Wayne High School Football Preview – Wayne Hills to Rely on “Rare” Combination of Youth and Experience

WAYNE, NJ – The Patriots hope to return to their winning ways this football season, fielding a team that features young players with starting varsity experience.

“We have an interesting group,” said head coach Wayne Demikoff. “A lot of guys have experience and yet we're still a very young team. I think that's rare to say.”

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Last year, freshmen and sophomores got a ton of varsity playing time. Quarterback Mike Fitzsimmons is now a junior with a year of starting experience under his belt.

Behind him will be familiar faces in running backs Jack Rewick (a senior) and Jonnie Mongelli (a junior), plus senior Bleni Sela and sophomore Evan Rapoport.

Fitzsimmons also has all his top receivers coming back, including Mongelli, plus seniors, Jack Monisera, Aaron Viray, and Max deLagarde. Representing the younger players are sophomores Chernoh St. Paul and David VanHook, who Demikoff said he was “looking at.”

The offensive line competition this season has the coach feeling positive.

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“Up front, on the offensive line we're excited about that group,” he said, then rattled off a list of names: Chris Romano, Anthony Cuccinello, John Grant, Aiden Sonera Evan Taibi, Parker Johnson, Darrian Kim, Saif Nassjer, Aws Washas. “We have a lot of great kids that are competing here, and competition makes you stronger, so we're happy about that.”

It’s been “the first time in a long time” since the Hills football team has had this kind of depth on offense, according to the coach. “And the same holds true on defense,” he said, which can make for a good football team.

The coach once more listed names of players that are stacking his defense, mentioning, Mongelli, Nassjer, Kim, Johnson, Grant, VanHook, Cuccinello, Monisera, deLagarde, Braden Viray, Sean George, Kyle D’Argenio, Luke Bacchioni, Colin Murray, Ray Gerardo, Evan Rapaport and Troy Demikoff.

Returning starter Vasili Vasilopoulos is someone who Demikoff said, “we feel really good about,” then said that things are “exciting. We actually have a competitive deal at practice which is good.”

The first game for the Patriots will be held in Henderson, Nevada, just outside of Las Vegas. This is not an exhibition game; it will count against their record. It’s become tradition to travel for their first game each year. They look for similar-sized public schools with good football programs to match themselves up against.

“It's been an exciting thing for our kids and the program and the families,” said Demikoff. “Certainly, they're excited about going to Las Vegas, so I just hope we go out there, play well and win the game.”

Upon their return, the Patriots will host traditional powerhouse in West Essex on September 6 ^th in the first of three home games in a row: Nutley on Sep 13 and Paterson Kennedy on Sep 20.

Hills is in a new division – the Patriot White of the Super Football Conference – so are seeing some new opponents. Demikoff called the schedule “aggressive.”

On September 27, they travel to face defending division champs in Caldwell, before coming back to host the big rivalry game against Wayne Valley on Saturday evening, October 5 ^th .

The last three games on the schedule are at Passaic Valley on Thursday, October 10, then home against Old Tappan on Friday, Oct 18, followed by a trip to take on Millburn on October 25 ^th .

When asked about the level of competition, Demikoff said that “it was too early to tell.”

How will the season shake out? That’s too early to tell too.

“I think the kids have certainly put the effort and time in the weight room during the offseason,” he said. “And that has carried over onto the field. We look a lot different; we're a lot stronger. So, if they keep working and keep pushing, I think Wayne Hills will be a team you’ll be talking about this year.”

For Patriot fans, that’s welcome news.

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