UNION, NJ — Although, with the exception of three players, we’re talking about an entirely new cast, Union football is looking forward to playing a game again.
After last year’s state championship title contender had its season cut short in the middle of the North 2, Group 5 playoffs due to a COVID-19 decision to shut down the 2021 campaign for player safety, the Farmers can’t wait to break on through to Cooke Memorial Field for their 101st season opener on Friday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m., vs. non-division foe Bridgewater–Raritan Regional High School.
Leading the way are the team’s only two returning non-kicker starters: senior Omar Ibrahim and junior Zach Menon. Head coach Lou Grasso Jr. named them 2022 captains.
Grasso said the goal is to work these new players, with leadership from Ibrahim and Menon, into state championship material. That could come this year. It may come later down the road.
Union won its first state title in 26 years three years ago and last year was on the cusp of another.
With a new group of players, however, you have to walk before you can run.
“I think we have the talent necessary to win,” Ibrahim said. “We have dogs on the field, and they’re giving 110 percent the whole time.”
Ibrahim started for the first time last year at wide receiver and defensive back. He will be a main target of first-year quarterback Omalley King, who stands 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 195 pounds. Ibrahim will also be one of Union’s cornerbacks on defense.
The McCarthy Report lists Ibrahim as the No. 2 senior college prospect in Union County. “One of top cornerbacks in state,” David McCarthy said about Ibrahim. “Angular cornerback who has the height schools are looking for.”
Ibrahim said he plans on taking visits before he lists any college suitors.
He “matches up well against big wideouts and has the feet to blanket smaller receivers,” McCarthy said. “Very versatile.”
Ibrahim likes what he sees so far from the team.
“The effort and the energy is there, and the new guys are working their butts off,” Ibrahim said. “The seniors made a great impact last year, but there is still talent behind. The underclassmen are now ready to take their spots.”
Menon anchors offensive and defensive lines that include just one senior starter each. Sultan Robinson is the right guard on offense, and Coree Jones is one of the tackles on defense.
“I’m excited,” Menon said. “Our new guys are young, strong and have so much potential.”
While Union found its way into the end zone to the tune of more than 40 points in each of its last five games a year ago, defensively, the Farmers yielded just 41 points in their final seven contests combined.
“Last year, our defense was an unstoppable force,” Menon said. “Right now, we’re building toward that.”
King, who played junior varsity last year, will look to implement an element of surprise when it comes to his decision-making at the line of scrimmage. His height already gives him clearer vision.
“I consider myself a dual threat — all balance, everything you need,” King said. “I’m the lifeguard out there. I need to make sure that I’m doing my job and that everyone is safe and that we’re all working together as a unit.
“I need to be cool, calm and collected.”
Another JV player from a year ago seeking to make an impact is sophomore receiver/cornerback Renick Dorilas.
“Our offense is a mix of everything. We have a lot of athletes,” Dorilas said.
Union’s place kicker and punter Ramsey Lafond is back as one of the top senior kickers in Union County. Last year, Lafond made 37 of 42 extra points.
Union’s first scrimmage was at home on Wednesday, Aug. 17, vs. Eastern Regional High School and St. John Vianney High School.
“Our first scrimmage woke us up a bit as a team,” Ibrahim said.
Union’s game-scrimmage was scheduled for Friday, Aug. 26, at home vs. Sayreville High School, after press time. The Farmers also had a scrimmage at Woodbridge High School on Saturday, Aug. 20, which was to be Woodbridge’s game-scrimmage.
Union is situated in the Big Central Conference’s newly aligned and freshly named five-school American Gold Division, which also includes Elizabeth, Somerville, St. Joseph’s of Metuchen and Westfield.
Union’s overall record going into the 2022 campaign is 546-331-52, or .623.
Union’s multiple spread offense:
T Zach Menon, junior, 6-3, 265
G Babadara Olowe, sophomore, 6-2, 260
G Anthony Chiapetta, junior, 5-10, 245
C Connor Palestis, junior, 5-10, 220
C Jahdiel Williams, junior, 5-8, 265
G Sultan Robinson, senior, 5-10, 240
T Kinte Warnock, junior, 6-5, 250
WR Omar Ibrahim, senior, 6-1, 180
WR Renick Dorilas, sophomore, 6-0, 165
WR Jacob Menon, senior, 5-10, 170
WR Qadir Branch, senior, 5-9, 150
QB Omalley King, sophomore, 6-4, 195
RB Todd Francis, senior, 5-10, 170
RB Kordal Hinton, junior, 5-11, 205
RB Elijah Stewart, senior, 5-9, 200
RB Amar Kelly, junior, 5-8, 190
PK Ramsey Lafond, senior, 6-0, 175
Returning starters: Z. Menon, Ibrahim,
Lafond.
Union’s 4-3 defense:
E Zach Menon, junior, 6-3, 265
T Coree Jones, senior, 6-0, 320
T Enoch Adeniran, sophomore, 6-5, 270
T Sultan Robinson, senior, 5-10, 240
E Kervin Desir, sophomore, 6-3, 245
E Jonas Cherilus, senior, 6-2, 180
LB Amar Kelly, junior, 5-8, 190
LB Elijah Stewart, senior, 5-9, 200
LB Kordal Hinton, junior, 5-11, 205
LB Roneil Romain, sophomore, 6-0, 190
CB Omar Ibrahim, senior, 6-1, 180
FS Mekhi Best, junior, 5-9, 165
SS Agbai Ifegwu, senior, 6-1, 170
SS Kasie McDowell, junior, 6-0, 170
CB Renick Dorilas, sophomore, 6-0, 165
P Ramsey Lafond, senior, 6-0, 175
Returning starters: Ibrahim, Lafond.
2022 Union Farmers football schedule
Sept. 2: vs. Bridgewater–Raritan, 7 p.m.
Sept. 10: at Westfield, 1 p.m.
Sept. 16: vs. St. Joseph’s Metuchen, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23: at Somerville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30: at Hillsborough, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7: vs. Elizabeth, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14: at Phillipsburg, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21: vs. Ridge, 7 p.m.
Head coach: Lou Grasso Jr.
10th season
2021 Union Farmers, 9-2
N: Millville 31, Union 28 at Ocean City
A: Union 40, St. Joseph’s, Metuchen 21
A: Union 34, Plainfield 12
A: Union 34, Elizabeth 0
H: Union 14, Westfield 3
H: Union 49, Bridgewater-Raritan 21
A: Union 42, North Brunswick 0
H: Union 42, Watchung Hills 7
A: Union 49, Hunterdon Central 7
H: Union 41, Livingston 3
H: Paterson Eastside over Union, forfeit, COVID-19
Head coach: Lou Grasso Jr., ninth season
Section: North, Group 5
Played in North 2, Group 5 playoffs, 1-1
Conference: Big Central
Division 5A: 4-0, champs
Record: 9-2
Home: 5-1
Away: 4-0
Neutral: 0-1
Points for: 373
Points against: 105
Shutouts: 2
Overtime: 0-0
Union Farmers
Head coach: Lou Grasso Jr. since 2013.
1993 Colonia graduate
Tenth season: 60-36 or .625
Conference: Big Central
Division: American Gold
Section: North, Group 5
Union’s last sectional title: 2019
2021: 9-2
Cooke Memorial Field: Turf
Had Union played out its season last year, the Farmers were a strong bet to repeat as North 2, Group 5 champions. If a win would have followed against East Orange Campus in the N2G5 vs. N1G5 regional championship game, then Union might have ended up the No. 1 team in New Jersey at 12-1 and closed with a 12-game winning streak. The Farmers had one of the best players in the state in senior Davison Igbinosun, who is now at Mississippi State. Grasso guided Union to its first state championship in 26 years in 2019. He was also a head coach at Roselle, leading the Rams to the playoffs twice, and an assistant at New Brunswick and Union. His three-year, 2010-2012, record at Roselle was 15-15. His father, Lou Sr., was the head coach at Roselle from 1979-2003 and guided the Rams to their only state championship in the playoff era, the 1989 North 2, Group 2 crown.
Photos by JR Parachini