By JR Parachini on HILLSIDE, SPORTS
HILLSIDE – Positive strides were made last year and reflected in the wins and losses columns as the Comets won three more games than they did the previous two seasons. Hillside followed consecutive one-victory campaigns with a 4-6 record last season, winning four games for the first time in four years. This year the Comets […]
By JR Parachini on SPORTS, SPRINGFIELD
SPRINGFIELD – Qualities that you want in your quarterback include: smarts, athleticism, the ability to throw the ball down field and guidance. In the eyes of first-year head coach Dominic Cuniglio, returning senior John Apicella possesses all of those traits and more. “John is very intelligent, mobile and is getting a good understanding of our […]
By JR Parachini on SPORTS, UNION
UNION – It will be a “baptism by fire” of sorts for the Farmers this season. Losing 21 of 22 starters from last year’s sectional final squad indicates that. “We’ve got a lot of good kids out who are good players,” second-year head coach Lou Grasso, Jr. said. “They now have to learn what it […]
By JR Parachini on CLARK, LINDEN, ROSELLE PARK, SPORTS
UNION COUNTY FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Roselle Park head coach Terry Hanratty played on one of the best Union County teams ever during the playoff era. He was a senior and a key player on defense in the secondary on the 1989 Elizabeth team that became the first in program in history to finish 11-0. The Minuemen […]
By JR Parachini on LINDEN, SPORTS
LINDEN – Will this be the year Linden really puts it all together and has a chance to win a state championship in December? Moving its best player – senior Juwan Dolbrice – to quarterback was what seventh-year head coach Deon Candia hopes was the first step toward that lofty goal. “Juwan is a great […]
By JR Parachini on CLARK, SPORTS
CLARK – With a new head coach and starting quarterback in place, the Crusaders hope to build upon last year’s season-ending three-game winning streak. Last year’s special teams coordinator and also the coach of the defensive linemen, linebackers and fullbacks, Anthony DelConte – a 2006 Johnson graduate – can’t wait for the opening game of […]
By JR Parachini on ROSELLE PARK, SPORTS
ROSELLE PARK – Winning is difficult enough. Winning again – with a new regime – is just as challenging, if not more so. Roselle Park football was put back on the map the last two seasons, with the Panthers posting winning campaigns that included trips to the playoffs, a championship game appearance and long-awaited victories […]
By JR Parachini on SPORTS, UNION
Wins 3 of 4 matches in weekend tourney
Keeping sharp during the summer before the 2014 season commences in early September, the Union boys’ soccer team excelled in a weekend tournament earlier this month and hopes to play well in another one this coming weekend. Union won three of four games in the Poconos Cup Premier Tournament held in the Poconos, Pa. on […]
By JR Parachini on CRANFORD, ROSELLE PARK, SPORTS
There are many reasons why the Roselle Park football team was able to reach a championship game for the first time in 19 years two seasons ago and that Cranford was able to not only reach one for the first time but win one three seasons ago. Two of them were playing for the Union […]
By JR Parachini on CRANFORD, RAHWAY, SPORTS
Snapple Bowl practice commences later this week; the game is July 17 at Sayreville
Both quarterbacks can drop back and throw the ball. One looks more like the classic drop back because of his size. One looks more like the classic scrambler, also because of his size. One way or another it doesn’t matter. Cranford’s John Oblachinski and Rahway’s Jeffery Bost are pretty good at finding manners in which […]