West Essex Football vs. Hanover Park - Gaetano Iavarone — West Essex's Gaetano Iavarone (Photo by Christopher Shannon/OnNJ Sports)

September 11, 2026

IMAGES: West Essex Football Blanks Hanover Park to Reclaim Cardone Cup

Ayden Green , Cardone Cup , football , Gaetano Iavarone , Hanover Park , high school football , high school sports , Jake Cosentino , NJ sports , Ryan Medich , West Essex

West Essex Football vs. Hanover Park - 9.11.2026

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The Fairfield Police Honor Guard presents the colors during the National Anthem prior to the start of a high school football game between West Essex and Hanover Park on Sept. 11, 2026. (Photo by Christopher Shannon/OnNJ Sports)

After having their winning streak against Hanover Park snapped in 2025, the West Essex football team reclaimed the Cardone Cup in dominant fashion this year with a 31-0 victory over the Hornets on Sept. 11, 2026.

Gaetano Iavarone led the Knights, accounting for three of West Essex’s four touchdowns. The quarterback was 17 of 23 for 135 yards, a TD, and an interception through the air, and carried the ball 15 times for 53 yards and two touchdowns. Ayden Green added 92 yards on seven carries for the Knights, while Anthony Cirigliano and Luke Kesack combined for 12 receptions for 84 yards, with Cirigliano hauling in a touchdown reception from Iavarone.

The Hanover Park offense could not muster much against a stifling West Essex defense, only managing 39 total yards. Jake Cosentino and Ryan Medich did what they could to help the Hornets on defense. Cosentino made 10 tackles, one for a loss, and grabbed Hanover Park’s interception, while Medich recorded 16 tackles, three of which went for losses.

With the win, West Essex improves to 3-0 on the season and will host Sparta next Friday, while Hanover Park falls to 2-1 with the loss and will travel to West Caldwell to face the West Caldwell Chiefs on Friday. The Knights are now 33-17 all-time against the Hornets.

More photos still to come…

About the Author

Christopher Shannon

Photo Editor

Christopher is the Photo Editor at OnNJ Sports. You can often find Christopher along the sidelines at sporting events in Northern Jersey, or at West Point photographing athletic, and other, events there. Christopher’s favorite events that he has had the opportunity to cover, so far in his career, include Penn State football White Out games and Army-Navy football games. While Christopher enjoys photographing a wide variety of sports, his favorite to cover include football, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, and lacrosse.