The 2021 high school football season in New Jersey is still six months away, but thoughts are already beginning for an exciting campaign.
At Wayne Hills, the schedule is just about set, as head coach Wayne Demikoff will begin his ninth season at the helm, and 23rd overall with the Patriots. There is a 9-game, tentative, schedule in place, with eight opponents, thus far, in what appears to be a very competitive rugged slate.
The season is set to begin on Labor Day weekend. Presently, the team is still looking for an opponent. The following week, Hills travels to Paterson to play John F. Kennedy High, on Sept. 10. The home opener is slated for Sept. 17, when Passaic High comes to town.
Believe it or not, Hills has never played JFK, or Passaic, in a varsity football game, in its 56-year gridiron history.
On Sept. 24, Ridgewood comes to town, as the Maroons head coach, Chuck Johnson, returns to the sidelines. Ridgewood and Hills resumed a rivalry that had been dormant for nine years, last fall, as Hills won a 10-9 decision, in Ridgewood. Ridgewood last played at Hills 10 years ago.
Another strong opponent is set for Oct. 1, when the Patriots travel to Irvington High. These teams met in 2016 and 2017, with each winning on its home field. Wayne Hills’ 30-20 loss at Irvington, in 2017, cost the Patriots a conference championship. Hills had won in 2016, 48-27, against an Irvington team which came in with an 8-0 record.
Before the 2020 schedule was revamped, the Patriots and Blue Knights would have played last season.
Another rivalry will be renewed the following week, when Hills travels to Pascack Valley High, on Oct. 8. The Patriots and Indians last met five years ago, with Hills winning, 42-14, in Hillsdale. However, PV held the upper hand in the series, with a 5-0 record against Hills, from 2012-2015.
The Patriots return home on Oct. 15, for what is always a huge game, as Ramapo comes to Wayne. The Hills-Ramapo rivalry still ranks as one of the best in Northern New Jersey.
Speaking of great rivalries, Hills is on the road on Oct. 22, when it takes the short trip to Wayne Valley. Since the schools began playing in the regular season, in 2009, there’s been plenty of excitement, not to mention some epic playoff games, in 2016 and 2019.
Hills and Valley have enjoyed recent post-season success. The Patriots won its 10th state sectional title, in 2018, as well as the inaugural Bowl Game series, and Valley followed with similar success a year later.
The regular season concludes, with another big game, against Northern Highlands, in Wayne, on Oct. 29. The Highlanders and Patriots hadn’t played each other in five years, until Hills played in Allendale, last November. Highlands’ last appearance in Wayne was six years ago.
The playoff format should then take place, beginning the first weekend in November.
It promises to be an exciting season, as Hills renews some old time rivalries, as well as competing against some new teams in 2021.
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