Union City Soaring Eagles 

July 20, 2025

2024: 

• 11-2 
• Lost to Toms River North in the New Jersey Group 5 state finals 
• Won the North Jersey Regional Group 5 championship by beating East Orange 
• Won the North Jersey Section 2 Group 5 championship by beating Passaic Tech in the finals, Bridgewater-Raritan in the semifinals, and Newark East Side in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Northern Highlands, Bayonne, Irvington, and Montclair 
• Their other loss was to St. Peter’s Prep 
• Scored 533 points for a 41.0 average 
• Allowed 148 points and an 11.38 average, including six shutouts 

Graduation: 

• WR/DB Kareem Hector – Stony Brook (NY) 
• RB/DB Kingston Evans – Lafayette 
• RB/DB Mark Boyd – Lincoln University (PA) 
• RB/LB Ja’Zaire Aurelus – Post University (CT) 
• TE/DE Omar Tillman – Post University (CT) 
• OL/DL Reynaldo Mercedes – Franklin Pierce (NH) 
• LB Jeremiah Hayes – Franklin Pierce (NH) 
• OL Justin Sevilla – King’s College (PA) 
• LB Bayshawn Wooten – Alvernia (PA) 
• DB Jahsiah Espinal – Caldwell sprint football 

Offense: 

• Formation: Traditional Wing T 
• Returning Starters: 3 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback: 

• Xavien Rodriguez, Senior, 6-0, 170 – returning starter; passed for 446 yards and 8 touchdowns 

Running Back:

• Jordan Peterson, Junior, 6-2, 205 – competing at fullback; started on defense 
• Naythan Pena, Junior, 5-10, 175 – competing at fullback 
• Mario Medina, Senior, 5-8, 170 – projected starter at left halfback 
• David Fernantez, Junior, 5-9, 175 – backup at left halfback 
• Nathan Fitch, Senior, 5-11, 165 – projected starter at right halfback 
• Leo Williams, Junior, 5-8, 170 – backup at right halfback 

Wide Receiver: 

• Khalil Sutton, Senior, 6-4, 205 – returning starter; 15 receptions for 288 yards and 6 touchdowns 
• Darien Ladson, Senior, 5-11, 170 – will split the reps with Sutton 
• Javiel Azuri, Junior, 5-10, 170 – will be in the mix 

Tight End: 

• Elijah Ramirez, Sophomore, 6-2, 245 – projected starter 
• John Melendez, Senior, 5-11, 190 – may split the reps with Ramirez 

Offensive Line: 

• Adrian Woodall, Senior, 6-4, 345 (no misprint) – projected starter at left tackle; started the last four games 
• Treyvon Hunt, Junior, 6-3, 285 – projected starter at left guard 
• Adrian Villalta, Senior, 5-11, 270 – 3-year starter at center 
• Jonah Ramos, Sophomore, 6-2, 270 – projected starter at right guard 
• Ethan Ovalles, Sophomore, 6-4, 315 – competing at right tackle 
• Marco Salas, Senior, 6-3, 310 – competing at right tackle 
• Alex Leonor, Senior, 5-10, 300 – competing at center 
• Michael Morales, Junior, 6-4, 380 (no misprint) – competing at left tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: 4-3 
• Returning Starters: 4 

Defensive Line: 

• Khalil Sutton, Senior, 6-4, 205 – returning starter at end 
• Elijah Ramirez, Sophomore, 6-2, 245 – projected starter at the opposite end 
• John Melendez, Senior, 5-11, 190 – part of the end rotation 
• Aiden Robles, Sophomore, 6-3, 180 – part of the end rotation 
• Adrian Villalta, Senior, 5-11, 270 – returning as part of the tackle rotation 
• Adrian Woodall, Senior, 6-4, 345 (no misprint) – returning as part of the tackle rotation 
• Jonah Ramos, Sophomore, 6-2, 270 – will be part of the tackle rotation 
• Ethan Ovalles, Sophomore, 6-4, 315 – will be part of the tackle rotation 
• Treyvon Hunt, Junior, 6-3, 285 – will be part of the tackle rotation 
• Michael Morales, Junior, 6-4, 380 (no misprint) – will be part of the tackle rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Jordan Peterson, Junior, 6-2, 205 – returning starter in the middle, moving from the outside 
• Bryce Hampton, Senior, 6-0, 195 – projected starter on the outside 
• Naythan Pena, Junior, 5-10, 175 – competing on the weak side 
• Jaydiz Vargas, Junior, 5-11, 170 – competing on the weak side 

Secondary: 

• Nathan Fitch, Senior, 5-11, 165 – projected starter at back; started two games 
• Darien Ladson, Senior, 5-11, 170 – projected starter at safety; started two games 
• Mario Medina, Senior, 5-8, 170 – projected starter at safety 
• William Irwin, Junior, 5-11, 165 – competing at the opposite cornerback 
• Javiel Azuri, Junior, 5-10, 170 – competing at the opposite cornerback 
• Leo Williams, Junior, 5-8, 170 – competing at the opposite cornerback 
• Elimanuel Gerena, Sophomore, 5-10, 180 – competing at the opposite cornerback and safety 
• Liam Beckles, Sophomore, 5-10, 185 – competing at safety and possibly linebacker  

Special Teams:

• Senior Jayden Chaviano returns as the kicker, and senior Marco Salas is back as the punter 
• Medina, Williams, and Ladson are the return men 

*Offense, defense, and special teams positions are subject to change 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/28, Pascack Valley at home 
• Saturday, 9/6, St. Peter’s Prep at Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson 
• Friday, 9/12, at Bayonne 
• 9/19-20, Bye Week 
• Friday, 9/26, Northern Highlands at home 
• Saturday, 10/4, at Montclair 
• Friday, 10/10, Orange at home 
• Friday, 10/17, at Irvington 
• Friday, 10/24, at Columbia  

Concerns:  

• Complacency off their recent success 

Recruiting: 

• Sutton has a verbal commitment to Monmouth
• Ladson has potential 
• Fitch has a good opportunity this year 
• Woodall has some schools interested in him 
• Villata has a height issue, but some schools are interested 
• Underclassmen: 
• Peterson has seven offers and was the only sophomore to start last year 
• Ramirez is a sophomore who has a Wofford offer 
• Ramos is a sophomore who has Rhode Island and Wofford offers 

Coach’s Comments: 

“This team has incredible potential and is similar to last year’s team, with kids hungry to fill in. We have a good line and explosive backs. And we also have good receivers to keep the defense honest.” – Head Coach Wil Valdez