With nearly 50 varsity players, there is new energy at East Union under new coach Booie Daniels.

The Lancers are working to rebound from a disappointing 3-7 season that saw them winless in the Valley Oak League and miss the playoffs after qualifying the previous two years.

“It was tough last year,” said East Union senior receiver/safety Blake Mount. “(Making the playoffs) was our main goal. For me personally, it was tough because when you have a relationship with the seniors, you want to do as much as you can to play with them as long as you can. For the people above you, that really hurts.”

“This is an incentive for us seniors. After missing the playoffs last year, we have to do something big this year.”

East Union brought in several sophomores to play key positions last season. Daniels knows the class of 2026 because he was the head coach of the freshman team that went 9-1 two years ago. He then took teaching and coaching positions across town at his alma mater, Sierra, and spent one season as junior football coach.

Returning to the playoffs remains a primary goal, but Daniels wants East Union to have a place at the VOL big league table for years to come.

“A lot of kids have come forward, some of them after a year off,” Daniels said. “We have a pretty young team, a team with a lot of junior players, so the future is looking very bright. We’re trying to get some respect back in East Union.”

Here’s a closer look at the Lancers’ upcoming season:

Lancer, mount

After an outstanding season with the baseball team last spring, it was believed that Mount would wear an East Union jersey for the last time.

He was scheduled to move out of state but decided to take one last ride as a Lancer. Mount returned in the middle of the team’s summer training.

“It changed the atmosphere at training,” Daniels said.

That’s understandable.

The 6’1″, 195-pound Mount was one of their best two-way players and became their most productive receiver with 57 catches, 893 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a free safety, he will again play a key role on defense.

“He’s a playmaker,” Daniels said. “He’s a difference maker. He just makes us so much better.”

Speed ​​rush

East Union has big targets in seniors Robby Espinosa and Mount, but the Lancers plan to utilize all of their weapons in the passing game.

For them it’s all about speed.

JP Abrew, Jackson Fay, Anthony Morales and Cesar Salinas set a new school record in the 4×100 relay last spring and missed qualifying for the state championship by less than a second. They’ll get another chance this year, but first there’s a score to settle on the field.

Abrew (42 receptions, 502 yards, six TDs) will be another important weapon alongside Espinosa and Mount. Fay (52-704-8) and Salinas (286 rushing yards, two TDs) will have their share of touches as slot receivers and running backs. Abrew and Fay were among the Lancers’ best offensive players as sophomores last season.

Morales competes for the starting quarterback position, but his dynamic athleticism allows East Union to utilize his skills at other positions if needed.

In addition, the group’s position is overseen by Gerome Surrell, a former St. Mary’s star and Fresno State receiver.

“It’s one of the most exciting positions we’re going to have on the field this year,” Daniels said. “We have a ton of speed on the inside positions and a guy like Blake who can go up and catch the ball. We really have a dual offense – not only do we have really athletic players on the inside positions, but we also have extremely athletic outside receivers.”

Quarterback dilemma

Kirk Simoni was on Daniels’ freshman team at center two years ago and was promoted to varsity starter in Week 10 and the playoffs.

He showed poise and promise in his important tryout, securing the starting position for the start of 2023. Simoni put up some strong numbers over the course of the season (167 of 290 passes, 2,093 yards, 22 TDs, 12 interceptions), but struggled towards the end of the season, giving Morales (33-69, 423 yards, six TDs, INT; 66 rushing yards) the opportunity to show off his game-winning skills in the final two games.

“Kirk is definitely more of a true pocket passing quarterback,” Daniels said. “He’s learning the game as far as analyzing plays, making the right reads and asking the right questions. Anthony brings his speed and is an electric runner, but he can also throw the ball really well.”

How quickly they process their pre-snap reads will play a big role in who runs Daniels’ high-tempo offense.

“We’re fortunate to have two guys who can play varsity quarterback,” Mount said. “No matter who it is, I think we’ll get it done. They’re both strong competitors.”

Hold the position

The Lancers have lost some of their strongest linemen to graduates, including 6-foot-5, 275-pound tackle and All-VOL first-team selection Leland Crabb.

Brady Rossi, a third-year player on the varsity team, now leads them in the trenches, where they lack overall mass.

“We may not be the biggest, but we have a certain speed on the line,” Rossi said. “And I think we have to use that to our advantage.”

On offense, they will use experienced tackles as senior center Davien Fagundes and sophomore junior right guard Raul Cardenas return, with first-year seniors and others competing for the other spots.

“We have a good receiver team this year, one of the fastest in the VOL,” Rossi said. “We’re hoping we can get some of the other linemen up to the level we need so those receivers can get the ball.”

outlook

While the traditional powers in the VOL wear down their opponents with physicality, East Union will look to do so with speed and pace.

On defense, All-VOL second-team selections Vincent Hudson (cornerback) and Rossi lead a strengthened unit that has gained depth at every level. The Lancers allowed a league-leading 49.4 yards average last season, and the VOL has gone from strength to strength.

“I feel like our defense is more versatile,” Mount said. “As long as we play as a team, every position has the opportunity to do great things this year.”

It won’t be easy.

EU’s non-league schedule includes former VOL foe Kimball, now in the Division-I Tri-City Athletic League, and Ripon of the Trans-Valley League, both teams that have given the Lancers tough games in recent years.

Elite, a charter school from Vallejo, visits Dino Cunial Field in Week Zero. The Lancers later face Enochs on the road before diving into their brutal VOL schedule.

East Union doesn’t have a game until Week 9 after battling Patterson, Oakdale, Central Catholic and Manteca in succession. Patterson and Week 10 opponent Mountain House are strong additions to the VOL for at least the next four years.

“I would argue this is probably one of the most talented VOLs we’ve ever seen,” Daniels said. “Patterson was one play away from going to NorCal and was a team with a lot of juniors. Mountain House had moments where they showed they could play ball. When you have talent from that hill (Altamont Pass), you have guys with explosive speed.

“I think we’re going to be competitive. It’s really just about getting the kids to embrace what I did two years ago, believing they’re great and can compete with these teams. In practice, we talk about not giving teams wins before we play them. We’re trying to change the culture and the mindset. We know Central Catholic, Oakdale and Manteca are good teams, but we have to go out there and make them earn it.”