VERONA- Manj Singh never has had a doubt about what the potential can be as he was moving from success in his brief tenure at Glen Ridge to take the reins of a Verona football program with a ton of tradition despite some recent struggles.
And, he wanted to stress team chemistry right from the start, something that appears to be taking hold as the Group 1 team - coming off three straight losing seasons, including 2-8 last fall – could be ready to return to its more accustomed winning ways in 2024.
“This team has really bonded and worked hard to make this a very productive summer,” said the Hillbillies’ first-year head coach who had guided Glen Ridge to its first playoff victory in 40 years last fall. “I like the makeup of this group and I am very confident that we will see a return to winning football for a Verona team with tremendous history and great support from the school and community.”
With inspiration from his wife Liliana, who works in the medical field, Singh decided to take his Verona team to a new, adventure-type experience at the ‘Fairfield Escape Room’ where teams of 2-to-10 people are locked in a room and given various clues in order to solve puzzles and other tasks within a time limit to be able to escape victorious.
“We sent different groups of players - some of whom who may not have known or hung out with each other before – into the escape room and the results were terrific because regardless of whether or not they figured out the clues to find their way out, they became closer from the experience,” said Singh. “We have seen more closeness among the players since that experience which I think has also helped us in 7-on-7’s and other events we’ve done together.
“Now, of course, it’s translating that developing team chemistry and talent into a winning team, which we are determined to have happen, no doubt about that!”
The ‘Billies won the Group 2 Linemen Challenge at the Jets 7-on-7 held at the NFL team’s training facility in Florham Park.
Verona opens the new season on the earliest day possible to start the 2024 campaign, which will be 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29, in a ‘Week Zero’ contest vs. Jefferson as one of the games in a showcase event on Suriano Field at West Orange High School organized by Mountaineers coach Darnell Grant.
After the home opener vs. Kinnelon at Sellitto Field on Friday night, Sept. 6, it’s then one of the certain ‘Games of the Year’ at archrival Cedar Grove on Friday evening, Sept. 13.
The Panthers, with a host of returnees including their electrifying senior quarterback Stephen Paradiso, blitzed past the Hillbillies, 44-7, last season in Verona and there is never any needed, extra motivation required when the local version of ‘The Hatfields and The McCoys’ takes place at either bordering school.
“I know that my defensive coordinator Steven Brown is concentrating right now on preparing for our first game with Jefferson, but in looking ahead at the season as a whole you can’t help but think about what it will be like when we meet Cedar Grove, what with their great offensive weapons and all the talent they have,” said Singh. “It’s such a huge game each season, and it goes without saying that we will be a very determined Verona football team when that game week is upon us.”
While its neighboring rival has a very talented man receiving snaps, Verona also boasts a veteran signal caller with great tools and previous strong work on his resume as senior co-captain Connor Demasi (145-of-213 for 2,046 yards, 12 TDs, 10 Int.) returns as one of the QBs to watch in Essex County.
The ‘Billies also have a talented, young QB on the rise in sophomore John McEnerney. |
