UHS football team starts early again at Battle of the Beach

By JR Parachini Sports Editor

The Union Farmers are gearing for another August start to their football season. This time, it will be the weekend before Labor Day weekend – the second time in three years.

For the second time, Union High School football will open at Ocean City High School, playing in one of the games scheduled to be played in the third annual Battle at the Beach at Carey Stadium.

Games are scheduled for Friday, Aug. 25, beginning at 10 a.m.; Saturday, Aug. 26, beginning at 9:30 a.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 27, beginning at 10 a.m.

Union is scheduled to host Rancocas Valley Regional High School on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 3 p.m.

Rancocas Valley, located in the Burlington County town of Mount Holly, is the high school where former Penn State and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris starred back in the late 1960s. Harris, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died last December at the age of 72.

Irving Fryar, a Pro Bowl player with the New England Patriots who also played wide receiver with three other NFL teams, also attended Rancocas Valley in the 1970s, before starring at the University of Nebraska.

Two years ago, a veteran Union team made some costly turnovers that hurt them in a 31-28 setback to Millville High School in the first year the Battle of the Beach games were contested at Ocean City High. Union rebounded to win its next nine games and was the favorite to repeat as North 2, Group 5 state champions, before its season was halted due to several players testing positive for COVID-19.

“We had a very young team last year, so I didn’t want to start that early,” Union head coach Lou Grasso said. “We have a more experienced team this year.”

Union went 2-7 last year, including a state tournament setback at season’s end. The Farmers lost their first three games by a combined total of only 18 points.

When sophomore quarterback O’Malley King was behind center, he managed to throw for 724 yards and six touchdown passes.

The third of four games on Friday, Aug. 25, pits 2022 state champions Millville vs. Toms River North High School. Overall See BATTLE, Page 19