WAYNE, NJ - Wayne Hills football has done a tremendous job over the past four decades, in preparing players to compete at the next level.

In 2015, the Wayne Hills football team began a tradition of opening its season, out of state, when the Patriots began its campaign in Graham, North Carolina.

Three years ago, many in the North Jersey area were introduced to Zach Galasso, then a 4-year-old with a zest for life, who loves sports.

The schools are separated by 4.1 miles, in the same town.

Many of the players, on both sides, were once teammates in their town’s youth program.

They first met during the heyday of the Richard Nixon administration. And 50 years later, the gridiron rivalry between Wayne Hills and Ramapo has stood the test of time.

There’s so much history and memories attached to this game.

One of Wayne Hills High’s biggest football fans is Dawn Dellechiaie, who has seen her son and nephew play for the Patriots and be a part of state championship teams.

The 2022 football season begins on the road for the seventh time in the last eight seasons, in an out-of-state setting for the Wayne Hills High football team.

The Patriots arrived in Nashville, Tennessee, on Aug. 31, and will take on Liberty Creek High, on Sept. 2

For the seventh time in the past eight seasons, the Wayne Hills High football team will open the season against an out-of-state opponent. This time, the Patriots travel to Knoxville, Tennessee to play Liberty Creek, on Sept. 2.

Having served as an assistant football coach at Belleville High for two seasons, Wayne Demikoff, himself a one-time standout player, was just learning the ropes.

After two seasons that were influenced by Covid restrictions, there seems to be a sense of normalcy returning to high school football in NJ.

Joey Riina always appreciated what it meant to play high school football for Wayne Hills. So when he got the chance to play quarterback, on the varsity level in 2021, he took full advantage of the opportunity.

Ben Contella would not be denied.

The Wayne Hills High School senior had worked long and hard to rehab a knee injury incurred in 2020, and came back with a solid football season last fall.

Matt Bogert has resigned as an assistant football coach at Wayne Hills High School, after a long and successful tenure.

Joe Kenny’s tremendous collegiate football career in 2021 included earning All-American honors at the University of Rhode Island.

Four years ago, Jason Modak had put together a marvelous high school career, both in the classroom and athletic venues.

For the first time in the history of the football rivalry between Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley, both schools will come into the game with a sub .500 record. Nevertheless, there’s always plenty on the line when the Patriots and Indians meet up.

They first met during the heyday of the Richard Nixon administration. And 49 years later, the gridiron rivalry between Wayne Hills and Ramapo has stood the test of time.

There’s so much history and memories attached to this game.

Since the days of Chris Olsen coaching the Wayne Hills High School football team, the Patriots have been well represented with alums continuing to play college football.

That tradition continues with Wayne Demikoff as head coach. Currently, over 20 former Hills players are on college football rosters in 2021.

A quick look at the Wayne Hills football team’s 2021 schedule would predict a fairly quick start for the Patriots.

Head coach Wayne Demikoff began his ninth season at the helm and 23rd overall in the program by taking his team out of state, for the sixth time in the past seven seasons. The Patriots played a talented from Harrisonville, Mo. and lost a 38-37 heartbreaker in the game’s final 45 seconds, on Aug. 27.

Since 2002, the Wayne Hills High School football program has won 10 state sectional championships, as well as 19 conference titles, dating back to 1990.

So, as a new season begins, the anticipation for another big year is already in high gear.

It’s been a memorable year for Wayne Hills’ standout student-athlete, Dan Daly.

The senior, who will attend the United States Naval Academy, Prep School, starting this summer, was a star player on the Hills football and lacrosse teams.

The 27th Paul Robeson All-Star Football Classic, East-West Game, won’t be played this year, but all the senior players will be honored with plaques, as if the game was held...

Back in October, 2015, I had the chance to interview Sophia Lewin, then a freshman at Monmouth University. Sophia had graduated Wayne Hills High School the previous spring, and was an important part of football program there, as she began her drive to one day coach football on the professional level.

Chris Brutofsky became the latest Wayne Hills High football player to make a commitment to play the game at the next level. Brutofsky, a two-year starter at tailback, will be attending Misericordia University, in Dallas, Pa., starting this fall.

For the sixth time in the last seven seasons, the Wayne Hills football will travel out of state to open its season. This year, the Patriots are heading to Missouri, where it will take on Harrisonville...

A long application process has resulted in a dream come true for Dan Daly, a Wayne Hills High School senior. The son of Tara and Dan Daly, Dan has been accepted into the United States Naval Academy’s Prep School (NAPS), beginning this summer...

Obstacles can indeed be a part of life. And how those obstacles are met, and eventually defeated, can very often define a person’s character..

Stanley Oseback worked long and hard to be a solid football player for one of the best high school programs in Northern New Jersey...

There was never a doubt that Noah Abida was ready to put the time and effort into a stellar senior year, on the football field at Wayne Hills High School.

The 2021 high school football season in New Jersey is still six months away, but thoughts are already beginning for an exciting campaign..

They first met during the hey day of the Richard Nixon administration. And 48 years later, the high school gridiron rivalry between Wayne Hills and Ramapo has stood the test of time.

It was Nov. 23, 2011, and the usual large gathering had assembled at Wayne Hills High School, for the annual Father-Son Beefsteak, which is traditionally held on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

For a second straight week, Wayne Hills went into a week preparing for one squad, but then played a different opponent, on about 24-hour notice, come game night.

For the first four days of game week, Wayne Hills was preparing for a game against Northern Highlands, which could very well determine the winner of the New Jersey Super Football Conference’s Freedom Red Division.

It had been 33 years since Wayne Hills last played a 7-0 game at home, but it happened on Oct. 17, when the Patriots won a hard-fought, 7-0 contest against Northern Valley/Old Tappan, in Wayne, on ‘Senior Day’.

As Dan Daly walked off the field at Wayne Hills High, tired but excited after a huge victory, he was quick to respond to the play of classmate Jordan Thiel...

“The kids showed me something,” said Demikoff, who is beginning his eighth season at the helm after 14 years as an assistant to Chris Olsen. “We hurt ourselves in the first half, but made some adjustments at halftime and things started to click.”...

While everyone knows the 2020 high school fall sports season will indeed be a little different, as far as preparation is concerned, the athletes, coaches and fans are excited that this week will mark the start of an abbreviated seasons...

Matt Paterno is beginning his 32nd season as a high school band director, with the last 31 of those seasons at Wayne Hills High.

Over the years, the Wayne Hills football team has done a lot for the local community, not only in Wayne, but throughout Passaic County.

Wayne Hills football coach Wayne Demikoff has announced four team captains for the upcoming season.

Seniors Noah Abida, Dan Daly, Joe Brunetti and Dean Imparato were named the captains, following practice on Aug. 27.

At first glance, it looks like a spaceship.

Adorned with championship banners, the ‘Cage’ at Wayne Hills is an open-air, weightroom facility, on the Hills campus, which the football team put together, thanks to the help of its principal and athletic director.

The Wayne Hills football team begins its fourth week of practice on Aug. 10, and head coach Wayne Demikoff couldn’t be happier with the team’s progress..

It’s certainly going to be a different kind of athletic season at Wayne Hills High, and for that matter, just about every high school in New Jersey, this fall.

And while Wayne Hills football coach Wayne Demikoff realizes the 2020 season won’t be like previous years, as far as games played and preparation, the goal is still the same.

With the Coronavirus pandemic creating havoc for so many in the country, the call to help medical professionals, while assisting local eateries in communities throughout the country has provided quite the rallying cry.

The epidemic which has reached global proportions has also created havoc locally.

So many are trying to step up to help small businesses during a difficult time, and the Wayne Hills football program is part of that effort.

Michael Joyce would never be deterred. Despite a knee injury which pretty much wiped out his senior year of playing football at Wayne Hills High School, Joyce has forged ahead and is now ready to play on the collegiate level.

For the sixth straight season, the Wayne Hills High football team will open its season with an out-of-state contest. This time, the Patriots are headed to Olive Branch, Mississippi, where it will play Lewisburg High School, on Friday night, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m.

It was halftime in the locker room for the Wayne Hills High School football team, and the Patriots were trailing archrival Wayne Valley, 14-0, in game two of the regular season.

Following a 13-6 setback to Wayne Valley in the first round of the North 2, Group 4 playoffs on Nov. 8, Wayne Hills football coach Wayne Demikoff couldn’t mask his disappointment in the final result, but is already looking ahead to the 2020 season.

For over 30 years, Wayne Hills has produced some tremendous varsity football teams. Since Chris Olsen’s arrival as head coach in 1987, and continuing with Wayne Demikoff succeeding Olsen in 2013, the program has won 10 state championships, a Bowl Game, qualified for the playoffs 28 times (including this season), won 48 playoff games and had one sub .500 record, a 4-5 mark, in 1988.

With the regular season concluded, Wayne Hills football coach Wayne Demikoff reminded his team shortly after a 51-14 victory over Indian Hills that every game could now be its last...

There was laughter, tears and a lot of love in the room at the annual Wayne Hills Football Mother-Son Brunch, held on Oct. 20, at the Brownstone, in Paterson...

The alumni had returned, because, after all, this was the week Wayne Hills would play Ramapo in varsity football...

They first met during the hey day of the Richard Nixon administration. And 47 years later, the gridiron rivalry between Wayne Hills and Ramapo has stood the test of time.

For the fourth straight year, the Wayne Hills High football team will open its season with an out-of-state opponent.Coach Wayne Demikoff announced that the Patriots will travel to Provo, Utah to play Timpview High School, one of the storied programs in that state, on Aug. 31.