FAIR LAWN – The Wayne Hills Patriots claimed one more victory on October 22 against the Fair Lawn Cutters in their last 2026 regular-season football game. It was a monumental yet emotional night for these athletes, as well as for the fans who have watched these players face the toughest battles and experience glorious wins this season. Every game that was played, whether it was a tough loss or an exciting win, all came down to this final moment. Brotherhood between these athletes was put to the test and forged bonds that will last a lifetime. As the seniors walked onto the field together for the coin toss, side by side, it was a reminder of the hard work and dedication they brought to every practice and game.
It was a whirlwind of emotions for all spectators on a brisk night at Sasso Field; the fans and players were certainly ready for this game. Four quarters of triumph and defeat through each play, but only one team came out victorious. The Patriots closed this chapter with a triumphant win; the final score of the game was 36-14. With this win in the books, they are now on the road to the 2026 playoffs.
The Patriots were a force to be reckoned with. They shook Fair Lawn territory with their agility and command through each play during the first half of the game, predominantly in the first quarter. Chase Canning got things going early for Wayne Hills, securing a pass from James Wolf, just 20 seconds into the game, a truly remarkable opening. Wayne Hills’ C.J. Puglisi then took a handoff up the middle for another touchdown for the Patriots. With seven seconds remaining in the opening quarter, Ethan Zacharski charged down the left side of the field to score his first touchdown of the night for Wayne Hills. Hills’ Chris Battaglia converted a 2-point conversion on a throw by Taylor Cheng. The first quarter ended 22-0 in favor of the Patriots. Ethan Zacharski scored his second touchdown with two minutes and thirty seconds left in the second quarter with a short rush up the middle. The first half of the game ended 29-0, with the Patriots in the lead.
It was a back-and-forth during the final half with advances made by both Wayne Hills and Fair Lawn, who, to their credit, were not ready to go down without a fight. With seven minutes left in the third quarter, Wolf completed a TD pass to Canning to give Canning his second and the final touchdown of the night. Fair Lawn’s Evan Cardenas charged through a surge of both Patriot and Cutter players, securing the first touchdown for Fair Lawn in the third quarter, making the score 36-7. Fair Lawn’s Cooper Schons then received a pass from Ariel Nachmias, stumbling back into the endzone, to score the final touchdown of the game for Fair Lawn in the fourth quarter, making the final score 36-14.
Not only was this an exciting game for all the players, but for the cheerleaders as well. Their next chapter is just beginning. Both teams have been preparing for their competitive season that’s coming up this winter. The Patriots and Cutters are two teams forged from talented athletes who are greatly skilled in all categories of cheerleading. They showed off their skills on the sidelines, keeping the fans rallying through this cold, windy evening, as well as on the field for the Wayne Hills pregame show and the Fair Lawn halftime show.
The Wayne Hills Patriots are an elite team; their skills are undeniable and iconic. Throughout their previous competitive seasons, they have traveled all around the nation to compete against some of the greatest teams in the country. They are 2-time Big North Champions, State Champions, 7-time National Champions, and are three-peat Grand National Champions. The Fair Lawn Cutters are an unstoppable force that is not to be reckoned with, and they will prove that to anyone who doubts them. They are 2-time back-to-back 2025-2026 National Champions and 2026 State Champions. The Cutters’ name is quite fitting for this team, because they’ll cut out any competition that stands in front of them. It’s an unforgettable experience to watch these talented teams show off their incredible skills that they’ve been practicing and simply enjoy what they do, giving all the fans a memorable game.
The Wayne Hills Patriots have completed their regular season and are on the road to the playoffs; however, it is not over yet for Fair Lawn. The Fair Lawn Cutters will go against West Milford on October 28th at 6 p.m. The last two times these teams went against each other were back in their 2018-2019 season, with West Milford winning both matches. Could this be the year the Fair Lawn Cutters remake history and defeats West Milford, or will it be a continuation of the past?
