.

Union also lost Elijah Lee to a collarbone injury during the 2008 season. In addition to the loss of McLean late last year, Allen is the third key Union player in three years to go down with what looks like could be a season-ending injury.”

UNION ’S MULTIPLE-1 OFFENSE:

LT Nazir Barnett, junior, (6-3, 260)

LG Robert Yabao, senior, (6-1, 230)

C Mike Cepero, senior, (6-0, 230)

RG Drake Harris, senior, (6-1, 260)

RT Dan Laguerre, senior, (6-3, 280)

TE Eric Simonson, senior, (6-3, 225)

QB Chris Foreman, senior, (5-10, 185)

QB Doug Carter, sophomore, (6-0, 190)

TB Everett Johnson, senior, (5-10, 215)

TB Jamauri Bogan, freshman (5-9, 165)

TB Jequan Horn, senior, (5-10, 190)

FB Jimmy Lee, senior, (5-11, 195)

FB Raymond Friday, sophomore, (6-1, 220)

WR Jovan Oliver, junior, (5-11, 185)

WR Jordan Guest, senior, (6-0, 175)

PK Still to be determined.

P Chris Foreman, senior, (5-10, 185)

UNION’S 4-3 DEFENSE:

E Eric Simonson, senior, (6-3, 225)

E Ade Adeoba, senior, (6-1, 225)

E Jimmy Lee, senior, (5-11, 195)

T Dan Laguerre, senior, (6-3, 280)

NG Drake Harris, senior, (6-1, 260)

T Dave Burrell, junior, (6-3, 270)

MLB Everett Johnson, senior, (5-10, 215)

SLB Taylor Graves, junior, (6-2, 210)

WOLB Stephon Scullawal, junior, (6-2, 210)

CB Gavin Duncan, junior, (5-10, 170)

CB Terrell Harris, senior, (5-9, 180)

FS Lamont James, senior, (6-2, 190)

SS Dante Allen, junior, (5-10, 190)

UNION FARMERS

Head Coach: Brian Sheridan,

since 2007.

Fourth season: 20-11 (.645)

Conference: Mid-State 39

Division: East A

Section: North 2, Group 4

Union’s last sectional title: 1993

2009: (7-3)

Farmers in the 2000s: 61-44 (.581)

Cooke Memorial Field: Field Turf.

Brian Sheridan is a 1993 Union graduate. He was an assistant

coach (defensive coordinator) at Newark East Side from 1998-2001

and the head coach in 2002. He served as special teams coordinator

and inside linebackers coach at Widener University from 2004-2006.

UNION FARMERS 2010

Sept. 10 at Montgomery, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16 at Watchung Hills, 7 p.m.

Sept. 24 Immaculata, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Plainfield, 2 p.m.

Oct. 8 Westfield, 7 p.m.

Oct. 15 at Elizabeth, 7 p.m.

Oct. 22 at Hillsborough, 7 p.m.

Nov. 5 Somerville, 7 p.m.

Nov. 25 Linden, 10:30 a.m.

Head coach: Brian Sheridan,

fourth season

2009 UNION FARMERS (7-3)

(H) Union 21, Bridgewater-Raritan 0

(A) Union 37, Franklin 0

(H) Union 30, Ridge 28

(A) Union 35, Watchung Hills 0

(H) Union 42, Hillsborough 21

(A) Union 34, Plainfield 6

(H) Union 28, Elizabeth 10

(H) Westfield 35, Union 14

(H) Woodbridge 23, Union 14

(A) Linden 26, Union 20

Head coach: Brian Sheridan

Section: North 2, Group 4

Record: 7-3

Home: 4-2

Away: 3-1

Points for: 275

Points against: 149

Shutouts: 3

Overtime: 0-0

UNION FARMERS FOR THE

DECADE OF THE 2000s: (61-44, .581)

2009 - (7-3), reached North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals

2008 - (8-3), reached North 2, Group 4 semifinals

2007 - (5-5)

2006 - (7-4), reached North 2, Group 4 semifinals

2005 - (7-4), reached North 2, Group 4 semifinals

2004 - (4-6), reached North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals

2003 - (10-2), reached North 2, Group 4 final

2002 - (3-7)

2001 - (4-6)

2000 - (6-4), reached North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals

Made state playoffs (7 times): 2000, 2003-2006, 2008, 2009.

Championship game appearances (1): 2003-lost.

Present head coach: Brian Sheridan, fourth year.

Head coaches the past decade (3): Gary Zakovic 2000.

Marc Crisafi 2001-2006. Brian Sheridan 2007-2009.

******

2010 MID-STATE 39 CONFERENCE

East A (7 schools): Elizabeth, Immaculata, Linden, Plainfield,

Union , Watchung Hills, Westfield.

East B (6 schools): Summit, Rahway, Johnson,

Gov. Livingston, Hillside, Cranford.

East C (6 schools): Bound Brook, Brearley, New Providence,

Roselle , Roselle Park, Dayton.

West A (8 schools): Montgomery, North Hunterdon, Ridge, Phillipsburg,

Bridgewater-Raritan, Franklin, Hunterdon Central, Hillsborough.

West B (6 schools): Delaware Valley, North Plainfield, Voorhees,

Warren Hills , Scotch Plains, Somerville.

West C (6 schools): South Hunterdon, North Warren, Pingry, Belvidere, Bernards, Manville.

2009 MID-STATE 39 CONFERENCE

Delaware Division (5 schools) – Champion: Hunterdon Central

Hunterdon Central (5-0-0 division, 9-1-0 overall)

Phillipsburg ( 4-1-0, 10-2-0)

Bridgewater-Raritan ( 3-2-0, 6-4-0)

Hillsborough ( 1-4-0, 2-8-0)

Watchung Hills (0-5-0, 2-8-0)

Hills Division (6 schools) – Champion: Belvidere

Belvidere (5-0-0 division, 10-1-0 overall)

Pingry ( 4-1-0, 4-6-0)

Manville ( 3-2-0, 5-5-0)

Bound Brook ( 2-3-0, 4-6-0)

Bernards (0-4-0, 1-9-0)

South Hunterdon (0-4-0, 1-9-0)

Mountain Division (6 schools) – Champion: Summit

Summit (4-0-0 division, 12-0-0 overall)

Rahway (4-0-0, 7-3-0)

Hillside ( 2-3-0, 4-6-0)

Gov. Livingston ( 2-3-0, 5-5-0)

Johnson ( 2-3-0, 6-4-0)

Cranford (0-5-0, 4-6-0)

Raritan Division (6 schools) – Champion: Immaculata

Immaculata ( 4-1-0 division, 10-2-0 overall)

Ridge ( 4-1-0, 9-3-0)

Montgomery ( 3-2-0, 5-5-0)

Warren Hills ( 2-3-0, 5-5-0)

North Hunterdon ( 1-3-0, 5-5-0)

Voorhees (0-4-0, 2-8-0)

Union Division (5 schools) – Champion: Dayton

Dayton (3-0-0 division, 8-2-0 overall)

Roselle ( 2-1-0, 5-5-0)

New Providence ( 2-2-0, 6-4-0)

Brearley ( 2-2-0, 7-4-0)

Roselle Park (0-4-0, 0-10-0)

Valley Division (4 schools) – Champion: Somerville

Somerville (3-0-0 division, 6-4-0 overall)

Delaware Valley ( 2-1-0, 5-5-0)

North Plainfield ( 1-2-0, 4-6-0)

North Warren (0-3-0, 4-6-0)

Watchung Division (6 schools) – Champion: Westfield

Westfield (5-0-0 division, 8-3-0 overall)

Linden ( 4-1-0, 5-5-0)

Union ( 2-2-0, 7-3-0)

Plainfield ( 1-3-0, 2-8-0)

Scotch Plains (0-2-0, 2-8-0)

Elizabeth (0-4-0, 1-9-0)

UNION COUNTY FOOTBALL (17 schools)

CLASSIFICATIONS FOR 2010

NORTH 2, GROUP 4 (4): Elizabeth, Union, Linden, Westfield.

NORTH 2, GROUP 3 (3): Plainfield, Rahway,  Scotch Plains.

NORTH 2, GROUP 2 (2): Summit,  Hillside.

NORTH 2, GROUP 1 (4): Dayton, Brearley, New Providence,

Roselle Park .

CENTRAL JERSEY , GROUP 2 (4): Johnson, Roselle

Gov. Livingston, Cranford.

UNION COUNTY FOOTBALL COACHES

AT THEIR PRESENT SCHOOLS:

Union – Brian Sheridan since 2007 – fourth season

Roselle Park – James Foy since 2006 – fifth season

Brearley – Scott Miller since 2002 – ninth season

Dayton – Joe Goerge since 2006 – fourth season

Gov. Livingston – Terry Hanratty since 2004 – seventh season

Summit – John Liberato since 2007 – fourth season

Elizabeth – John Quinn since 2010 – first season

Hillside – John Power since 2008 – third season

Linden – Deon Candia since 2008 – third season

Rahway – Gary Mobley since 2004 – seventh season

Roselle – Lou Grasso Jr. since 2010 – first season

Cranford – Erik Rosenmeier since 2005 – sixth season

Johnson – Nick Gregorio since 2009 – second season

Westfield – Jim DeSarno since 2006 – fifth season

Plainfield – Bill Nyers since 2010 – first season

Scotch Plains – Steve Ciccotelli since 1991 – 20th season

New Providence – Frank Bottone since 1965 – 46th season

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