The Wayne Hills Patriots wiped out Passaic Valley 42-6 on Friday night to advance in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 Tournament.
On November 7, the Wayne Hills Patriots took on the Passaic Valley Hornets in this playoff match on the Patriots’ home turf. Wayne Hills’ strong defense and key offensive players helped propel the Patriots to a landslide win.
The Patriots previously faced the Hornets on October 10 and took home a 35-14 win.
Junior running back David Van Hook (#3) scored a touchdown off a 52-yard pass from Quarterback Mike Fitzsimmons (#12) within the starting minutes of the first quarter.
On a Passaic Valley punt return, Wayne Hills had a turnover and yet another touchdown by Ethan Zacharski (#26) with Matt May (#30) on the extra point for the Patriots.
Ryan Corentin (#13) from Passaic Valley was taken down on a 28-yard pass by senior Vasili Vasilopoulos (#1) on the tackle.
The Patriots quarterback, Fitzsimmons, had a 3-yard run into the endzone, giving them a 21-0 lead before the start of the second quarter.
Wayne Hills Football Staff on their promising first Quarter
“We’re pumped. We worked hard this week.”
The Hornets fought hard in the second, but Vasilopoulos came up again with a huge tackle in the first moments of the second quarter.
Passaic Valley’s Tallon Napoli (#11) had two incomplete passes before a pass back off to Hills.
Zacharski gave the Patriots another touchdown, and May secured the extra point once again.
David Van Hook came in strong with a 48-yard punt return, putting Wayne Hills at a 35-0 lead with six minutes left in the second quarter.
The Patriots carried their luck into the third quarter with CJ Pugliesi (#44) scoring another touchdown for the Patriots, giving the team a 42-0 lead with five minutes left in the third.
Passaic Valley made some headway in the fourth quarter with Dante Benvenuti (#8) giving the Hornets a touchdown, but no luck on the extra point, with a hit to the post on the attempt.
Wayne Hills will advance in the NJSIAA Tournament, finishing the game with a final score of 42-6.
The Patriots are set to face Old Tappan next Friday, November 14, as they move forward into the playoff season.
