WEST ORANGE — With a strong group of returning players, the West Orange High School football team hopes to make a solid run at reaching the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 5 championship game for the third consecutive season.
Head coach Darnell Grant, entering his eighth year at the helm, calls this year’s team “loaded.”
“We got a lot of experience, a lot of returning players,” Grant said.
West Orange suffered a tough way to start the 2026 season, falling to perennial power Ramapo 13-12 in the annual Mountaineer Classic at WOHS’ Joe Suriano Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 27. WOHS led 12-0 in the fourth quarter, but Ramapo rallied with two touchdowns to win. Ramapo was a state sectional and Group 4 state finalist last year.
The Mountaineers have reason to feel motivated.
They inished 9-3 and runner-up in the NJSIAA’s North Jersey, Section 1, Group 5 state playoffs in each of the last two seasons, including winning back-to-back Super Football Conference–Freedom Red Division titles with 5-0 records.
WOHS lost in the state sectionals finals, both at home, to East Orange Campus 13-7 and Passaic County Tech 56-42 in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Indeed, this year’s Mountaineers feel like they have unfinished business, showing great camaraderie.
“These guys are so together,” Grant said. “I think adversity bonds you. I really love the unity of this team.”
The talent starts with senior Sydney Padilla, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end-defensive end who committed to Rutgers University in the spring. Padilla is ranked No. 22 in the state in his class by 247sports.com.
Padilla will be a strong target for senior returning starting quarterback Daniel Lewis. The other key receivers are Chris Smith (5-7, 165), a transfer from powerhouse Bergen Catholic, and fellow juniors Evian Mishoe (6-3, 190) and Daniel Baskin (5-10, 165). Grant was effusive in his praise of Mishoe for his performances in the summer. Lewis connected to Mishoe on TD passes of 25 and 75 yards in the second quarter in the opener.
Grant also has raved about his linemen on both sides of the ball. The Mountaineers have four returning O-linemen in junior Sam Furr (6-5, 310) and seniors Aidan Watt (6-0, 250), Wagley Auguste (6-4, 320) and Alex Pineda (6-3, 225).
Leading the ground game will be seniors Israel Giles (6-0, 200) and Tyler Laniyan (5-7, 165), a converted QB, and junior Tyreon Spruell (5-8, 165).
On defense, Padilla and senior AJ Chitty have the ability to wreak havoc at the end spots. The Mountaineers also return senior outside linebacker Dylan Adams (6-0, 220), who proved to be among the top tacklers on the team a year ago. Sophomore Caleb Harbin (5-8, 200) is another linebacker who will be a key contributor.
Grant also has his sons on the team – linebacker Cameron Grant (6-2, 187) and DE Caiden Grant (6-4, 230), both sophomores.
Giles and senior Xavier Davis (5-11, 175) will lead the safety unit.
The Mountaineers are looking to redeem themselves by winning the state sectional title and a state crown.
“We just have to close the deal,” Darnell Grant said. “From Weeks 0 to 11, we’re one of the best teams around. But in Week 12, we’ve had just bad luck and a couple of bad things happen. We just have to find a way. “
In his fourth year at the helm, Grant guided the Mountaineers to the North 2, Group 5 state sectional title victory in their first-ever sectional final appearance in 2022, as the team beat No. 1 seed Phillipsburg 28-7, before losing to Passaic County Tech 21-7 in the Group 5 state semifinals to finish 8-3.
Schedule
Aug. 27: loss, vs. Ramapo, 13-12
Sept. 4: vs. Livingston, 7 p.m.
Sept. 10: at Irvington, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18: at Shabazz, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25: vs. East Orange Campus, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2: at Bloomfield, 6 p.m.
Oct. 17: at Barringer, 1 p.m.
Oct. 23: vs. Montclair, 7 p.m.
Photos by Joe Ragozzino
Photo Gallery: West Orange players at practice at West Orange HS’ Joe Suriano Stadium in August.
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